Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-06-23

oc the Bible, is to be ascribed IN that age,
rs ascribed in every age, men were much
indebted for right views Of civil liberty
'The Bible is book of faith, and book Of
doctrine, bu, it is also book, which teaches !
man his own individual responsibility, his
own dignity, and his equality with his fellow
man. Bacon, aud Locke, and Milton and
Shakespeare also came with them They
came to form new political systems, but all
that belonged to cultivated man, to family, !
to neirhborhood, to social relations accom-
panied them. In the Dorlc phrase OF one
of our own historians, "they came to settle
on bare creation :" but their settlement in
the wilderness nevertheless, was not lodge
ment of nominal tribes, mere resting place
ofroaming savagcs. 1t was the beginning
of a permanent community, the fixed resi-
dence of cultivated men. Not only was
English literature read, but English, good
English, was spoken and written, before the
axe had made way TO let in the sun upon
the habitations and fields of the settlers
And whatever may be said to the contrary,
a correct use Of the English language is,
at this day, more general throughout the
United States, than it is, throughout Eng
land herself But another grand character
istic is. that in the English colonies, poll
tics were left to be managed by the colonsts
themselves There is another fact wholly
distinguishing them in character as it has
distinguished them in fortune, from the col
onists of Spain. Here lies the foundation
orthat experience in government, which
had preserved order, and security, and regu-
arity amidst the play of popular institutions.
,l,o 6 tbo,,
perity Of the North American settlements
The more distinguished Of the New Eng
land coonists, with a most remarkable sa-
gacty, and long sighted reach into futnri-
", refused to come TO America, unless they
could bring with them charters providing
the administration of their alTlirs in this
country. They saw from the first, the evils
of being governed in the new world, by
counsels held in the old Acknowledging
the general superiority Of the crown, they
still insisted on the right of passing local
laws, aud of local administration. Aud his
tory teaches us the Justice and the value of
this determination, in the example of Vir-
eina. The only attempt to settle that col
ony failed, sometimes with the most mel
ancholy and fatal consequences, from want
Of knowledge, care and attention on the part
of those who had the charge of their affairs
in England; and ii was only after the issu-
ing of the third charter that its prosperity
fairly commenced The cause was that by
that third charter, the People of Virginia,
(for by this time they so deserve to be
called y were allowed to constitute and es-
tablish the first popular representative As
sembly, which ever convened on this CONT
hent, the Virginia House of Burgesses.
Here then, are the great elements of our
political system originally introduced, early
in operation, and ready to be developed
more and more as the progress of events
should Justify or demand
Escape from the existing political sys
tens of Europe; but the, continued enjoy
ment Of its sciences and arts, It's literature
and its manners; with series of improve
ments upon its religious and moral senti
ments and habits Home governments; o.
the power of passing local laws, with loca
administration,
Equality Of rights.
Representative systems.
\ Free forms of Government, founded OIL
Il popular Representation.
Few topics are more inviting, or more Fl
aud influence of the new world upon thu
old; or the contributions, of America Il
3 Europe.
Her obligations to Europe for scienc'
and art, laws, literature and manners, Amer
a lea acknowledges as she ought, with rcspec
and gratitude. And the people of the Uni
ted States, descendants of the English stock
grateful for the treasures of knowledge de
rived from their English ancestors, ack
nOwedges also, with thanks and hla regard
that among those ancestors under the GU
ture of Hampden and Sydney, aud other as
Sidnous friends that seed of popular libert
first terminated, which on our soil has she
up to its full height, until its branches oyel
shadow all the land.
But America has not failed to make re
turns. If she has not cancelled the obligi
ton, or equaled it by others of like weigh
she has, at least, made respectable advances
and some approaches towards equality
And she admits, that standing in the mid
of civilized nations, since in a civilized ag
IA nation among nations-there is hlg
part which she is expected to act, fo- III
general advance of human interests and hi
man welfare.
American mines have filled the minis
Europe with the precious metals. The PR
auctions of the American soil and clima
have poured out their abundance Of lux
4 ries for the tables of the rich and of nece
saries for the sustenance ofthe poor. Brt
and animals of beauty and value have bee
added to the European stocks; and tran
n plantations from the transcendant and un
OualIed riches of our forests have mInglt
themselves profuseiy with elms, and ashe