The Placer herald., 1872-04-27
Written for the HERALD.
THE UNITED STATES.
CIVIL AND POLITICAL REVIEW.
CHAPTER Ill.
BY A. T. CHER.

CHAPTER III.
In the preceding chapter l spoke of the
first settlement of the thirteen original colon
les; l now propose to glance a: their laws
and the forms of government under which
they lived. AS previously remarked, the
colonists paid no regard to the claims of the
Indians, but acted on the whole as though
they were settling an uninhabited country.
1t must therefore be supposed they brought
with them the laws, as we'll as customs, of
the mother country as far as they were ap-
plicable. Though subject to the crown they
were not effected by acts of Parliament
passed after the date of their settlement, un-
less so specified in the act. The rights and
privileges enjoyed by citizens of the mother
country were enjoyed by them, and children
born in the colonies were declared natural
born. Each colony was Independent of the
others and governed by its own laws, in a
manner best suited to its own interests. They
for a time selected their own governors, and
convened Provincial Legislatures for the en-
actment of such laws as were essential to in
sure their peace aud promote their prosperity.
They fought their own fights with the In
dians, made their own treaties, paid their
own bills, and III every respect acted with an
independence which plainly showed the moth
er country that if she would not protect her
young children i'll America, they would pro-
tect themselves. This, though, they were
not long allowed to do. 1t must be remcm-
bcred that many of the colonists had fled
from the Old World at a time of great reli-
gious excitement, to seek place where they
might unnterrupledly woaship God according
to their faith. Being religious, they were as
general thing Industrious, frugal and tenn
peratc; the effects of these virtues soon be-
came apparent in the rapid growth of the col
onies and the wealth of the people, and as
they became rich England began to send
them governors, confirm their charters and
provide for the establishment of such forms
of government as she considered best suited
to their wants. She sent over military COM
panies under pretense of protesting the
frontier, but as the colonists had these soldiers
to support, they often proved more of an in
jury than a benefit Their Royal Governors
were not less Objectionable; often men of lit
tie brain, who cared nothing for the interests
of the people nor the prosperity of the colon
les; but contented themselves by extorting
large sums of money from the people, for
which nothing in the way of efficient govern
ment was given in return; as an illustration
of these facts | would refer the reader to the
administration 70 old Berkery of Virginia,
whose tyranical acts brought on what is
known in history as Bacon's Rebellion, a
f,,,;li,r to VooJ vacit;o,r hn,a Tbo
people often complained of this unjust treat
ment, but in the hearts of their local rulers,
found but little sympathy; at length they be-
gan to lay their grievances before the king,
but this old patron of tyrants needed not their
appeals The royal rulers of the colonies,
encouraged by the kings Indifference, became
even more exacting, and consequently more
offensive to the people; as often as measures
were passed to oppress them, just SO often
did they repeat their appeals to the king for
redress, but repeated appeals made no impress
sion OH the hinty heat of their unprincipled
monarch. This condition of affairs could evi-
IDENTIFY not last long, the people were gradu-
ally becoming more and more exasperated,
and it was evident that the day Of positive
decisions was drawing close at hand.
A love for civil and religious freedom had
caused many t o leave pleasant homes in the
Old World, tear assunder the ties of friend
ship, burst the bands of kindred affection and
to seek home among strangers in a strange
land; and now that this boon was being de-
MED them, it is no wonder that they cherish
ed in their breasts spirit ofopposition to the
power woich oppressed them.
In the British Parliament, the powerful
eloquence of Pitt had continually been brought
to bear against that sentiment which actuatcd
England to oppress her American colonies,
and this to some extent served to check them
in their arbitrary proceedings, but at length
the wise councils of this man an
act was passed through Parliament which
further oppressed the colonies by laying an
impost on liquors, increasing the duty on
gar, and providing for rigid enforcement
of the law for collecting the revenue. This
was soon followed by the passage of the IA
nous Stamp Act, which required stamp on
every bond, deed, note, lease or other legal
document of from 3 pence to f6, according
to its nature.
The determined opposition with which this
latter act was met by the friends Ut liberty
in America caused the wise heads of Parlia-
ment to urge its repeal, which was accord
ingly done. But, determined still to oppress
the colonies, an act was passed laying a
heavy duty on tea, glass and other commod-
tiles. Again the indignation of the colonists
was aroused, and in 176S, increased by Par
lament sending troops to Boston to awe the
people into submission. The presence of the
military emboldened the Royal officers to
such contemPtuous acts of injustice, that the
people could no longer endure them. In
the south, the people rose in mass as
suming the name Of regulators. but lacking
arms and ammunition they were soon dis
persed. Throughout all the colonies meet
ings were held, addressed by the ablest and
most eloquent defenders of popular rights:
At these meetings was reiterated and instilled
into the breasts Of the people that time hon.