The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-06-20
ror The Cadir Ssn,.ns.
Colonial Government.


colonies were under British rule for more thar
one hundred and fity years sitsr its settlement
by the English, This year (IS6o) is the s4Ih
year since the change Of government or the
American Revolutioa.
The first permanent settlement vas in 1907
at jamestown, Va. by los persons. 4 few
years sfterward, (l62o) there was a small col.
ony planted at Plymouth, Massachusetts, -
The colonies then increased rapidly until there
was twelve in number the last OF which was
Pennsylvania and in 1882 Georgia was settled
which constituted the 18th, the complement o
the number when the Revolution took place
During their connection with Great Britain,
the people were not permitted to govern them
selves, but were subservisnt to the will Of the
King of England. The powers OF tie govern
meut was vested in Governor, Council and an
assembly Of representatives chosen by the peo
Pile. These three branches corresponded to
the King MOBILES and the commons In England.
Power in that government was divided in near
" the same insnner as in the States at the pre-
sent time.
However, there is a most important differ
ence between that and our present form Of gov
ernment The people Of the colonies were not
permitted to choose n constitution ;or them
selves; but were obliged to be governed by what.
ever the King instituted for them. Each col.
ony had separate go'ernment, yet in many
particulars, they were essentially the same
Each Governor was appointed, either By the
King or his minions, and was generally under
the obsoluts control of the King, who kept
them in office period Of time that suited his
fancy. The council was composed Of small
number Of men appointed by his Majesty, and
subject to his will.
This body constituted one branch Of the leg
stature. And to complete his stretch Of pow
er, he appointed, or caused to be appointed, by
his minions The judges magistrates, and other
officers, Hence it will be observed, that only
one branch of the Law making power vas the
choice Of the people. and that, so grossly fetter-
ed that it afforded but little benefit to the peo-
pie; while the other two the governor and coun-
Gil, were appointed by, and subject to him, in
common with other officers of the 'yernment.
True, the people chose one branch OF the egis-
lature, but even with this poor need Of sover
eighty. they could not always get such laws en-
acted as they wanted because both the COVER
nor and the council must agree to every meas
ure which their representatives might propose;
tsr opau thair nNniacnnnra tvoS pot sniff ,iaDt
had to be sent to England and receive the ap-
| proval of the King, before it became finally
legal. How conspicuously he had his mode Of
government formed, to coeyce his subjects into
submission.
In some Of the colonies the people we're per-
mtted to enjoy greater privileges. The people
of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecti-
cut were, Tor some years prior to the Revolution
permitted to elect their Governor, and both
branches Of the Legislature. But even in these
colonies they were not permitted to make laws
contrary to the laws of England And the
privileges they did enjoy were granted By the
King, liable to be revoked whenever it was his
! pleasure so to dc.
1t is plain to be seen that the government of
the colonies was not such, in many respects, as
the people desired, or well adapted to their
wants and to ensure their happiness and com
tort. In fact, his (the Klng's) laws, were very
little Of anything else than kingiy usurpaton
upon the just and natural rights of the colo
nists. Many Of the laws passsd by Parliament
and sanctioned by the King, were grievou5 bur
deps on the people. The leading objects Of
those laws thus passed by Parliament We're to
prohibit the people of the colonies to trade with
other nations, and compel them to trade with
England alone, Unless it was such commodities
that were not valuable to England. For iu
stance law was passed, forbiddng the iinpor-
tation Of any goods in any other vessels thpn
English The penalty for the violation of that
law, was the ioreit to the British government,
of both vessels and goods brought in any other
than English vessels. Another law made it in
cumbent on he colouists that such products as
England wanted, raised in the colonies, "should
not be transported to any other country but
Great Britain and other countries belonging to
he CROWN
They also made laws TO the effect that all
manufactured goods the colonists needed, and
such products they wanted not raised by them
selves, they were forced to purchase Of England
and whatever they had TO sell that England de.
sired, they had to sell to England. And in Or
der to accomplish this object, the government Of
England imposed heavy duties or taxes upon
all inportations from any other countries than
those belonging to the British crown.
Thus by prohibiting the colonsts frota ira.
ding with other nations, British traders were
enabled to become immensely rich. Parliament
claimed the right to tax the people of the col.
onies 'in all cases whatever aud the money
thus unjustly exacted, went into the Golfers O
the British treasury. The en- forcement, on the
part OF England, Of those unjust and grievous-
ly burthensome laws, gave rise to very great
extent to the revolutionary war.
In this brief sketch, we have the prominent
points OF colonial government. And in view o.
their austerity. and the absolute domination o.
the King-with what patriotic enthusiasm
should we extol the phanthrophy OF our fore.
fathers. who threw off the yoke oftyranny and
gave us that glorious egacy-a free country
whore man, untrammeled by ignoble and king.
ly legislation, finds sphere of operation equal
I. to his genius. L. K.
1Ay-A wag said II loved NV wife at first