The American Statesman

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by

DERBY & JACKSON,

In the Clerk's Office of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New fork.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864,

BY S. WILLARD,

In the Clerk's Office of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New-York.

J. J. REED, PRINTER & STEREOTYPBR

4 & 45 Centre Street.

archild Heirs E

183

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PREFACE

THE general diffusion of political knowledge is essential to public prosperity, and to the security of our liberties. A government, whatever its form, is not really free, when its theory and practical operation are not understood by the great body of those from whom its powers are derived. Universal suffrage is valuable only as its exercise is directed by an enlightened public sentiment.

While these propositions are universally acknowledged as self-evident truths, it must be confessed, that the knowledge of our government is too limited to secure the uninterrupted enjoyment of the benefits of good administration. A large portion of our citizens assume the duties and responsibilities of freemen, without the information requisite to a faithful discharge of these vast responsibilities devolved upon them by the constitution and laws. Many of them, ambitious of civil honors, accept important public trusts, with attainments in political science too circumscribed to enable them to render efficient service to the state, or to gain to themselves an honorable distinction. In the character and acts of many of our legislative blies, does the truth of this remark find abundant confirmation.

The design of this work is to bring within the reach of our citizens generally, in a single volume, the greatest possible amount of that kind of information which all ought to possess ; but which is to be obtained elsewhere only in works so voluminous and expensive as to render it inaccessible to the greater portion of the community.

A prominent and essential feature of the work is, that on all Controverted questions, whether involving constitutional prin

ciples, or mere considerations of expediency, the substance of the arguments on both sides has been faithfully and impartially given. On subjects of party controversy, the author has withheld the expression of his own opinions, deeming it best to leave the unconfirmed politician to the exercise of his own unbiased judgment in forming his conclusions. By thus presenting the different views of our ablest statesmen, the work will be rendered valuable to the political student as a constitutional expositor, and as a guide to the formation of enlightened opinions on questions of public policy; while to the more advanced politician, the great variety of its matter will make it convenient and useful as a book of reference.

Neither the capacity nor the design of this work, has permitted the introduction of local politics. The selection of matter has been almost exclusively confined to subjects of a national character; but the volume has been sufficiently extended to embrace most of the principal subjects of our political history.

It has been an object of much care to make the work a reliable one. Its statements are founded principally upon the official records of the government. In the condensation of speeches, reports, and other documents, pains have been taken to present their strongest points, as well as their true meaning. Where recourse to other sources of information has been necessary, reference has been had to approved and standard works, among which are those of Marshall, Pitkin, Bancroft, Hildreth, and others.

That the work, nevertheless, contains some slight inaccuracies, is not improbable. It is believed, however, that it will be found free from material errors; and that it will be acknowledged to possess claims to the public favor, and conduce in some good degree, to a higher and a more general appreciation of our political institutions, and to a determination in the hearts of all true patriots to defend and maintain them, to be transmitted unimpaired to posterity for the benefit of the whole race of mankind.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COLONIES, AND THEIR FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.

Origin of our republican institutions, 21. Charter governments; landing of the

puritans, 22. Government of the New England colonies, 23–26. Royal or

provincial governments, 26-30. Proprietary governments, 30

CHAPTER II.

TAXATION OF THE COLONIES, AND OTHER CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION.—INDE-

PENDENCE SECURED.

The right of colonial taxation by England denied, 33. British navigation acts,

35. Manufactures in colonies suppressed, 36. Stamp act, 37-39. Congress

of deputies' petition for relief, 38. Franklin deputed to England, 39. Parlia