USA > New York > Rockland County > The history of Rockland County > Part 7
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7th. That the following gentlemen, to wit : Colonel Abraham Lent, John Haring, Esq., Mr. Thomas Outwater, Mr. Gardner Jones, and Peter T. Haring be a committee from this town to correspond with the city of New York, and to conclude and agree upon such measures as they shall judge necessary in order to obtain a repeal of said acts."
Two months later, when, in September 1774, delegates were to be elected to a Continental Congress, the people of this County had so little determined on their next step, had so little decided how to instruct a rep- resentative, that not over two score votes were cast.
But it was already too late for resolutions to check the progress of events. Before another year had passed Virginia's people were forever separated from the old government; New York was under the control of Sears and his fellow patriots; and from Massachusetts, as if borne by the blast, had come the news of Lexington. It was no longer a matter for waiting, the hour for action was come.
Awakened to the importance of the issue at last, the inhabitants of the
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County met on the 17th of April, 1775, at Mabie's, to take into considera- tion the subject of their representation at the Provincial Convention, which was to meet in New York three days later, for the purpose of sending delegates to the Continental Congress. At this meeting John Haring was chosen from Orangetown and Col. A. Hawkes Hay from Haverstraw.
Three months passed, when, on July 17th, 1775, another meeting took place in this County for action on the "General Association adopted by freemen, freeholders and inhabitants of the city and county of New York on April 29th, 1775, and transmitted for signing to all the counties of the Province."
Petitions are permissible even in despotisms. Calm, firm remonstrances can never be construed into anarchy. A demand for the right to be heard is not revolt. Believing that they had been wronged most unjustly, our people had resorted to petition-to remonstrance, and had demanded the right to a hearing, and their efforts were vain. So far could they go with impunity. But the junction of two future courses was reached. By one road they threw themselves upon the mercy and clemency of a master ; they renounced the right of individualism, of independence ; they became, clothe it with whatever sophistries you please, call it by any name you like, cover it with all the paraphernalia and glittering generalities of diplomatic art-they became slaves.
By the other road, they entered upon revolt against a government, which regarded "rebellion as treason and rebellion persisted in as death." The confiscation of property, the ravages of a merciless conqueror, the horrors of incarceration and the dangers of exasperated military courts, stood along this route. There was no middle course. The end which was attained by our ancestors was not aimed for till long after the wave of war had swept back and forth across the Colonies. The hope of wrest- ing national autonomy from Great Britain, when the people of Orange County were called upon to accept or reject the test of the General Asso- ciation, had not been conceived, much less born. Let us, then, in reading the oath, remember these facts and judge fairly, and, with a knowledge of the end, let me premise sufficiently to state that some who signed the test proved traitors, that some who refused to sign it were patriots, and that both parties who adhered to their actions were influenced by an idea.
" Persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America depends, under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safely, and convinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend the dissolution of the powers of the government, we, the freemen, freeholders, and inhabitants of Orangetown, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scenes now acting in the Massachusetts Bay, do, in the most solemn
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manner, resolve never to become slaves ; and do associate under all the ties of religion, honor, and love to our country, to adopt and endeavor to carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or resolved upon by our Provincial Convention, for . the purpose of preserving our Constitution, and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British Parliament until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America, on constitutional principles (which we most ardently desire), can be obtained ; and that we will in all things follow the advice of our general committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order, and the safety of individuals and private property."
Daniel Lawrence,
Spedwell Jacklin,
Abraham Tallman, Jr.
David Aljea,
Nathaniel Lawrence,
Peter Ketan,
Albert Aljea,
Abraham Post,
Daniel Onderdonk,
David Lawrence,
Conrad Gravenstine,
Jacob Conklin,
Edward Briggs,
Abraham Mabie, Jr.
John Westervelt,
Garret Blauvelt,
Jacob Wilfer,
William Bell, Jr.,
Kasparius Conklin,
Michael Cornelison, John Vanhouten,
Adrean Onderdonk,
Jacobus De Clark,
Abraham Mahie,
John Rycher,,
William Martin, Harman Tallman,
Avery Campbell,
Daniel Voorhees,
Garret Ackerson,
Ram Boll,
Abraham Onderdonk,
Jacob Ackerson,
Abraham Conklin,
Jonas Torrell,
Harman Tallman, Jr.
James Jacklin,
John Gissnar, Jr.
Another party, while refusing to sign the pledge given above, did sign the following: "That we would not countenance rebellion, nor have any hand in a riot, but stand for King, Country and liberty, agreeable to the charter, but at the same time disallowing taxation in any wise contrary to the charter, and shall never consent to taxation without being fully repre- sented with our consent."
Isaac Sherwood,
Derick Straws,
Anthony Crouter,
Cornelius De Gray,
Guysbert F. Camp,
Jacob Waldron,
Alberd Smith,
John Smith,
Thunis Crom,
Cornelius Smith,
John Darlington,
Peter Bush,
Garit Smith,
Johannes Bell,
Arthur Johnston,
Daniel Gerow,
John Van Horn,
David I). Ackerman,
Cornelius Benson,
R. Quackenboss,
Benjamin Secor,
John Palmer,
Auri Blauvelt,
Cornelius Smith,
John Cox,
John Rureback,
Johannes Forshee,
Harmanus Kiselar,
Abraham De Baum,
Reynard House, Jr.
Peter Forshee,
Thunis Emmut,
In Haverstraw Precinct the test of the Association was signed as fol- lows :
Robert Burns,
Henry Brower,
James Lanu,
Joseph Knapp,
Thomas Eckerson,
Samuel Knapp,
David Pye,
Adrian Onderdonk,
John Suffern,
John Coleman,
John Smith,
Abraham Reynolds,
John Coe,
Harmanus Blauvelt,
Abr'm Stephensen,
Robert Johnson,
John Ackerson,
John Springsteel,
Auri Smith,
Alexander Mannell,
Joseph Jones, Jr.,
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Walter Smith, John Lent, Jacob Polhemus,
Rulef Stephenson, John Van Dolsen, Andrew Van Orden,
Powlas Vandervoort, Nathaniel Odle, Jr.
John Graham,
Cornelius Paulding, Abraham Ackerson, Thunis Snedeker,
Carpenter Kelly,
John Noblet,
Dowe Tallman.
Jacob Jirekie,
Abraham De Puy, John Thew,
John Wallace,
John Martine,
Nathaniel Barmore,
Thomas Kelly,
A. Hawkes Hay Daniel Morall,
David Hoofman,
Rulef Onderdonk,
Gilbard Crumm,
Garret Cole,
James Onderdonk,
Peter Crum,
Nathaniel Towenson,
Jacob Onderdonk,
William Crum,
Thomas Allison,
Albard Onderdonk,
John Parker,
IIenry Hallsted,
Henry Onderdonk,
Robert Wood,
Harmanus Hoofman,
Abraham Onderdonk,
William Wood,
Harmanus Felter,
Mauhel Tenure,
Henry Wood,
Johannes Demarest,
Johannes Defrees,
James Carmelt,
James Hannan,
Powlas Seamonds,
Benjamin Knapp,
Thomas Dolphen, William Bell,
John Voorhis,
John Ackerman,
Abraham Polhemus,
Jost Voorhis,
Jacob Derunde,
Peter Snyder,
Stephen Voorhis,
Abraham Derunde,
Abraham Blauvelt,
Edward Jones,
Gilbart Hunt,
Edward Cane,
Johannes Cole,
Joseph Hunt,
Rem Remsen,
Jacob Coles,
Reuben Hunt,
Matthew Coe,
E. W. Kesse,
John De Grote,
Peter Salter,
Jacob Kenifen,
Thomas Goldtrap,
Stephen Stephenson,
John Hill,
John Cummings,
Thunis Tallman,
Amos Hutchins,
Benjamin Ilolstead,
Andrew Onderdonk,
Peter Kiselar,
John Stogg,
William Stringham,
Patten Jackson,
" Mud Hole " Tenure,
Garret Paulding,
Joseph Allison,
John Slott,
Thums Remsen,
Benjamin Allison.
William Trunoper,
James Thene,
John Allison,
Johannes De Gray,
Jacob Archer,
Peter Allison,
John Mead,
Joseph Seamonds,
Robert Allison,
John Vandervoort,
John Toten,
Adam Brady,
John Hetcock,
John Toten, Jr.
John Johnson,
Henry Mackrel,
Robert Ackerly,
William Concklin,
Jonnas Dele,
Richard Osborn,
Joseph Concklin,
Aurt Remsen,
Thomas Dickings,
Michael Concklin,
Theodorus P'olhemus,
William Deronde,
Abraham Concklın,
Johannes Polhemus,
John Dunscombe,
Abraham Garrison,
Jobais Derunde,
Abel Knapp,
Claus Van llouten,
Timothy Halstead,
Jerod Knapp,
Chas. R. Van Ilouten,
Daniel Parker,
Jobair Knapp,
Garrit Van Houten, Roosevelt Van Houten,
Thomas Gilfon,
P. Van Houten, Sr. Peter Van Houten,
Thomas Kingen,
Andrew Onderdonk,
Thunis Van Houten,
Johannes J. Blauvelt,
Rulef Van Houten,
Harmanus Trumper,
Johannes Vanderbilt,
Derick Van Houten
Edward Ackerman,
John Jersey, Siba Banta.
Thomas Morall,
Garret Onderdonk,
Jeremiah Martine,
Moses C. Charter,
James Shirley, Abraham Mayers, John Mayers, Jacobus Mayers, Johannes Meyer, James Wilson, Simond Trump,
Alexander Gilfon,
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Garit Snedeker,
Johnas Snedeker,
Daniel Cocklate,
Isaac Manuel,
Stephen Beane,
William Slatt,
Joseph Palmer, Henry Houser,
Johnathan Lounsberry,
James Secor,
Fred. Uric,
Powlas Hopper,
David Secor,
Patrick Gurnee,
Peter Salter,
John Secor,
Stephen Girnee,
Joseph Wood, Jr.
Peter De Pue,
Francis Gurnee,
Harmanus Tallman,
William Dozenberry,
Francis Girnee, Jr.,
James Paul,
Jonah Halstead,
Isaac Girnec,
Jeremiah Williamson,
John Halstead,
Isaac Girnee, Jr.,
Jacob Meyers,
Johnathan Taylor,
Francis Girnee,
Thunis Remsen,
Benjamin Jones,
Paul Ruttan,
Derick Vanderbilt,
Peter Reed,
Harmanus Snyder,
Isaac Dutcher,
James Stewart,
Abraham Snyder,
John Felter,
Thunis De Clark,
Henry Snyder, Sr.,
William Felter,
Joseph De Clark,
Henry Snyder, Jr.,
Johannes Remsen,
James Smith,
Grasham Huff,
Theunis Tallman,
Stephen Smith,
William Crum,
Abraham Tallman,
William Smith,
Edward Holstead,
Ebenezer Wood,
Cornelius Smith,
Jacob Jones,
John Ferrand,
Lambert Smith,
William Hause,
Garret Meyers,
Peter Smith,
Hendrick Polhemus,
Abraham Thew,
Daniel Smith,
Thunis H. Tallema,
James Sharp,
John Smith,
John D. Tallman,
Theodorus Snedeker,
Auri Smith,
David Sherwood,
James Kelly,
Daniel Ward,
Samuel Hunt,
John Brush,
Jacob Jones,
John Jeffries,
Garret Van Cleft,
Theunis Cuyper, Gilbard Cuyper,
John Burges,
Jacobus De Clark,
Cornelius Cooper,
John 1Iogencamp,
George Remsen,
Wilvart.Cooper,
Richard Springsteel,
Luke Stephenson,
Albard Cooper, Jacob Cooper,
William Stephens,
Cobar DeClark,
John Cuyper,
Benjamin Benson,
Daniel DeClark,
John Cuiper, Jr.
John Persall, Jr., Paul Persall,
Johannes Jenwie,
John W. Cogg,
Samuel Wilson,
Gabriel Fargyson,
James Rumsey,
Henry Tenure, Sr.
Benjamin Coe, John J. Coe,
Charles Mott,
Leonard Bayle,
Daniel Coe,
Markel Mott,
Thomas Jacks,
Daniel Coe, Jr.,
Thomas Tillt,
Thomas Wilson,
Samuel Coe,
Gilbert Fowler,
Powlas Vandervoort,
Peter Easterly,
Samuel Sidman,
Abraham Stag, Jr.
Joseph Jones, Jr.,
Jacob Seacor,
Joseph Jones,
Andrew Abrames,
Isaac Seacor,
John Harper,
M. Vandervoort, David Babcock,
Jonah Wood,
Garrit Ackerson,
Aurt Amorman,
Gilbert Wilson,
William Snyder,
Thomas Osborn,
Samuel Youmans,
Reynan Gerow,
Thomas Blauvelt, Isaac Blauvelt, Andrew Cole,
John Clark, Johannes Blauvelt,
Elis Secor,
James Christe, James Stagg, Abraham Springsteel, Francis Cline,
Thomas Dinard,
Aurt Polhemus,
Hendrick Stephens,
Jobair Lauery,
Salvanus Mott,
Jacob Tenure,
11. Trumper, Jr., Joseph Johnston, William Rider, Jacob Mall,
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Isaac Cole,
William Youman, Jr.,
John Lorillard,
Reynard Hopper,
Ezekiel Youmans,
John G. Lorald,
Abraham Brower,
Benjamin Furman,
Jacob Bartholomew,
Abraham Koll,
John Parker, Jr.,
David Halstead,
Daniel Van Sickels,
Jacob Parker,
Ezekiel Ward, William Kempe,
Albard Stephenson,
Isaac Parker,
Petris Blauvelt,
Paul Vandervoort,
Rev. Robert Burns,
Jacobus Van Orden,
John Gardner,
Daniel Martine,
George Johnston,
Philip Sarvent, Adrian Sarvent,
The following is the list of those in Orangetown who refused to sign the General Association :
Matthew Steel,
Robert Sneeding,
Jacob C. Ackerson,
Jessy Sneeding,
Johannes Perry,
George Man,
Dennis Sneeding,
Rahl Bogard,
Isaac G. Blauvelt, Gesebert R. Bogardt, Jacob Gessenar,
And in the Precinct of Haverstraw :
Roger Osburn,
David Ackerson,
Moses Van Nostrant,
Benjamin Osburn,
Abraham Concklin,
G. Van Nostrant,
Richard Osburn,
Lewis Concklin,
Daniel D. Clark,
James R. Osburn,
Lewis Concklin, Jr.
John Rider,
John R. Osburn,
John Concklin.
Joseph Rider,
Nathaniel Osburn,
Joseph Concklin,
John Town,
James Babcock,
Ezekiel Conkling,
John Armstrong,
William Babcock,
S. Ileyman,
llenry Warden,
Abraham Babcock,
Frederick Post,
John Secor, Jr.
Nathaniel Oddle,
Isaac Post,
John Secor,
Tompkins Oddle,
Abraham Post,
Samuel Secor.
Gilbert Johnston,
John Post,
Isaac J. Secor,
Guyshert Johnston,
Joseph Ileston,
Peter Stephens,
John G. Johnston,
Joseph Knapp,
Ilenry Arsler,
Abraham Johnston,
Henry Holsted,
Claus Corlosh,
Lawrence Johnston,
Henry llolsted, Sr.
Lodowick Shumaker,
Thomas Smith,
Adam Deter, John Dobbs,
William Winter,
Isaac Conklin,
Peter Vandervoort,
Andris Pallass
William Concklin,
Jacob Sarvant,
Jonas Loderick,
Nicholas Concklin,
Henry Sarvent,
Ezekiel Ferguson,
L. Van Buskirk,
Philip Sarvent,
Raynard House, Sr.
Jacobus Van Buskirk,
John Sarvent,
William Dobbs,
Henry Wanamaker,
Isaac Berea,
A. Montgomery,
Peter Wanamaker,
Jacob Tenick,
Matthew Ellison,
Peter Frederick,
Henry Tenyck,
John Pollan,
Samuel Banta,
Henry Tenyck, Jr.
John Johnston,
Johannes Rush,
Samuel Bird,
William Babcock,
Haulberg Bucker,
James Lamb, Sr.
Abraham Babcock,
John George,
Cornelius Crum, John Crum,
John Springsteel, Thomas Ackerman,
Jost Short,
Jost Buskirk,
Benjamin Ackerson,
John Weaver,
Jacob Waldron,
Jacob Ackerson,
Coon Fridrick,
Edward Waldron,
Derick Ackerson,
Andrew Haldrom,
Andrie Bellis.
Thomas Ackerson,
Samuel Matthews,
Peter Jersey,
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The reader will remember that the Haverstraw Precinct embraced the present towns of Ramapo, Clarkstown, Stony Point and Haverstraw in 1775.
" Do, in the most solemn manner, resolve never to become slaves; and do associate under all the ties of religion, honor, and love to our country." Thus reads a section of the oath of patriotism.
The inhabitants of America in those days were eminently religious. No business however slight, no decision however trivial, no act however small its import, was undertaken without a consultation with Divine Power. Mad as the acts of the Sons of Liberty appear on superficial examination, a closer observation will find in them neither the fierce fanaticism of the Roundheads nor the thirst for blood of the French Revolutionists.
The leaders, in the commencing struggle for our freedom, were strong men; the actors were clear headed even in the excitement of contest. All were God-fearing. That there was thoughtlessness in speech it would be absurd to deny-profane ejaculations, dreadful threats-that there was thoughtlessness in deed is untrue.
Remembering this, the import of the clause above repeated from the test oath becomes clear. It was composed in solemn thought, with solemn prayer, and sent forth from the Provincial Committee for signature with a perfect knowledge that each signer would think earnestly of its meaning ere affixing his name. The members of the Provincial Committee knew the character of their constituents and the influence of the clergy in each district. Had the members of the English Cabinet been equally well in- formed, they would have made pause ere too late.
At a later period I am to speak fully of the influence that the early Dutch dominies exerted in this Colony, and of the reasons for that in- fluence; it is but necessary to say that the trust their parishioners felt in them in all matters is beyond our comprehension. The intellectual ad- vance of the past century has, in great measure, destroyed that authority and has raised nothing in its place.
Samuel Ver Bryck, ordained to the charge in 1750, was the dominie of the greater part of Rockland's people in the trying days that led up to the Revolution and the more trying days during its existence. He real- ized the trust imposed upon him and watchfully did he observe the dis- cussion, earnestly did he gather from every source full information on the subject, that he might truly and fully carry out that trust.
At the different churches under his charge; at those half social, half religious gatherings in the houses of his prominent church members; in
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his ministerial visits to his congregation, we can conceive of his clear ex- position of the controversy in its stage at the time of his speaking. We can almost hear his carnest exhortation to those true-hearted Dutchmen to be firm in their trust of liberty-an exhortation so potent in its effect as to draw from the British commander this, for him despairing, for us glorious, cry: "I can do nothing with this Dutch population, I can neither buy them with money, nor conquer them with force"-and feel his fervent prayers to the Almighty, that the cup of the horror of war might pass from their lips.
Events hastened toward the end. The conflict by speech passed to violence in acts and the blood shed at Lexington, proclaimed the wager of battle. Then followed the seige and evacuation of Boston, the defeat at Long Island, the battles preceding, and retreat to New Jersey ; and this County was in the midst of the strife.
True to the cause he had adopted, true to his charge, the good domi- nie preached now in favor of a war that could no longer be avoided by true men, and urged his congregation on to battle. Still earnestly went up his prayers but now for victory to the cause of the colonists and safety for their lives.
Ah, Dominie Ver Bryck, the end is not yet! You shall preach ser- mons against English oppression, emphasized by the presence of some of your flock, killed on the field of battle. You shall yet be called upon to offer up prayers over soldier's graves and to comfort stricken households. The tramp of armed men, the roar of conflict, shall sound loud and hor- ribly clear through the quiet valleys where so often you have ridden on your ministerial calls, meditating only of battle with the spiritual enemy. At the very door of your church, in the ruins of the old court house, the man of war shall build his cantonment, while the house of God itself shall be used as a prison and a court room and the decision there rendered shall make house and hamlet known while time shall be. Yet you shall live to encourage, to comfort, to condole through all these coming weary years, and, when peace has been won, to close your eyes on earthly strife, hailing within a few months your victory over tyrany and over death.
Authorities referred to. Documents relating to the Colonial History S. N. Y. Eager's His- tory of Orange County. Magazine American History. History of Ramapo, by Rev. E. B. Cobb. History of Haverstraw, by Rev. Dr. A. S. Freeman. Papers in City and County by R. H. Fen- ton. Archives of Rockland County Historical Society. The New York Civil Lisl.
CHAPTER V.
THE REVOLUTION OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
SYNOPSIS OF THE IDEAS WHICH LED THE COLONISTS TO REVOLT-A GEN- ERAL CONGRESS CALLED FOR-IT CONVENES-ELECTION OF DELE- GATES FROM TIIIS STATE-ORGANIZATION OF THE SONS OF LIBERTY IN NEW YORK-ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPON- DENCE AND SAFETY IN ORANGE COUNTY-ITS DUTIES DURING THE REVOLUTION- ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO A PROVINCIAL CONGRESS -ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION-SYNOPSIS OF TIIE FIRST CONSTITUTION-FIRST ELECTION OF STATE OFFICERS-RECAPITULATION OF THE REVOLU- TION IN CIVIL GOVERNMENT-CIVIL LIST OF OUR COUNTY TILL THE FORMATION OF A FEDERATION.
Force may destroy a government, mind is necessary for its creation. A combination of force and mind had been the result of every social up- heaval, which preceded our Revolution ; and that combination had ever ended in a more despotic rule than that which the revolting peoples had thrown off. Was history to repeat itself on this western continent ?
Nearly a century and a quarter had passed since the struggle of the Roundheads had ended in the destruction of royal power and the creation of a commonwealth. Yet the tests of government by popular assembly in 1651 and 1653, had been found a failure ; Parliament had been pro- rogued at the point of the bayonet ; and Oliver Cromwell, supported and sustained by his iron batalion, ruled as absolute under the title of Pro- tector as any of his predecessors had under the title of King. Surely pre- cedent was not encouraging to the American Colonists.
Nor had government by the people in any sense advanced since Richard Cromwell, weakly sinking into Lethe, rendered the Restora- tion possible. A so called popular House of Commons even at the time of which we are speaking existed, and its members, influenced by the tie of party ; the ability of Burke, Fox and Pitt; or the bribes so lavishly be- stowed by the Ministry; cast their votes for one or another measure. But he has illy read history, who would pretend for a moment, that those members were dependent for nomination or election on the free franchise of a free people, or that they were held responsible by their constituents as the members of Parliament are at the present day.
Fifteen years after the American Colonists had spontaneously formed a plan of self-government, which has waxed and developed into our Con-
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stitution of to-day. Six years after the Treaty of Paris gave this people a separate autonomy ; an attempt at self-government was made by the French people. It is unnecessary to dwell on the result. The mad car- nival of blood ; the demoniac shouts for freedom by a people who had become a populace; the frenzied rule of anarchy were a startling exhibi- tion of liberty passing on to license. Between the attempt at self-govern- ment of Cromwell's time and the attempt at self-government in 1789. A people on this continent accomplished self-government.
There is something very solemn in the death of a system of polity. There is something very wonderful in the birth of a new form of authority. All the experience, often gained at great expense ; all the veneration de- veloped through centuries of familiarity ; all the respect, caused at first by force and fear, and afterward continued toward hoary decrepitude, is abruptly broken away from, and the enthusiasm and push of vigorous youth takes its place. Events, which in an old government were acted upon with ponderous deliberation and only after an exhausting search for precedents, are treated by the young power with startling abruptness. It creates precedents. It makes history. And yet it must ever be a sad contemplation to see the enthusiasm of a young government lead it into errors and blunders which more cool and careful deliberation would shun, and which the maturer judgment of age would avoid. The homely adage that "old heads cannot be put upon young shoulders" is as true of na- tions as of the children of men.
Yet while the English revolution had seemingly ended in complete failure, such was in fact not the case. The effect produced on the people of Great Britain was to teach them the fallibility of kings, their own power. The reaction which followed their momentary grasp of power left them for a time bewildered, and in the return of monarchy, they viewed the past upheaval as a hideous dream, as unreal as dreams ever are.
Not so, however, was the feeling in these colonies. In the midst of danger, privation, and suffering, the settlers had landed on these bleak, forbidding shores. Unaided, they had wrested homes from the gloomy wilderness, and had defended those homes against savage beasts and sav- age men. Without the help of royal favor, they had cleared farms, culti- vated the soil, and raised crops for their sustenance. Without the assist- ance of skilled diplomats, they had formed treaties of peace and leagues with their Indian neighbors, or entered into unions with each other for mutual commercial advantage or for protection. Though acknowledging their dependence on the mother country by supporting her representa-
64
tives, the different governors, these colonists gradually came to form their own town and county governments, and place their own representatives in authority ; and, for their safety from absolute dominion, as well as a public means of intercourse between themselves and their governors, they selected the deputies that formed the colonial assemblies.
While this growth of government was a slow process in each colony, dependent for every fresh step on the increase of settlers and the wants of the communities, the spirit of independence had been strong from the first. The execution of Charles had caused no perturbation in the colonies. The accession of Cromwell to more than regal power produced no uncasi- ness. The Restoration created no commotion. While so little of the old belief in the divinity of kings remained in the northern colonies that the regicides were received and safely harbored. And why should these dis- turbances of royalty, three thousand miles away, cause excitement here ? Had the king made it so pleasant for the Puritans at home that they should now grieve over the falling fortunes of his house ? Men, who have pleasant surroundings, seldom leave them for the discomforts of a wilder- ness. Had the government afforded them such protection and safety for life and property in hours of trial and danger that they should revere that government ? Men, who are carefully defended in their rights and pos- sessions rarely go forth to battle with the vicissitudes and trials of a new settlement. No! From the beginning, persecution, bad faith and mis- management had attended every interference of king or government with the affairs of the colonists, and they, now that the experiment was ended and their venture was assured of success, felt that the success had been attained not by the power of the throne, but by their efforts, their indi- vidual struggles, often despite regal intervention. The lesson which re- quired a second revolution to teach to the inhabitants of the old world, was learned by personal experience in the new.
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