Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

mother country. In the mean while the population of the colony had increased with a singular rapidity, and at the time of the restoration it numbered more than thirty thousand inhabitants. Industry and frugality were successful in all the occupations of life, while their commercial resources and relations were so defined as to encourage trade, promote naval enterprise, to give security and the prospect of an improving revenue to the mercantile interests, and to encourage the mechanic arts. The provisions of their government, which, with those we have already noticed, gave to it its characteristic qualities, had reference to her religious establishment. These were always regarded as an important part of her code in the colony of Virginia. The Church of England with its forms, its fasts, and its festival observances, was the established religion of the colony, and its doctrines and discipline were enforced by statutory provisions. Marriages were celebrated in the parish church, and according to the ceremonial prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer. Non-conformists* were obliged to quit the colony. The clergy were provided for by glebes and tithes. Non-residence was prohibited, and a personal, strict, and regular performance of parochial duties was required of them. The laws which regulated the descent and distribution of estates were conformable with the same in England. The peaceful and prosperous administration of Sir William Berkley lasted for nearly thirty years.

Here we terminate this part of the history of the Southern Colony of Virginia, and of the general gov

+ Non-conformists were those who, among other things, more particularly refused to use the sign of the cross in baptism, to kneel at the Lord's Supper, and to wear the robes usually worn by the papists, &c.

ernmental regulations under which it was permanently established. We do not find in them as wide a departure from the laws and constitution of the mother country, as we shall discover in those of the northern colony or New England. The aim in the former was to imitate, in its legislative administration and in its jurisprudence, in its civil and its ecclesiastical polity, as near as might be, the laws and administration of England. Soon after the restoration of the second Charles to the throne we find its assembly stating, with apparent pride, that it had been their care "in all things as near as the capacity and constitution of this country (Virginia) would admit, to adhere to those excellent and often refined laws of England, to which we profess and acknowledge all due obedience and reverence." And Sir William Berkley in reply to the Lords Commissioners in 1671 says,-" contrary to the laws of England we never did, nor dare, make any (law) only this, that no sale of land is good and legal unless within three months after the conveyance, it be recorded." We can discover thus far no causes which would probably have led to a separation from the parent state, had the southern Colony of Virginia never been affected by the spirit which planted and reared the northern colonies, or New England.* The causes which brought about the settlement of the latter, were not felt or understood by, were indeed unknown to, the policy which dictated the planting of the former. Their motives, their aims, their objects, were widely divergent, and the difference between the two sections is found to run

* "Within a few years of their plantation the Colonists of New England manifested the same spirit, and vindicated the same rights, which a century and a half afterwards produced a refusal of British taxation, and independence on the British Crown." Bisset's England, Vol. I.

through all their early history, governmental, political, literary and religious. Without subserving the interest of any particular creed, or promoting any sectarian spirit, it illustrates the fact and establishes the conviction that the pure and free spirit of the christian religion, if not the cause of our origin, was at least the foundation of our liberties, our prosperity, our independence as a nation. To its subversion, if ever that period should arrive, some future Gibbon may ascribe THE Decline AND FALL OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

PART II

HISTORY OF THE NORTHERN COLONY OF VIRGINIA OR NEW ENGLAND.

CHAPTER I.

In the first part of this work we have traced the history of the Southern Colony of Virginia till its establishment under a regular and permanent system of government. We now come to that of the Northern Colony of Virginia, more familiarly known as The Colony of Plymouth. It 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. It experienced great disadvantages not only 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 enterprize, became interested in its transactions, and although it was gifted with equal privileges with the Company resident in London, it fell far behind the latter in the energy and efficiency of its efforts to accomplish the objects sought to be promoted by its incorporation. The first expedition under its auspices was fitted out in the year 1606,

GOVERNMENTAL HISTORY, ETC.

61

but the vessels employed for the occasion were captured by the Spaniards, who then claimed the right to exclude all other nations from sailing in, or navigating, the American waters. Two more vessels with one hundred and forty planters on board, were dispatched under the direction of Admiral Raleigh Gilbert, in the month of May 1607, who formed an inconsiderable settlement on the river Sagadahok; but, becoming alarmed at the severity of the climate, the majority of them returned to England in the month of December following, leaving about forty five men with Captain George Popham as their president, in the colony. The death of their principal patron,* in England; the inclemency of the climate, and the ravages of disease, soon desolated whatever hopes this settlement might have inspired. The unfavourable reports which they gave of the country, prevented any further emigration to North Virginia, and no further plans were projected. by the Company, 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 Company. His inquisitive mind was not contented with carrying on a trade to the country, without any further knowledge of its capabili ties and resources than such as might be gathered from the natives. He landed, and spent some considerable time in exploring its territory. He drew a chart of the coast from Penobscot to Cape Cod, made practical observations of its bays and harbours, its soil and productions, and such were his representations of the country on his return to England that the then Prince of Wales, afterwards the I. Charles, was so fascinated with his * Chief Justice Popham.

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »