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he bosom of the monarchy of the House of Tudor。
The religious quarrels which have agitated the Christian world were then rife。 England had plunged into the new order of things with headlong vehemence。 The character of its inhabitants； which had always been sedate and reflective； became argumentative and austere。 General information had been increased by intellectual debate； and the mind had received a deeper cultivation。 Whilst religion was the topic of discussion； the morals of the people were reformed。 All these national features are more or less discoverable in the physiognomy of those adventurers who came to seek a new home on the opposite shores of the Atlantic。
Another remark； to which we shall hereafter have occasion to recur； is applicable not only to the English； but to the French； the Spaniards； and all the Europeans who successively established themselves in the New World。 All these European colonies contained the elements； if not the development； of a complete democracy。 Two causes led to this result。 It may safely be advanced； that on leaving the mother…country the emigrants had in general no notion of superiority over one another。 The happy and the powerful do not go into exile； and there are no surer guarantees of equality among men than poverty and misfortune。 It happened； however； on several occasions； that persons of rank were driven to America by political and religious quarrels。 Laws were made to establish a gradation of ranks； but it was soon found that the soil of America was opposed to a territorial aristocracy。 To bring that refractory land into cultivation； the constant and interested exertions of the owner himself were necessary； and when the ground was prepared； its produce was found to be insufficient to enrich a master and a farmer at the same time。 The land was then naturally broken up into small portions； which the proprietor cultivated for himself。 Land is the basis of an aristocracy； which clings to the soil that supports it； for it is not by privileges alone； nor by birth； but by landed property handed down from generation to generation； that an aristocracy is constituted。 A nation may present immense fortunes and extreme wretchedness； but unless those fortunes are territorial there is no aristocracy； but simply the class of the rich and that of the poor。
All the British colonies had then a great degree of similarity at the epoch of their settlement。 All of them； from their first beginning； seemed destined to witness the growth； not of the aristocratic liberty of their mother…country； but of that freedom of the middle and lower orders of which the history of the world had as yet furnished no complete example。
In this general uniformity several striking differences were however discernible； which it is necessary to point out。 Two branches may be distinguished in the Anglo…American family； which have hitherto grown up without entirely commingling； the one in the South； the other in the North。
Virginia received the first English colony； the emigrants took possession of it in 1607。 The idea that mines of gold and silver are the sources of national wealth was at that time singularly prevalent in Europe； a fatal delusion； which has done more to impoverish the nations which adopted it； and has cost more lives in America； than the united influence of war and bad laws。 The men sent to Virginia *a were seekers of gold； adventurers； without resources and without character； whose turbulent and restless spirit endangered the infant colony； *b and rendered its progress uncertain。 The artisans and agriculturists arrived afterwards； and； although they were a more moral and orderly race of men； they were in nowise above the level of the inferior classes in England。 *c No lofty conceptions； no intellectual system； directed the foundation of these new settlements。 The colony was scarcely established when slavery was introduced； *d and this was the main circumstance which has exercised so prodigious an influence on the character； the laws； and all the future prospects of the South。 Slavery； as we shall afterwards show； dishonors labor； it introduces idleness into society； and with idleness； ignorance and pride； luxury and distress。 It enervates the powers of the mind； and benumbs the activity of man。 The influence of slavery； united to the English character； explains the manners and the social condition of the Southern States。
＇Footnote a： The charter granted by the Crown of England in 1609 stipulated； amongst other conditions； that the adventurers should pay to the Crown a fifth of the produce of all gold and silver mines。 See Marshall's 〃Life of Washington；〃 vol。 i。 pp。 18…66。＇ ＇Footnote b： A large portion of the adventurers； says Stith （〃History of Virginia〃）； were unprincipled young men of family； whom their parents were glad to ship off； discharged servants； fraudulent bankrupts； or debauchees； and others of the same class； people more apt to pillage and destroy than to assist the settlement； were the seditious chiefs； who easily led this band into every kind of extravagance and excess。 See for the history of Virginia the following works： …
〃History of Virginia； from the First Settlements in the year 1624；〃 by Smith。
〃History of Virginia；〃 by William Stith。
〃History of Virginia； from the Earliest Period；〃 by Beverley。＇
＇Footnote c： It was not till some time later that a certain number of rich English capitalists came to fix themselves in the colony。＇
＇Footnote d： Slavery was introduced about the year 1620 by a Dutch vessel which landed twenty negroes on the banks of the river James。 See Chalmer。＇
In the North； the same English foundation was modified by the most opposite shades of character； and here I may be allowed to enter into some details。 The two or three main ideas which constitute the basis of the social theory of the United States were first combined in the Northern English colonies； more generally denominated the States of New England。 *e The principles of New England spread at first to the neighboring states； they then passed successively to the more distant ones； and at length they imbued the whole Confederation。 They now extend their influence beyond its limits over the whole American world。 The civilization of New England has been like a beacon lit upon a hill； which； after it has diffused its warmth around； tinges the distant horizon with its glow。
＇Footnote e： The States of New England are those situated to the east of the Hudson； they are now six in number： 1； Connecticut； 2； Rhode Island； 3； Massachusetts； 4； Vermont； 5； New Hampshire； 6； Maine。＇
The foundation of New England was a novel spectacle； and all the circumstances attending it were singular and original。 The large majority of colonies have been first inhabited either by men without education and without resources； driven by their poverty and their misconduct from the land which gave them birth； or by speculators and adventurers greedy of gain。 Some settlements cannot even boast so honorable an origin； St。 Domingo was founded by buccaneers； and the criminal courts of England originally supplied the population of Australia。
The settlers who established themselve