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tion to generation, and perpetuated in combination with enduring traditionary sentiments and associations, with ancestral affection and reverence, and with national pride and fidelity. Forms of life, temporary and casual usages, and social relations, which, if unassailed from abroad, would have been relinquished from their inherent undesirableness, are cherished with obstinate pertinacity, and become petrified into fixed and lasting institutions.

In the year 1622, the Indians in Virginia had suddenly, and by a preconcerted arrangement, risen upon the Colonists at the several settlements, and put to death one twelfth part of their number. In this massacre, three hundred and fortyseven persons, men, women, and children, including six members of the Council, perished. On the 18th of April, 1644, a similar scene of horror was enacted. By a simultaneous attack of the Indians on all parts of the Colony, about five hundred of the white people were cut off. The carnage continued for two days.

"Had the Indians followed up their first blow, the Colonists must have been all cut off. But after their first treacherous onslaught, their hearts failed them and they fled affrighted, many miles distant off the colony which little space of time : gave the English, opportunity to gather themselves together, call an Assembly, secure their cattell and to thinke upon some way to defend themselves, if need were and then to offend their enemies, which by the great mercy of God was done.' Opechancanough, the fierce and implacable enemy of the whites, was now nearly a hundred years of age, and the commanding form which had so often shone in scenes of blood was now worn down with the

fatigues of war, and bent with the weight of years. Unable to walk, he was carried from place to place by his followers. His flesh was macerated, and his eyelids so powerless, that he could only see when they were lifted up by his attendants. Sir William at length, with a party of horse, by a rapid march, surprised the superannuated warrior at some distance from his residence. He was carried a prisoner to Jamestown, and kindly treated by the governor. This monarch of the woods retained a spirit unbroken by decrepitude of body or calamities of fortune. Hearing footsteps in the room where he lay, he requested his eyelids to be raised, when, perceiving a crowd of spectators, he called

for the governor, and upon his appearance said to him, 'Had it been my fortune to take Sir William Berkeley prisoner, I would have disdained to make a show of him.' He had, however,

'made a show' of Captain Smith. About a fortnight after Opechancanough's capture, one of his guards, for some private revenge, shot him in the back. Languishing awhile of the wound, he died." p. 61.

Notwithstanding these disturbances and disasters, the Colony made great progress. The fresh soil was so fertile, the natural features of the territory were so attractive, and, more than all, the mother country was so much harassed by the internal dissensions which were then rapidly swelling into civil war, that large numbers flocked to Virginia and the other American plantations. Their still solitudes were a happy refuge from the clamor and fury of a thickening scene of wide-spread tumult and rebellion.

"One Captain Brocas, a gentleman of the Counsel, a great Traveller, caused a vineyard to be planted and hath most excellent Wine made.'

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"At Christmas, 1647, there were in the James river ten vessels from London, two from Bristol, twelve from Holland, and seven from New England. [1648.] Mr. Richard Bennet had this yeer out of his Orchard, as many Apples, as he made 20 Butts of excellent Cider.' Sir William Berkeley, in his New Orchard, hath 15 hundred fruit-trees, besides his Apricocks, Peaches, Mellicotons, Quinces, Wardens and such like fruit.' 'Worthy Captaine Matthews, an old Planter of above thirty yeers standing, one of the Counsell and a most deserving Commonwealths-man,'' hath a fine house and all things answerable to it; he sowes yeerly store of Hempe and Flax, and causes it to be spun; he keeps Weavers and hath a Tan-house, causes Leather to be dressed; hath eight Shoemakers employed in their trade; hath forty Negroe servants, brings them up to Trades in his house. He yeerly sowes abundance of Wheat, Barley, &c. The Wheat he selleth at four Shillings the bushell; kills store of Beeves and sells them to victuall the ships, when they come thither; hath abundance of Kine, a brave Dairy, Swine, great store and Poltery. He married the Daughter of Sir Tho. Hinton, and in a word, keeps a good house, lives bravely and a true lover of Virginia; he is worthy of much honour.'" - pp. 62, 63,

On the overthrow of the monarchy in England, Virginia continued for some time to adhere to the royal cause, refusing to acknowledge the sovereignty of the Commonwealth; but at length it was subjected to the Parliament. The most liberal and forbearing policy was pursued towards it by the

republican government of the mother country, in striking contrast with the spirit and tone of every royal administration. before and after. Sir William Berkeley and the other leading supporters of the interests of the dethroned family were unmolested in person and estate. He remained at his plantation in peace and security.

"The government of Virginia, under the Commonwealth of England, was mild and just. While Cromwell's sceptre commanded the respect of the world, he exhibited generous and politic leniency towards the infant and loyal Colony. She enjoyed during this interval free trade, legislative independence, and internal peace. The governors were men who, by their virtues and moderation, won the confidence and affections of the people. No extravagance, rapacity, or extortion could be alleged against the administration. Intolerance and persecution were unknown, with the single exception of a rigorous act banishing the Quakers. But rapine, extravagance, extortion, intolerance, and persecution were all soon to be revived under the auspices of the Stuarts." p. 73.

Richard Cromwell resigned the Protectorate in March, 1660. The person who had been reëlected governor of Virginia died in January. Both the mother country_and the Colony were without an executive head. The Burgesses assembled on the 13th of March, and by their first. act declared," that, as there was then in England noe resident absolute and generall confessed power,' therefore the supreme government of the Colony should rest in the Assembly." Mr. Campbell thus relates the simple historical truth respecting a point in the annals of Virginia, of great interest in itself, and which, as he complains, has been much misrepresented.

"By the second act, Sir William Berkeley was appointed governor, and it was ordered that all writs should issue in the name of the Assembly. The governor was restricted from dissolving the Assembly without its consent.

"No fact in our history has been more misunderstood and misrepresented than this re-appointment of Sir William Berkeley, before the restoration of Charles II. If we were to believe the fanciful statements of historians, who from age to age have blindly followed each other in fabulous tradition, wilful perversion, or erroneous conjecture, Sir William was hurried from retirement by a torrent of popular enthusiasm, made governor by acclamation, and the standard of Charles II. boldly erected in NO. 141.

VOL. LXVII.

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the Colony several months before the Restoration, and thus the Virginians, as they had been the last of the king's subjects who renounced their allegiance, so they were the first who returned to it! But as has been seen, Sir William was elected, not by a tumultuary assemblage of the people, but by the Assembly; the royal standard was not raised upon the occasion, nor was the king proclaimed. Sir William, however, made no secret of his loyalty. He spoke of the late king as my most gracious master, king Charles, of ever blessed memory,' and as my ever honored Master,' who ' was put to a violent death.' Alluding to the surrender of the Colony, he said, the Parliament sent a small power to force my submission to them, which, finding me defenceless, was quietly (God pardon me) effected.' Of the several Parliaments and the Protectorate he remarked, And, I believe, Mr. Speaker, you think, if my voice had been prevalent in most of their elections, I would not voluntarily have made choice of them for my Supremes. But, Mr. Speaker, all this I have said, is onely to make this truth apparent to you, that in and under all these mutable governments of divers natures and constitutions, I have lived most resigningly submissive. But, Mr. Speaker, it is one dutie to live obedient to a government and another of a very different nature, to command under it.'

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"The Assembly repeatedly declared, that there was then no generall confessed power" in England; in a word, that it was an interregnum. The fictions which history has recorded on this head are as idle as the tales of Oriental romance.

"The Assembly having proffered the office of governor to Sir William Berkeley, he, on the 19th of March, 1660, made a reply, in which he said: 6 I doe therefore in the presence of God and you, make this safe protestation for us all, that if any supreme settled power appeares, I will imediately lay down my comission, but will live most submissively obedient to any power God shall set over me, as the experience of eight years have shewed I have done.'

"Sir William was elected on the 21st of the same month, about two months before the restoration of Charles II. Yet the word king, or majesty, occurs nowhere in the legislative records, from the commencement of the Commonwealth in England, until the 11th of October, 1660, more than four months after the Restoration." pp. 73, 74.

The debasing effect of the sentiment of loyalty upon the mind and heart, when it assumes the form of blind submis sion to arbitrary power, is strikingly shown in the case of Sir William Berkeley. He was naturally not only faithful

and brave, but magnanimous; and although his zeal against the enemies of the person, and the rebellious opponents of the authority, of his king was at times exasperated into rage and cruelty, there was an intrepid manliness, an indomitable firmness, in the character and conduct of the resolute old cavalier which cannot but be admired. But the perverting influence of a blind devotion to such a corrupting government as that of the restored British monarchy exhibited its humiliating effects upon his character. It made his strong heart stoop and cringe in sycophancy, and degraded his loyalty, directed as it was to a most contemptible and mean object, into a grovelling selfishness. Instead of making the good of the people over whom he was placed the object of his efforts and aims, he regarded their prosperity in no other light than as it enlarged the tribute that might be extorted from them to fill the coffers of the king, and with base and pitiful eagerness he begged that he might have a larger and larger share of the overflow of the royal abundance. The king allowed him, out of the revenue accruing to the crown from the duty on tobacco, one thousand pounds sterling, and the Assembly added to it two hundred pounds per annum. Still he cried for more : "I can knowingly affirm," says he, "that there is no government of ten years' settlement, but has thrice as much allowed him. But I am supported by my hopes, that his gracious Majesty will one day consider me"! It was his highest ambition to have it declared, that "Sir William Berkeley hath, in all the time of his government under his most sacred Majesty and his royal father, made it his only care to keep his Majesty's country in a due obedience to our rightful and lawful sovereign"! In looking back over his administration, and upward for the Divine blessing, he thus truly and fitly reveals the vital element of loyalty to an arbitrary government : "I thank God there are no free schools nor printing, and I hope we shall not have these hundred years; for learning has brought disobedience and heresy and sects into the world, and printing has divulged them and libels against the best government. God keep us from both!"

The only interest taken in the Colonies by the government at home perhaps it is the only interest that can be expected to be taken by the civil authorities of one territory in other territories was to get all the benefit from them they

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