ANCIENT INHABITANTS, 8tc.—BOOK II. 
U9 
from the main possessions of Spain, was not regarded with much 
attention, when we consider its natural importance. The rod of 
government was so light as scarcely to be felt; the worst of the 
governors, were content, with imposing on their king, by exor¬ 
bitant charges for useless fortifications, or for supplies never fur¬ 
nished. I have heard of some oppressions practised on stran¬ 
gers, but I have been informed by a number of Americans set¬ 
tled here before the change, that the Spanish government treat¬ 
ed them with particular attention and respect. I believe, instan¬ 
ces of individual oppressions on the part of the governors, were 
few: but this is to be attributed, not to the government, but to 
the state of society. 
The present government appears to be operating a genera! 
change: its silent but subtle spirit is felt in every nerve and vein, 
of the body politic. The United States, acting upon broad prin¬ 
ciples, cannot be influenced by contemptible partialities between 
their own sons and their adopted children. They do not want co- 
lonies—they will disdain to hold others in the same state, which 
they themselves so nobly despised. They are in fact, both natives 
of the same land, and both can claim Freedovi as their birth right. 
It requires many hands to work the complicated machinery 
of our government; the object of which, is to enable men, as 
much as possible, to govern themselves. Each of the principal 
towns, has its officers, its legislature, in which the ancient in¬ 
habitants have the principal voice. They have been placed on 
the bench, they are jurors and magistrates; commissions are 
distributed, which, although not regarded of much importance 
in time of peace, yet they make a man feel that he counts some¬ 
thing in his country; for instance, in the militia, there are gene¬ 
rals, colonels, majors, captains, See. Thus, one might suppose 
that their manners and habits of thinking were gradually pre¬ 
paring for the reception of a free government. The Americans 
have communicated to them, their industry and spirit of enter¬ 
prise, and, they in turn, have given some of their more gentle and 
amiable customs. Upon the whole, the American manners, and 
even language, begin to predominate. The young men have al¬ 
ready been, formed by our government, and those growing up 
will have known no other. A singular change has taken place, 
