high birth, constitutes Nature's patent to her highest nobility. With this may also be classed the Crusades, uniting the nations of Christendom for the attainment of a common object, and giving a powerful impulse to civilization throughout the world.

These causes, with those previously specified, contributed materially to the state of society found in England at the death of the maiden queen. This brings us to the next link in the chain, English Puritanism. Whatever may be said of particular men in this party, when Hume and Clarendon are forced to trace British freedom to this party, we shall not shoot far wide from the mark in asserting the Puritans to be among the noblest defenders of human rights. Among large classes it has been fashionable to sneer at the cant phrases of Puritanism, and to denounce contemptuously the fanatic Roundheads. But it may with reason be asked, whether it be right to denounce a system because its followers indulged in a few cant phrases, or wore hats and coats of a particular shape, or had their hair trimmed in a particular manner; nor are the noblest principles of freedom to be sneered at as cant, because some of their vindicators, in the rush of events, did things not to be justified.

Take the two antagonist principles which then grappled in fierce conflict, irresponsible despotism and human freedom; glance your eye along the men ranked under the opposed banners. On the one side stands Charles I., a man of no great importance except as the representative of civil despotism; on the other is seen Oliver Cromwell, in appearance a despot, but establishing principles to this day the glory and boast of England, and adding a lustre to her name brighter than ever shone from the deeds of Nelson or Wellington; a man of surpassing genius, and whose real glory is yet unrecorded; whose genius and national policy shall at some future period raise him high on the throne of human gratitude, whilst such as Charles I. are reduced to their own proper level. On the one side behold Laud, the bigoted representative of exclusive prelacy; on the other John Milton, the loftiest genius in the world of poetry, and the pure-hearted worshipper of prin

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ciples emanating from Deity. Under the one banner, you count up a host of debauched cavaliers, with here and there at noble name to relieve the eye; whilst under the other banner you view a multitude of men, who, with all their cant and bigotry, as a body practise rigid morality; in whose soul is enshrined the deepest reverence for God, and next to this, the love of liberty; men willing to sacrifice fortune and blood to secure to themselves and mankind civil freedom and "freedom to worship God." Look at these parties, and judge ye which is the noblest. It is a loftier honor to be enrolled with such as Cromwell, and Pym, and Hampden, with such as Milton, and Baxter, and Howe, than to mount the loftiest throne, to be lauded by a thousand Clarendons and Humes!

It would be a miracle indeed if some excesses were not committed. But let it be remembered, that civil and religious despotism had long dammed up the current of freedom; and when the barriers could no longer restrain the accumulating waters, singular indeed would it be if the rushing tide had not for a time threatened the annihilation of all that was beautiful and desirable. But a mightier than human arm directed and controlled that impetuous torrent, and produced glorious things for man. The excesses may not be apologized for, but may be palliated by the circumstances of the case. But these do not demand attention in this sketch. Here we wish to know who were the men, and what their principles, who founded the Republic of the New World. It would be no uninteresting task to trace English Puritanism as it has been progressing in the mother country, and to exhibit its awaking and energizing power at this very moment; but this would be stepping aside from our original design. We now turn to the last step taken in the progress of the third great experiment in government, as exhibited in American Democracy.

English Puritanism was the fruit of experiments made beneath the frowning despotism of deep-rooted customs and tyrannical government. Under the shade of these it could not reach its maturity; but that God who is "in history" had reserved a continent free from incumbrances, where it might grow luxuriantly, and without restraint.

It was an occasion of no ordinary interest, when the Pilgrims received from the venerated Robinson his last words of advice and comfort. It was an occasion of no ordinary interest, when the same man of God baptized the infant nation of the New World in prayer, solemn and effectual, and invoked from Heaven the inspiring breath of immortality. The loftiest heroism was displayed. The passionate grief of friends, the untried ocean, the unbroken wilderness, the dreadful savage, the grim spectres of disease, famine, and death, moved them not in the least. The prophetic mantle had fallen upon them; and in the distant future they seemed to seize the outlines of perfect, governmental beauty, such as never before had visited the earth. They walked by faith, and the present, crowded as it was to excess with sorrows, was not regarded. Indeed, so mighty was the resolve of their souls, that for a time they seemed contending against an overruling Providence. The blasts of winter and the howling tempest withstood them, but even here they triumphed.

And now we remember one scene around which concentrated the gathering interest of all the previous experiments. It is that which took place in the cabin of the Mayflower. National government was now to combine in one the different principles evolved by other nations. The treasure-house of nations poured out its precious deposits. The Pilgrims were not alone in that assembly. Grecian Democracy, beautiful exceedingly, was there; Roman Law, with its relentless sceptre, was there; the great Lawgiver of the Jews was there, to plead the cause of the noble principle he had received direct from Heaven; Charlemagne and Alfred, and the heroes of the Magna Charta, with a host of valiant champions for human freedom, were congregated in that august assembly. That was a moment in which high destinies " hung balanced." The Pilgrims were the delegated representatives of two hundred generations of governmental experimenters. The responsibilities of the past and the destinies of the future hung on them. The high-minded lovers of mankind in by-gone years, "as a cloud of witnesses," bent an anxious gaze on the legislators of the New World. And well did they discharge the

high trust imposed. The guiding Spirit of God led them on, and a thousand generations shall hail the Pilgrims as blessed.

The result of that meeting will ever be recorded with. gratitude. There is sublimity in the very style of their first compact, and it comprehends the elements which we believe. constitute a perfect government. It combines the extremes, monarchy and democracy, perfect obedience to God as King, and perfect and equal affection to every fellow-subject, and implies the adoption of all the noble principles in national government, demonstrated during a period of 6000 years. Did space permit, we might quote this interesting document, but must content ourselves with simply referring to it as found in Morton's "New England's Memorial,' and as quoted in other works easy of access. In that compact were embodied the principles which sustained the Pilgrims through fierce and terrible trials, which led them trustingly to look forward to the future, which nerved them in their stern rebukes to encroaching royalty, which constituted every man an Arguseyed sentinel before the Temple of Freedom, and flung out before the astonished nations a banner covered with the rich emblazonry of heaven! Here was found the germ of Christian Republicanism, as it had been in the process of evolution since the beginning of nations. It began to realize the living, glorious, immortal creation wrought into life by the inspired genius of man! Its beauty was bewitching as ever entranced a poet's soul, its Herculean form and strength would have awakened a complacent smile upon the rigid face of a Roman Censor! whilst the bounding current of immortality, and its countenance, the impassioned index to a living' soul, proclaimed this offspring of ages to be the child of God!

It will be impossible to trace minutely the different steps taken by the Pilgrims and their descendants, in carrying into operation their magnificent theory. Suffice it to say, they were men liable to err, but their very errors were noble, and were corrected as soon as perceived. They remembered the injunctions of the beloved Robinson, and embraced the truth whenever discovered.

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The principal interest which arises from the actions of the Pilgrims, is the fact, that they gave character, so far as fundamental principles are concerned, to the Republic which now embraces so large a portion of the Western Continent and we are now prepared to glance over this result of the world's experiments.

Here it must be frankly acknowledged that, to a superficial observer, this government gives but little evidence of its high. origin, and that many stains deface its beauty. In these respects it does not realize what we have chosen to denominate Christian Republicanism. The fault, however, is not in its theory; that is as near perfect as is ever attained by the human mind: the Declaration of Independence contains that theory. The great difficulty consists in a departure from first principles, and the introduction of elements into the political system, at war with the letter and spirit of the theory. And is it necessary to enumerate the evidences of this assertion? The facts are thrust before us continually, and we are compelled to look upon them steadily, whilst the question falls upon our ear with startling power, Can our government survive?

Far be it from me to rank myself with religious bigots, or interested demagogues, croaking, like ill-omened birds, of coming ruin. The question of greatest importance here is, not whether the body politic is afflicted with some grievous diseases, ruinous if not checked; but does it possess such an expulsive energy as shall at length throw off these diseases, and restore its natural and healthful action? This is the true view of the subject, penetrating beneath the surface of things, and seeking for the real causes which are to produce the final result.

And in investigating this question, two considerations will throw light upon its answer. For instance, what is the relation of the individuals in our nation to what was demonstrated in Jewish history to be the only principle of national immortality? In theory we occupy an enviable position, but our practice does not agree with that theory; for it must be admitted, we are far from understanding perfect obedience to God, and perfect affection to our fellow men. Were this true, this