The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-06


institutions destined to influence the fortunes of
chrlstsncom were planted by humble men, who
little comprenended their own work. In the course
OF the seventeenth century the French and the
Engnsa TOOK possession of all that part OF North
America which was not pre-occupied by the Span
lards- The French entered by the st. Lawrence;
followed that noble artery 10 the heart OF the
hnent traced the great la Sss to their parent rvuets
and weepiug fountains; descended the Mississippi
Miracles of humble and unavailing heroism were
performed by their gallant adventures and pious
missionaries in the depths of our western wilder
ness The English stretched along the coast The
yeographer would have pronounced that the
French, in appropria tin to themselves the mighty
basins of the Mississippi and the ST. Lawrence had
got possession OF the better part of the continent
But il attempt to comnose the second vi
ume Of the fortunes of America in advance of the
hrst. ms II was ordained should be written AT
jamestown and Plymouth. The Frensh though
excelllng all other nations in the world in tbe ar
OF communicating for temporary PURPOSES with
savage tribes, seem, still more than the Snan,rds
TO De destitute OF the august skill required 10 found
new States do not know that there ia sucb
thlng IN the world as n colony of France growing
up into prosperous Commonwealth A half
million OF French peasants in Lower Canad,
CONSCIOUSLY adhering to the manners and customs
which their fathers brought from Normandy two
centuries ago, and third part of that nunbsr Of
planters OF French descent in Louisiana are m that
Is LETT To bear hvlng witness to the amazing fact
that no. century ago France was the mistress of
the better hall OF North America
Ii was on the Atlantic coast ard in the coIonies
oFlS'hstS Pt0h'ed or soon acquired by England
thSt toe great work of the seventeenth century
vas Pes'Nrtned-s,owly, toilsomely, effectively A
mighty work tor America and mankind, of which
even We tohd snd proud of IA We are do but
family goJsa che MAG aitaas, n could hardly be
sala AZ the Time ~ FFesnss 50 sav Of its parta Ii
yleLded ne retNte - tie PerNai~fr capital Invest
ed. The political relations ~ ths gvls,sies from
the hrst we're these If eRsFy~rh4NsAt saa resist,
anoe; aud even the aaeFel ~ fril a. ar "a there
one, on which tssF v-sr2 fg.ss.sea Vas NOT
the sayages, war vita tee sFSR@A AMI Spsnisrts
Earring and tends between ae5sheeftnr colonies
persecution OF dissenting fadtvtaeals and sects,
perpetual olscord with the crown aud the proprie-
taries yet in the main and on the whole rHE wosx
went on. Things that did not work singly worked
together, or, it they did not ork together they
worked by reaction and collision. Feeble germs
of settlement grew 70 the consistency of powerful
colonies; habits Of civil government rooted them
selves in a soil that continually stirred; the
frame Of future republics knit itself it were in
embryo under monarchcal system of colonial
rule, and in the middle of the eighteenth century
the approach OF mighty changes began to be diInly
foreseen by gifted spirits. A faint streak of pur-
pie light blushed along the eastern sky.
Two things worth mentioning contributed to the
result One was the absence of the precious
metals. Che British colonies were rich in the
want of gold. AS the abundance of gold and silver
in Mexico and Peru contributed, in various ways
to obstruct the prosperity of the Spanish colonies,
the want OF them acted not less fayorably here. In
the first settlement Of savage wilderness the gold
attraction Is too powerful for the ordinary rou
tine of life II produces feveri5h excitement I'M
favorable to the healthy growth and calm action of
the body polite. Although California has had from
the first the advantage Of being incorporated into
a table political system, OF which as a sister State
she forms integral part, il is quite doubtful
whether, looking to her permanent well being, the
gold IS TO be blessing 10 her. 1t will hasten her
settlement; but that would at any rate have adj
yanced with great rapidity. One of the most in
tellectual men in this country, the author of one
of the most admirable works in our language |
mean 'TIUO Years before The Mat" once remark ted
70 me that California would be one of the finest
countries in the world to live in if it not for
the gold"
The other circumstances which operated in the
most favorable manner upon the growth of the
Ang American colonies was the fact that they
called into existence less by the government
than the people; that they settled, not by bo
dies Of colonists, but by individual emigrants.
The crown gave charters of government and
grants of land and a considerable expenditure
made by some of the companies and proprie-
tors who received these grants; but upon the
whole the United States settled by individu.
als-ths adventurous, resolute, high spirited, and,
in many cases, prosecuted men and women, who
sought a home and refuge beyond the sea and
such was the state of Europe in the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries that it furnished a
cessiOn Of victims of lon series of political and
religious disasters, who found, after another
safe and co genial retreat in some one of the
American colonies
This noble theme has been treated with beauty
and a power by one need not name in this pres
ence, (the historian of the United Statea,) which,
without lmpairing their authenticity, have con-
Verted the severe pages OF history into magnif-
cent Odyssey of national adventure can but
glance at the dates The first settlement, that of
Virginia, was commenced in the spirit of mercan-
lille enterprise with no slight dash of chiyalry and
romance on the part of its leader. In the next
generation this colony became the fayorite resort
Of the royal cavaliers and gentlemen who were
Disguised by the austerities of the English Com
monwealth, or fell under its suspicion. In the
meantime New England was founded by those
VINO suffered the penalties of non-conformity, The
mighty change Of 1910 stopped the tide of ernigra
ton to New England, and recruited Virginia with
those who were disaffected to Cromwell. In 1924
the Island Of Manhattan of which you have per-
haps heard, and If not you will find its history re
lated with equal learning, judgment, and good
taste by loyal descendant of its early settlers,
(Mr. BrOdhsad,) was purchased OF the Indians for
twenty-tour doilars-a sum ofmoney, by the way,
which seems rather low for twenty two thousand
acres Of land including the site of this great metro
polls, but which would, If put out at compound in
teres at per cent. in l624 not perhaps fall very
much short of it's present value; although admit
khst dollar for thousand acres Is quite cheap
for choice spots on the Fifth avenue. Maryland
next attracted those who adhered to the ancient
faith of the Christian world. New Jersey and
Pennsylvania were mainly settled by prosecuted
Quakers; but the latter offered an asylum to the
Germans whom the sword of Louis XIV drove
from the Paatiuate. The French Huguenots,
scattered themselves from Massachusetts to Caro-
hua- Inc Dutch and Swedish settlements on the
Hudson and the delaware provided kindred
home for such OF their countrymen desired TO
try the fortune OF the New World. The Wings Of
England, who rebeed against James ii. in 1855,
anu sent to the transatlantic colonies, lived
long enough TO meet in exile the adherents of his
SON. who rebeilsd against George /. in Ills. The
oppressed Protesants of Salzburg came with
Ogiethorpe 70 Georgia. and the Highlanders, who
fought for Charles Edward in iT45, were deported
by hundreds to North Carolina. They we're pun
ished by being sent from their bleak bills and ste
rile moors TO a land of abundance and liberty they
we're banished from oatmeal porrldge 10 meat twice
day. The Gaelic language Is still spoken By
their descendants, and thousands of their kindred
at the present day would no doubt gladly share
their exile.
There is no doubt that the hardships which await
ed the emigrants at that day were neither few nor
slight, though greatly exaggerated for want of in
formation. Goldsmith, in s'The Deserted Village,
published IN 1859, gives us a somewhat amusing
picture of the state of things he supposed 1t tC
exist beyond the ocean at that time. AS his loca
illusions to Georgia, it is probable that ht
formed his Impressions from the accounts which
were published at London, about the middle of the
last century, by some of the discontinued settler
of that colony. Goldsmith being we'll acquainted
With General Oglethorpe, likely enough Il
have had his attention called to the subject Per
haps you will allow me to enliyen my dull pros