t opment in America; and the Era of Constitutional Development in America. The motive of each of these is likewise revealed that of the First Era being Freedom of Conscience, that of the Second the Development of Tribal Institutions, and that of the Third being the Longing for Popular Sovereignty. Throughout this Trilogy of Eras glowed the Spirit of Liberty, which, in the final stage, became fierce, and crowned its long task by giving to our people political, religious, and personal freedom guaranteed by constitution. It is only when surveying its course from the eminence upon which the lapse of time has placed us, that the action of the law of development can be viewed in its entirety, and the constant force of its energy be calculated. Then we see, that this energy has expanded or advanced by steps of unequal length; that the development of the race or tribe is marked by successive stages; and that the law which controls this energy is to be found in these stages or eras, and not in the individual phenomena which have been but its temporary expressions. Thus it is, that historical eras-which may be described as historical phenomena grouped into organic systems—are of greater importance to human knowledge than individual phenomena; and thus it is, that the philosopher will seek the truth of history in eras rather than in the events of a day or the acts of individuals, however striking to the eye they may be. This work is the result of an endeavor to extract the truth of our early history by an application of the principle thus disclosed; and hence it is, that it is not a history but a philosophical contemplation of what is known to be history. As such, therefore, it makes no pretension to the discovery of new facts or the display of learning; but, leaving the domain of original research untouched in that respect, and presuming a knowledge of accepted history to be in the reader, it confines itself strictly to the work of volving therefrom the historical plan of development. The lapse of time and the patient research of earnest and conscientious workers have at last enabled this to be done. The notes and the matter in the Appendix, then, are given rather to assist, or to explain, than to instruct, and, whenever possible, are drawn from sources familiar to the general reader, or easily to be referred to by him. The Commercial Relations of the Colonies to the mothercountry and to each other are set forth at large, and in connection with the causes that, according to Mr. Burke, made the spirit of our liberty fierce. This is the first time they have appeared in our literature as a cause of Revolution, although we have had, staring us in the face for three fourths of a century, the positive assertion of no less an actor in the achievement of our independence than John Adams, that "if any man wishes to investigate thoroughly the causes, feelings, and principles of the Revolution, he must study this Act of Navigation and the Acts of Trade, as a philosopher, a politician, and a philanthropist." This done, a remarkable hiatus is filled up, and the story of our development from feeble communities to being a great power is believed to be here presented with all its stages defined and complete. WILKES BARRÉ, PA., Fanuary, 1882. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PART I-The Era of Constitutional Development in England. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. To what the Anglican migration westward was due-The United States the result of the Great Movement or Revolution of the 16th century-The destructive and constructive periods of this movement-The course of the Great Revolution in the British Isles-The first stage of its Destructive Era, terminating with the accession of Charles I.; the second with the investiture of the Protector-Results of these Eras of Effort, and their effect upon absolutism-The Constructive Era, which began with the Protectorate-The absolutism of the Restoration and its inherent weakness-The Nomenclature of the Great RevolutionMeaning of the word Puritanism-What was Puritanism, and what did it do for England? -What was the Revolution of 1688, and what did it do for England?—The law of historical development does not act with the regularity of physical laws; characteristic of its advance and retrogression-In respect to the Colonies, the effects of the Revolution of 1688 were moral, not physical-What the Revolution of 1688 did not do for the ColoniesConditions of colonial life favorable to liberty-In what the Revolution of 1688 worked positive ill to the Colonies-William the Third an absolutist in America-The relations of the Colonies to the Government during the reigns of Anne and the early Hanoverians— The good feeling terminated by the accession of George III.-The plan of absolutism, which, in attacking colonial liberty, was really aimed at the liberty of England-The popular feelings which aided the absolutists. The two Houses of Parliament and the people unite with the throne against the Colonies -The immediate cause of the outbreak in America-The Revolution of 1776 a manifestation of the same force which produced the Revolution of 1688-The Revclution of 1776 accomplished the last great step of Revolution, namely, the transfer of sovereignty from the throne to the people-How society regarded the Revolution of 1776-Its cause at first negative-Character of the revolutionists-Character of the ColoniesThe conditions of Colonial life favorable to local self-government-Revolutions not affairs of battle-fields-The Revolution of 1776 instructive to those who would know how to be free. Advantage possessed by the history of the Caucasian tribes in America over that of others-The Trilogy of Eras which embraces the historical development of colonial British America-The controlling Force or Motive of each of these Eras-The Spirit of Liberty manifest in all. 5-26 PART II.-The Era of State Development in America. Mr. Burke's Six Capital Sources whence the fierceness of Liberty in the Colonies was derived-Two additional sources or causes: the Political Relations of the Colonies, and their Commercial Relations-1. Descent-2. Remoteness of Situation: the Laissez-faire policy, or policy of Governmental indifference. 3. The Forms of the Colonial Governments, and the Political Relations of the Colonies. (a.) Comparison of the nature of the English Colonies with that of the Roman and Greek: (1) the Roman Colonies; (2) the Greek Colonies-The English more like the Greek than the Roman; points of resemblance and difference; the self-sustaining nature of the English. (b.) Three kinds of English Colonies in America: (1) The Royal or Provin- cial Colonies; (2) the Proprietary or Palatine, and (3) the Charter-Political separateness or distinction of these colonies from each other, and effect of their common allegiance to the same suzerain-Dr. Robertson's surprise respecting the charters commented upon- The Charters as compacts: they recognized local self-government-Amplification of the meaning of the term "chartered liberties." (c.) The colonial governments one in spirit though differing in form-Virginia: its exceptional character-Maryland-Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware- Massachusetts - New Hampshire - Connecticut-Rhode I: land-New York-Colonies south of Virginia-Georgia-These Colonies free and self- governing their self-taxing power not regarded as sources of revenue-Virginia's resist- (d.) The institutional nature of the English colonies-Definition of the word institu- tions-This institutional nature a race characteristic-The institutional development of the English colonies shown by contrast with the French colonies-The English carried with them institutional vigor; the French did not : illustrations-The extinction of French power in America to be attributed to the paucity and weakness of institutions-The insti- tutions of British America as ancient as the race. (e.) English colonization under the Stuarts-How it was that franchises were lavished so freely on the colonists-The predisposition of the English colonists to self-govern- ment a tribal characteristic-Love of the soil closely allied with disposition for self- government-Self-government coincident with the landing of a colony, and simultaneous appearance of institutions-Effect upon the colonists of the contempt maintained by the English commercial classes: loyalty of the former-Political independence a natural Religion in the Northern Provinces: its chief feature toleration and freedom of con- |