APPENDIX. 459 



invefiigate what has been thefaft with regard to the defcesidaots of thofc 

 J^u-ropean* who fettled in the Unitfd Stales of America ; and we know not 

 how (o conduct tlic inquiry upon fairer principles, than to endeavour to 

 iifcertilin what has b'-eo the 'ffc£t with regard to their government, religion, 

 population and thulc arts which tend the mod to reader human life mor« 

 aafy and happy. 



I. With regard to civil government. — Whenthe men of Europe came 

 into America they bmoght with them no other ideas lir Icniiment* as to 

 the naiuie or f'.tm of civil government, than thole of the European mon- 

 archies. Hereditary monarchy »as ihe elHblifhed form cf govcriiment in 

 all the kiDgdoms. from which the firft ferilers in America came. The 

 authoiity of the monaich wiS then every where efteemed as iacrfd and 

 divine, fomeihing derived immediately from the Go^ of kings, not at all 

 depenriant upon or dciived from the people, but relcrvcd. appropriated 

 and imparted by the Creator of all, to cer'.ain Eu'Opcan families ca'led no- 

 bl' and royal. Firmly believing in, and deeply impreifcc v. ith fhele ideas, 

 the Spaniards,' the Iiench and the Erglifh, came into \vl. at, in the lin- 

 gulai iaiigusgeof Europe, was called the new v.orld, ar.ti thry every where 

 aitemptfrt to eUablifh the iamefylfcm and loim of government. And be- 

 hold th( (irfi mark o^ their degiatiation in the American climate ! Believ- 

 ing in monarchy, wiih all its high diftinftions'and claim>s, of uncorrup- 

 fcd and noble aid royal blood, they irr.mediatcly found the diftin£lions 

 and privileges annexed to it were uiinatu-al, uielefs, and foolifh. Their 

 bufinels wai to c'car up tie lands, lo plant the country, and to provide 

 food and raimKnt. To men engaged in fuch neccirary ai.d ufetul f m- 

 plovmeiits, nature and fnuation luggcfted the vanity and foliy of the Eu- 

 ropean diftinfiirns ai;d titles ; and they faw at once, that man was not any 

 bettT for betng called a duke, an carl, or a marquis. Civil government 

 the- immediately found was a matterot the highf ft confcquencc and ne- 

 CffTi'y ; and inltead of enquiring nicely into the heavenly property faid to 

 be apprf>pTiai d ai.d communicated to kings, they pafTcd over tbcfe iub- 

 lime mytt'^ries, took rle ftep that nature taught, and entered into combi- 

 rati. Hi amoig themselves t'Oth to form and fupport civ ik, government. 

 Their conftant employ ment of clearing up an uncultivated country, gave 

 them jolt and ce^mpiehenfive views of the nature and origin of property : 

 Their mutua' wants, interefts, and fafety, taught them the nature, defign, 

 srd t'utv of civil government ; and every thing in their fituation and 

 emplovmer.t tended to give them jull ideas of the rights and duties of roan. 



Tnus, while in theory they believed in the facred right of kings and 

 monarchy, every thir;g in their buGneis and in the (late of the country 

 taught them a contrary doftrine; and plainly ir.dicated, that it was the 

 will of their Creator that they fhould govern themiclves in fuch a manner 

 as was beft luited, to their condition and flate of focicty. Duiing a cen- 

 tury and an half the kings of England ffill kept up their claims, and their 

 authority. This interference of royal authority was every where found 

 to produce mifchief, and to be unfriendly to the iniereff and profpcrity of 

 the colonics. Ac length the matter became foopprcflive and odicu;: that it 

 could be endured no longer. The people of America and theking of Eng- 

 land appealed to arms, which fhou d have the iovtieign authority. Heavea 

 declared in tavor o! the jult and righteous Cbulc ot tlie people. The A- 

 mcrican fyilem of government, till ihen unknown to the world, took p!3ce4 

 1 he univerfal and uncomraon proipenty of i(>c whole continent engaged 

 the attention of all Europe. The wifeft and moft powerful of all her na- 

 iioas caught the American 3arae, endeavoured to avail bcrfeJf of the A" 



