and various benefits of trade with foreign nations. The people of the Uni. ted States are of an enterprising and inventive spirit. They have made great improvements in the useful arts, and in the mode of education, which people of the old continent may do well to imitate. And the latter have and will learn much of the former in future periods. But Europe is not stationary. It contains numerous individuals who are the most scientific and learned characters in the world; and we should not be ashamed to learn of them, nor to confess our obligations to them for a great portion of the science and literature of our young, but rising country. And without commercial intercourse with Europe, not only the means of wealth, but of scientific and literary progress in America, would be in a great measure diminished.

ART. III.-GOVERNMENTAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED

STATES.

FROM THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION.*

PART SECOND.

In the first division of our subject, we have traced the history of the "Southern Colony of Virginia," till its establishment under a settled and permanent form of government. We come now to that of the "Northern Colony of Virginia," more familiarly known as the "Colony of Plymouth," and which was so denominated because the proprietors of the company empowered to settle this division of the continent, had their residence at Plymouth. This company did not receive a patronage by any means equal to that of the other. Not only did it experience disadvantages from its own location, but the shores on which its settlements were to be made, were cold, bleak, cheerless, and inhospitable. Few men of rank, of opulence, or of enterprise, became interested in its transactions. And although it was gifted with equal privileges with the company resident at London, it fell far short of the latter in the energy and efficiency of its efforts to accomplish the objects of its incorporation. The first expedition under its auspices, was fitted out in the year 1606, but the vessels employed on this occasion were captured by the Spaniards. An inconsiderable settlement was formed at Sagahadoc in the year 1607, but the inclemency of the climate soon desolated whatever hopes it might have inspired, and no further attempts were made other than to open a fishing and fur trade with the natives. One of these trading vessels, which sailed in 1616, was commanded by Captain Smith, a name proudly conspicuous in the early history of the "South Virginia Colony." His inquisitive genius was not satisfied with a trade to the country, without any further knowledge of it than such as might be gained from the unenlightened natives. He landed, and spent some time in exploring it. He drew a chart of the coast, made practical observations on its bays and harbors, its soil and productions; and such were his repre

* Continued from page 204, of Merchants' Magazine for September, 1840.

sentations on his return to England, that the young prince, afterwards the first Charles, became so fascinated that he bestowed upon it the name of "New England." Yet although many became interested in the accounts given by Captain Smith, they had no further effect than to induce private adventurers to prosecute the trade with the natives. None were influenced to emigrate. Nor did the prospect of gain sufficiently lure the company to attempt any settlement. Men could not be induced to abandon their homes, ease, comfort, or luxury, for the sake of an uncertain, or at least a distant advantage, either to themselves or to their country. The shores were too wild, the climate too harsh, and the end too precarious, to inspire or to encourage a spirit of adventure. Happily, however, for mankind, there was a spirit which could face all these difficulties, and endure all these sacrifices and pri vations; which could breast every danger, and welcome any disaster, with the prospect, however distant or contingent, of accomplishing its purposes. A spirit which, under whatever trials, under whatever sacrifices, under whatever circumstances, and in whatever clime, could still live and glow in the bosom of its possessor. A spirit whose exalted purposes were in part accomplished the very moment it set foot on this "wild and rockbound coast.""" It was a spirit which sought "freedom to worship God."

After the warfare against the Romish church had been commenced by the great champion of the reformation, many of the countries of Europe. separated themselves from her communion, and abjured her authority. In some instances, this rupture was sudden and violent, leaving no traces of the ancient superstition, but adopting an entirely new form of doctrines and of discipline. Such was the case in the institutes provided by Calvin, and adopted in many of the estates of Germany. The simplicity of these, but more particularly their hostility to the papal doctrines and ordinances, were so much admired by the more zealous of the reformers, that they were adopted in Scotland, in the United Provinces, the dominions of the House of Brandenburgh, in those of the Elector Palatine, and by the Huguenots of France. In England, however, a different policy seems to have been pursued, and the progress of the principles of the reformation here, was more cautious and deliberate. She abolished, at first, only those doctrines and institutions of Rome, which were more prominently repugnant to the principles of freedom, or savored too much of superstition or of human invention. The changes in her ecclesiastical polity were, likewise, either retarded or accelerated, according to the various tempers, sentiments, and even the caprices, of her successive sovereigns. When Mary succeeded to the throne in 1554, her bloody persecutions compelled many eminent protestants to seek a refuge on the continent. They were received with sympathy, and found a more congenial home in various cities in the United Provinces. A large number assembled at Geneva, and formed themselves into a community under the institutes of Calvin. On the accession of Elizabeth in 1558, and the consequent ascendancy of the protestant religion, they returned again to England, with strong and deep-rooted prejudices against the church which had persecuted them, and ardently attached to their own institutions. Their efforts, however, at a participation in the re vision of the forms and observances of religion, and more especially of what was called the liturgy, were unsuccessful. They found Elizabeth not quite so liberal as her proclamations and promises had given them reason to expect. Proud in the consciousness of her superior abilities and her accomplishments in the school of theology, she deemed herself capable alone

to execute the task of expurgation. And her policy was rather to conciliate the followers of Rome, by imitating her in the pomp and parade of external worship, than to widen the breach by any further alterations. During her reign, an act of conformity was passed, which, however, left it at the discretion of the queen to require the observance of such ceremonials as in her wisdom she might think most becoming and instructive. She accordingly issued a proclamation prohibiting all preaching, and confining the services of the church to the reading of the gospels and commandments, without exposition or comment, together with the liturgy and the apostles' creed. These ordinances were opposed by the advocates for a further reform, and many of the most popular and distinguished of the clergy were deprived of their benefices, fined, and imprisoned. A court was erected called the " High Commission for Ecclesiastical affairs," whose trials were summary, whose decisions were arbitrary, and whose inflictions were almost as odious and cruel as the penalties of the inquisition. Its proceedings not only inflamed the zeal of the reformers, but also roused them to acts of open rebellion. In tracing the history of these inflammatory and intolerant times, while we condemn and deprecate the harsh denunciations of the established church, we cannot altogether justify the spirit of rebellion coupled with the religious ardor of the reformers. So ultimately blended, however, were the civil and ecclesiastical affairs of the kingdom, that the one could not be reformed without essentially opposing, and perhaps undermining the existing administration of the other. Having reviewed it sufficiently for our present purposes, we will here leave the general subject, and turn our attention to that small and devoted band of more humble and less erring piety, who chose rather to seek an asylum where they might follow the dictates of their own consciences without fear of provoking the inflictions of intolerance.

Even among the reformers there were various opinions entertained with regard to the doctrines and the discipline of religion; and rival sects had long contended with each other respecting them. The least objectionable, or rather the most popular of their tenets, were reduced to a system by one Robert Brown, a then popular preacher, who thus collected and organized into a society a large number of followers. It is to this sect, called Brownists, but more familiarly known as puritans, that we trace the origin of the now prevalent denomination of Independents, or Congregationalists. He taught that the established church was corrupt, antichrist-that its ministers were unlawfully ordained—that its discipline, its ordinances, and its sacraments, were alike. invalid and unscriptural, and prohibited all communion with it. He held, that any association of Christians, meeting to worship God, and united for that purpose, constituted in and of themselves a church, having exclusive control over all its affairs, independent on any other sect or society, and amenable only "to the great Head of the church;" that the priesthood was not a distinct order in the church; that the office did not confer any superior sanctity of character; that any man qualified to teach, might be chosen by his brethren for that purpose, and set apart to those functions" by the laying on of their hands;" that he could also by them be discharged from that station, and sent back again into the rank of a private Christian. He also insisted on a public profession of faith, and that the affairs of the church should be regulated by a majority of its members.

It needs scarce a moment's reflection to understand how a system so

democratic in its principles, and admitting such a liberty of discipline, was calculated to excite all the odium of the civil, as well as ecclesiastical jurisdiction of England. Doctrines so heretical and so damning, so subversive of all the received and cherished maxims of government, could not be tolerated; and, accordingly, full and heavy were the vials of wrath poured out upon their advocates. To render their situation still more embarrassing, their leader, Brown, was induced to abandon them, and conform to the established church. It is a singular, as well as remarkable fact, that a sect thus abandoned in its infancy, by the very man who had founded it, and planned its regulations, should still continue its existence, and that the doc. trines and discipline which he instituted, and labored afterwards to overthrow, should survive to control the faith of so many generations, to prevail over the greater part of the world.

We have been thus particular in our observations on the origin and history of this sect, because they have given an indelible hue to the complexion of the governmental history of New England. And for this same reason, we must follow them still further. To avoid the increasing fury of perse cution, they found themselves obliged to flee from their native country, and sought refuge in Holland. They settled at Leyden, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. John Robinson, where they enjoyed, for several years, tranquillity. No accessions, however, were made to their numbers, and fearing a decline in the purity and spirituality of their faith in so phlegmatic a neighborhood, they began to look around for a more suitable asylum, where they might plant their church, and propagate their doctrines, both of faith and discipline. The newly discovered country presented a field the best adapted to their purpose. Here too, they thought an opportunity was offered to show to an astonished world "what manner of spirit they were of." They were not to be deterred by dangers, or daunted by difficulties. They were not men whom trifles could discourage, or disasters and hardships overcome; nor were they of that sickly sentimentalism which could not endure the breaking away from the ties and endearments of home, of kindred, or of country.

In 1618, they made an application to the Virginia Company for a grant of land within the limits of its patent, which they received. Although James, the then reigning monarch, gave them no assurances of toleration in their contemplated settlement, he did not discourage the expedition. Having made such preparations as their means and patronage permitted, they set sail on September 6th, 1620, for Hudson's River. By some design on the part of the captain of their vessel, supposed to have been instigated by the company, contrary to their own wishes and expectations, they were landed far to the north, at Cape Cod. Here they found themselves beyond the limits of the company's jurisdiction of whom they had received their grant. Having appointed John Carver, one of their number, governor for one year, they set about exploring the coast, in order to select a spot more favorable for a settlement. On the 17th of December, they came to a beautiful and commodious bay, where they located, and called it Plymouth.

From the proud eminence on which we now stand, there is not, in the whole range of historical observation, a more sublime or interesting spectacle than is presented in the character, the condition, and the purposes of that little band of exiled emigrants to our shores. Their sufferings and the hardships they endured, have been the theme for poets and orators in every successive generation of their descendants, and are doubtless

familiar to all who know any thing of their country's annals. The winter had fully set in, and was rigorous and severe beyond description. They were but poorly provided with the requisites for a comfortable disposition of themselves or their families. And as no provision had been made in their charter contemplating a landing so far to the north, they were much perplexed as to the measures they should adopt for their government. This circumstance, seemingly so trivial and untoward, had an important, beneficial, and lasting influence on their interests, and the objects of their exile. Having landed where no authority of the crown had as yet prescribed any special regulations, they felt themselves more at liberty to adopt a plan of their own to regulate and govern their infant community. And on this desolate and dreary spot, by a small band of neglected, despised, persecuted, and betrayed exiles, was laid the foundation of a government, the most democratic in its principles, and the most republican in its forms, of any the world had yet seen, or political theorists yet dreamed of. The following is the compact under which they were united.

"In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, having undertaken, for the honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one another, covenant and com. bine ourselves together a civil body politic, for our better ordering, preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid, and by virtue hereof, do enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, institutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the good of the colony; unto which we promise all due reverence and submission.

"Witness, &c. November 11th, 1620."

This compact was signed by about forty-one individuals, for themselves and families-under it a government was organized, called the "Colony of New Plymouth," consisting in all of about one hundred and three persons. The executive authority was vested in a governor and assistants, to be elected annually by an assembly of the people. Every freeman belonging to the church, was permitted to vote in all matters of public interest. Most of their jurisprudence was borrowed from the institutes of Moses, which were to a certain extent well adapted. Some of these, however, were adopted without reference to their original intent, or their application to their own circumstances and condition. And how much soever we may be disposed to commend the spirit which prompted them, as evidencing their pious zeal and sincerity, we cannot give them credit for much political sagacity. Under this frame of government, they continued till the year 1634, when they were incorporated with the colony of Massachusetts Bay, which being next in the progress of our history, merits our attention.

In tracing the history of the Plymouth colony, we have seen that it was not settled under the auspices of the company at Plymouth, although on the territory comprehended within the limits of its jurisdiction. That company had, indeed, made no successful, or very laudable efforts to settle the country. Accordingly, James I., in the year 1620, published a new charter to the then Duke of Lenox, the Marquis of Buckingham, and others, confirming to them a still more liberal grant of territory, powers, and privileges,

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