France, to this country, have always declared that their discoveries of the Mississippi and the interior country on the east side of that river, were prior to those made by France; and particularly mentioned the years 1654 and 1678, in which they were made. Georgia was the last of the English colonies established in North America. The charter of this colony was granted in 1732, and comprehended the country on the south part of the Carolinas, between the rivers Savannah and Altamaha, and extending westward from the heads of these rivers, in direct lines, to the south sea. To secure an asylum for the poor and wretched, in London and other places, in England and Ireland, as well as to prevent the encroachments of the Spaniards and French, were the principal objects of this grant. It was made to twenty one persons as trustees, who were incorporated for the purpose of settling and establishing the colony. CHAPTER II. Different forms of governments in the Colonies-Puritans settle Plymouth in 1620Form a government for themselves-Intercourse of the Dutch with the people of Plymouth-Massachusetts second Colony in New England-Obtains a Charter from the King-Government of the Colonies placed in the hands of Commissioners-Their powers and conduct-Surrender of the great Plymouth Charter to the Crown-Reasons for it-People first represented in the General Court in Massachusetts in 1634-Governments established in the Colonies of Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Haven-Confederacy of the New England Colonies-Proprietary governments of Maryland, the Carolinas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania-Disputes between the Proprietors and Settlers-People of South Carolina renounce the Proprietary Government-Proprietors of New Jersey surrender their government to the crown-Royal governments-Government of Virginia under the London Company and during the civil wars in England-Application of Virginia for a CharterGovernment of New York under the Dutch and the Duke of York-People of New-York first represented in the Assembly in 1683-Government of Leisler--Conduct of Governors Slaughter and Fletcher. THE sufferings, the hardships, the distresses, of the first English settlers in the new world, and particularly those of Virginia and New England were without a parallel; and their patience in enduring them, as well as their perseverance in the pursuit of the objects they had in view, justly entitle them to the gratitude of their descendants. The dangers and hardships of the sea were nothing in comparison with those they were doomed to encounter in a perfect wilderness, from toil, from cold, from famine and from savages. Determined, however, to enjoy in the new world those blessings and advantages of which they were deprived in the old, no hardships discouraged, no dangers appalled them; and here, by divine assistance, they laid the foundation of those happy forms of government, and those valuable institutions, the benefits of which are now enjoyed by their posterity. Briefly to trace the origin and progress of these will next claim our attention. In the settlement of the different Colonies, three forms of government were established. These were usually denominated Charter, Proprietary and Royal governments. This difference arose from the different circumstances under which the colonies were settled, as well as the different objects of the first emigrants. The Charter governments were confined to New England. Religious disputes, it is well known, peopled this part of North America. Early in the reign of the first of the Stuarts, a number of people, (from their peculiar religious tenets, denominated Puritans,) to avoid prosecution under the laws relating to uniformity in matters of religion, and to enjoy in peace that mode of worship they deemed most consonant to the scriptures, removed, with their celebrated teacher Mr. Robinson, to Holland. Here they remained until 1619, when they determined again to remove, and form a settlement by themselves, in some part of America, within the limits of the South Virginia Company. For this purpose, a patent was obtained through the agency of one of their friends, from that company, with a view to plant themselves somewhere near Hudson's river. The Dutch, however, unwilling that they should settle in their neighborhood under the authority of the Virginia Company, bribed their pilot to land them at some place north of the Hudson. They were, therefore, carried to the barren coast of Cape Cod, where they arrived on the 9th of November, 1620. After searching many days for a place of settlement, they at last fixed upon a spot which they called Plymouth, and commenced the first settlement in New-England. They landed on this spot on the 23d of December, to the number of one hundred and one, including men, women and children, and commenced, at that inclement season, the erection of buildings for their common use. Never were any civilized people placed more completely in a state of nature than this little band of pilgrims, as they have been justly called. They had, indeed, literally, a world before them; but that world was a wilderness, and Providence was their only guide. Being without the limits of the South Virginia patent, they were destitute of any right to the soil on which they landed; nor had they any powers of government derived from authority. Sensible of the necessity of some compact or form of civil government among themselves, they voluntarily entered into and "In the name of subscribed the following written constitution. God, amen. We, whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign, Lord King James, &c. having undertaken, for the glory of God and advancement of the christian faith, and 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 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 to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws and ordinances, acts, constitutions and officers, 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 brief but comprehensive constitution of civil government, was signed by forty-one persons. It contained the elements of those forms of government peculiar to the new world. Under this system John Carver was by general consent chosen their first governor, "confiding," as the electors say, "in his prudence, that he would not adventure upon any matter of moment without the consent of the rest, or at least, advice of such as were known to be the wisest among them." The climate was found much more severe than that to which these adventurers had been accustomed; and it is a melancholy fact, that for want of comfortable habitations, wholesome provisions and other causes, their sufferings were such that one half of this little band perished in the course of the first winter. And it cannot be imagined how the survivors could have had the resolution any longer to continue on this desolate spot. Nothing but the same spirit which led them to this wilderness, could have induced them under these circumstances to continue. Before they left England, these new settlers had formed a connection or partnership with a number of merchants and other adventurers, to continue for seven years; by which, not only their * Hazard, vol. 1. commerce, but all their business was to be carried on in common, and for their joint benefit. At the end of the seven years, the shares of the adventurers in England, were purchased by the colonists, and the joint property was divided among them.* The Plymouth colonists were fortunate in being able to form a "league of peace," with Massasoit, the great Sachem of the country. They were, however, for some years without a patent on which they relied for security in their possession. In 1629, a second patent from the great Plymouth company was obtained in the name of William Bradford and his associates, granting them a tract of country lying between the river Conahasset towards the north, and Naragansets on towards the south, and the great western ocean towards the east, and between and within straight lines, extending up into the main land, towards the west, from the mouths of those rivers to the utmost limits and bounds of a country or place in New-England, commonly called Pokenacutt, alias Sowamsett, westward, doth extend, &c. They attempted at this time to obtain a royal charter, similar to that granted to Massachusetts, but without success.† These colonists had serious disputes with Massachusetts and Rhode Island, relative to boundaries. Under the constitution which they had formed, the governor was chosen by the people annually; and seven persons were elected to aid him in his duties, called assistants, a name peculiar to New England, given to those who were elected to aid the governors by their advice and counsel. The government was first a pure democracy; the whole body of the people often met and decided upon affairs, both executive and legislative. As their numbers increased, this was found inconvenient; and in 1639, a House of Representatives was established, and Representatives elected from the several towns; Plymouth at first being allowed four, and the other towns two each. The number from Plymouth was afterwards reduced to two.‡ *Morton's Memorial, edited by Judge Davis. Hutchinson, vol. 2, p. 414, appendix. |