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PART SECOND.

HISTORY OF THE COLONIES-AFTERWARDS INDEPENDENT STATES-FROM THEIR FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION.

CHAPTER I.

Discovery of America and Settlement of the Colonies.

68. A BRIEF history of the colonies, of their settlement and political institutions, is here deemed useful, especially to young persons. A recital of the sacrifices which were made to secure the independence of these states, cannot fail to inspire youth with sentiments of genuine patriotism; while a knowledge of the government of the colonies, and of the changes effected in them from time to time, will enable them the better to understand the nature and objects of the constitution.

69. IN 1492, America was discovered by Christopher Columbus; an expedition having been fitted out for that purpose by the Spanish government, at his earnest solicitations. His discovery, however, was confined to the West Indies. The English were the first people that discovered the continent of America. This discovery was made in the year 1497, by Giovanni Cabot and his son Sebastian, who were commissioned by Henry VII. to sail in quest of new countries.

69. By whom, and when, was America discovered? 70. When.

70. Of the thirteen colonies whose delegates signed the Declaration of Independence, all but Georgia were settled in the scventeenth century. A colony is a settlement of persons gone from a country to inhabit some distant place, but who remain subject to the parent country. With few exceptions, the colonists were Englishmen. The settlements were chiefly made at a time of great political excitement in the parent country, caused by encroachments of the crown upon the liberties of the people. Multitudes annually fled hither to find a refuge from oppression. The attempt on the part of the government, to enforce conformity to the established church, also brought many to this country, where they might enjoy freedom of conscience in matters of religion.

71. In 1606, two companies of merchants and others were incorporated under the names of the London company, and the Plymouth company, with the exclusive right of settling and trading within their respective limits. In 1607, the London company sent to Virginia a colony of 100 men, which, in consequence of war with the natives, scarcity of food, and disease, was reduced in a few months to 38. In October, 1609, the number had been increased by new colonists to 500; but a famine reduced them in about six months to 60. In 1613, the land which had before been held in common, was diɛtributed to each individual.

72. The supreme government of the colonies, on their first establishment, was vested in a council which resided in England, and was nominated by the king; the subordinate jurisdiction, in a council which was to reside in America, also to be named by the king, and to act in conformity to his instructions. This charter being found inconvenient, a new one was granted by James, enlarging the colony, abolishing the council in Virginia, and vesting the government in one residing in London.

were the thirteen colonies settled? By what people? What is a colony? 71. When was the first colony planted in Virginia? By what company? 72. In what bodies was the government of the colonies

73. In 1619, a great change was effected in the government of the colony. A general assembly, the first that was held in Virginia, was called by the governor. Eleven boroughs sent representatives to the convention. The supreme authority was divided between the governor, a council of state appointed by the company in England, and a general assembly elected by the people with the power to enact laws.

74. In 1622, 347 men, women and children, were massacred by the Indians; an Indian war followed, which reduced the number of settlements from eighty to eight. It may here be remarked, that this disaster, and the many that followed, together with the settled hostility of the Indians which afterwards subsisted, were doubtless owing to the imprudence of the first settlers, rather than to the bad disposition of the natives.

75. În 1624, the displeasure of James having been excited by the change that had been made in the government of the colony, the charter was declared forfeit, and the company dissolved. A charter is a writing that grants privileges or rights to the subjects of a govern

ment.

76. The Plymouth company, which had the exclusive right to trade and settle in North Virginia, did nothing effectual towards colonizing their territory. But in 1620, a number of Puritans embarked on a voyage with a design of settlement on the Hudson. But by accident, as some suppose, they were landed on Cape Cod, within the limits of the Plymouth company: or, as others think, by the treachery of the Dutch, who themselves contemplated settling on the Hudson, they were, against their intention, compelled to land on the shores of Cape Cod. Puritans was a name given to those who dissented from the established church, because they wished for a purer form

vested, on their first establishment? 73. What change was effected in 1619 74. What disaster befel the colonists in 1622 75. When, and for what cause, was the charter of the Virginia colony dissolved? What is a charter? 76. Where, and in what year, did the Plymouth company make their first settlement? What is the

of discipline and worship; as many of the ancient forms and ceremonies of the Romish church were still continued.

77. Not having contemplated any plantation at this place, they had not obtained any charter from the company. Destitute of any right to the soil, and without any powers of government, on the 11th of November, before they landed, they drew up and signed a compact, in which, after acknowledging themselves to be subjects of the crown of England, they declared as follows: "Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and the advancement of the christian faith, and the honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, we do, by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and of one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof do enact, constitute and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience." This was the earliest American constitution, and was signed by 41 persons. It was in substance a pure democracy.

78. The company, including women and children, amounted to 101. They proceeded to examine the coast, and finally determined to settle in a place called New Plymouth Exhausted by the fatigues of the sea, and suffering from a want of suitable provisions and shelter, nearly one half of their number died within four months after their landing. They continued for ten years to hold their goods and property in common, when they obtained from the company a grant of the land which they had before held only by occupancy. At this time their number did not exceed three hundred. For many

meaning of Puritans? 7. What was the character of the government which they adopted on landing? 78. Where did they settle?

years they continued a mere voluntary association, governed by laws and magistrates formed and chosen by themselves, until they were incorporated with Massachu setts, in 1692.

79. In 1628, the Massachusetts colony was settled by a company incorporated by royal charter, the land having been previously purchased from the Plymouth company. In 1630, the government of the colony was transferred to Massachusetts, by a vote of the company. A few years later, the freemen adopted the plan of acting by delegates or representatives, and the charter of a trading company was converted into the constitution of a commonwealth. This unauthorized assumption of power, as well as their religious principles, rendered the Puritans obnoxious to the court party at home, and led the Plymouth company to resign their charter to the king; and Massachusetts, like Virginia, was taken into royal hands. But such was the disturbed state of England, that these distant and insignificant colonies attracted little notice, and were left to grow up in habits of self-government, their numbers at the same time increasing by emigrations of such as were unsuccessful in the civil strifes at home. The persecuted Puritans fled to New England; the Catholics to Maryland; and the defeated royalists to Virginia.

80. New York was settled by the Dutch in 1614, and was held by them fifty years. It was, however, claimed by England, having been discovered by Henry Hudson, in 1608, who entered the bay of New York, and sailed up the river to latitude 43 degrees north. He did not attempt to land and form a settlement, contenting himself with claiming the country for his sovereign, James I., by right of discovery. The English asserted that Hudson was employed by their government, and that he sold the country to the Dutch without authority. The Dutch maintained that he was in the service of the Dutch East

How were they governed? How long? 79. When was the Massachusetts colony settled? What plan of government was adopted in Massachusetts? 80. When was New York settled? By whom? By whom was it discovered? When was it occupied by the English?

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