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arefully preserved in several towns of the Union。 Does not this sufficiently show how entirely all human power and greatness is in the soul of man？ Here is a stone which the feet of a few outcasts pressed for an instant； and this stone becomes famous； it is treasured by a great nation； its very dust is shared as a relic： and what is become of the gateways of a thousand palaces？＇
〃But before we pass on；〃 continues our historian； 〃let the reader with me make a pause and seriously consider this poor people's present condition； the more to be raised up to admiration of God's goodness towards them in their preservation： for being now passed the vast ocean； and a sea of troubles before them in expectation； they had now no friends to welcome them； no inns to entertain or refresh them； no houses； or much less towns to repair unto to seek for succour： and for the season it was winter； and they that know the winters of the country know them to be sharp and violent； subject to cruel and fierce storms； dangerous to travel to known places； much more to search unknown coasts。 Besides； what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness； full of wilde beasts； and wilde men？ and what multitudes of them there were； they then knew not： for which way soever they turned their eyes （save upward to Heaven） they could have but little solace or content in respect of any outward object； for summer being ended； all things stand in appearance with a weather…beaten face； and the whole country full of woods and thickets； represented a wild and savage hew； if they looked behind them； there was the mighty ocean which they had passed； and was now as a main bar or gulph to separate them from all the civil parts of the world。〃
It must not be imagined that the piety of the Puritans was of a merely speculative kind； or that it took no cognizance of the course of worldly affairs。 Puritanism； as I have already remarked； was scarcely less a political than a religious doctrine。 No sooner had the emigrants landed on the barren coast described by Nathaniel Morton than it was their first care to constitute a society； by passing the following Act：
〃In the name of God。 Amen。 We； whose names are underwritten； the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James； etc。； etc。； Having undertaken for the glory of God； and advancement of the Christian Faith； and the honour 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 combine ourselves together into a civil body politick； 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 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；〃 etc。 *i
＇Footnote i： The emigrants who founded the State of Rhode Island in 1638； those who landed at New Haven in 1637； the first settlers in Connecticut in 1639； and the founders of Providence in 1640； began in like manner by drawing up a social contract； which was acceded to by all the interested parties。 See 〃Pitkin's History；〃 pp。 42 and 47。＇
This happened in 1620； and from that time forwards the emigration went on。 The religious and political passions which ravaged the British Empire during the whole reign of Charles I drove fresh crowds of sectarians every year to the shores of America。 In England the stronghold of Puritanism was in the middle classes； and it was from the middle classes that the majority of the emigrants came。 The population of New England increased rapidly； and whilst the hierarchy of rank despotically classed the inhabitants of the mother…country； the colony continued to present the novel spectacle of a community homogeneous in all its parts。 A democracy； more perfect than any which antiquity had dreamt of； started in full size and panoply from the midst of an ancient feudal society。
Chapter II： Origin Of The Anglo…Americans … Part II
The English Government was not dissatisfied with an emigration which removed the elements of fresh discord and of further revolutions。 On the contrary； everything was done to encourage it； and great exertions were made to mitigate the hardships of those who sought a shelter from the rigor of their country's laws on the soil of America。 It seemed as if New England was a region given up to the dreams of fancy and the unrestrained experiments of innovators。
The English colonies （and this is one of the main causes of their prosperity） have always enjoyed more internal freedom and more political independence than the colonies of other nations； but this principle of liberty was nowhere more extensively applied than in the States of New England。
It was generally allowed at that period that the territories of the New World belonged to that European nation which had been the first to discover them。 Nearly the whole coast of North America thus became a British possession towards the end of the sixteenth century。 The means used by the English Government to people these new domains were of several kinds； the King sometimes appointed a governor of his own choice； who ruled a portion of the New World in the name and under the immediate orders of the Crown； *j this is the colonial system adopted by other countries of Europe。 Sometimes grants of certain tracts were made by the Crown to an individual or to a company； *k in which case all the civil and political power fell into the hands of one or more persons； who； under the inspection and control of the Crown； sold the lands and governed the inhabitants。 Lastly； a third system consisted in allowing a certain number of emigrants to constitute a political society under the protection of the mother…country； and to govern themselves in whatever was not contrary to her laws。 This mode of colonization； so remarkably favorable to liberty； was only adopted in New England。 *l
＇Footnote j： This was the case in the State of New York。＇
＇Footnote k： Maryland； the Carolinas； Pennsylvania； and New Jersey were in this situation。 See 〃Pitkin's History；〃 vol。 i。 pp。 11…31。＇
＇Footnote l： See the work entitled 〃Historical Collection of State Papers and other authentic Documents intended as materials for a History of the United States of America； by Ebenezer Hasard。 Philadelphia； 1792；〃 for a great number of documents relating to the commencement of the colonies； which are valuable from their contents and their authenticity： amongst them are the various charters granted by the King of England； and the first acts of the local governments。
See also the analysis of all these charters given by Mr。 Story； Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States； in the Introduction to his 〃Commentary on the Constitution of the United States。〃 It results from these documents that the principles of representative government and the external forms of political liberty were introduced into all the colonies at their origin。 These principles were more fully acted upon in the North than in th