STATES AND TERRITORIES.— MASSACHUSETTS.    79

3. From 1745 to the revolution, the history of Massachusetts is familiar to every politician
of the day. In the war for subduing Canada provincialists took a deep interest, and were
extensively and warmly engaged. And it proved a school for not a few of those whose
courage was soon to be tested in the scenes of Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, and Boston.
And as the difficulties with Great Britain originated in Massachusetts, her people were at no
time backward to discharge their full share of duty, in council and in action, when the flames
of war spread widely, and the whole series of English colonies along the coast were roused,
as by the community of one spirit, to draw the sword in defence of their injured rights.

But the history of the American revolution, its causes, progress, accomplishment, and results,
forms a theme too vast to be comprised in limits such as are assigned to this brief and rapid
sketch. Men werq in long preparation for the opening contest. The British ministry are
encroaching and arbitrary. A decided stand is taken and maintained; and Massachusetts and
her sister colonies become, at length, an independent nation.

4. The formation of a constitution for the state, which was effected in 1780, marks an im-
portant era in its history. A sublime spectacle indeed was presented, when the delegates were
engaged in fixing the boundaries of civil rights and claims, and establishing the foundations
of social order and prosperity. Yet not a less sublime spectacle appeared, when, in 1820,
after a lapse of forty years, a revision of the same constitution was publicly effected, under
the presiding auspices of that distinguished son of Massachusetts, who succeeded Washing-
ton as President of the United States, and had been a principal framer of the civil constitu-
tion of his own state.

That must be a people of peculiar character, among whom it is possible, without war,
or contentious turbulence, or violence of any kind, or tendency to abandonment or licentious-
ness, to take apart the constituent portions of a civic system, and readjust them as quietly and
orderly as if they formed but the mechanism of a watch. Yet several of our states have suc-
cessfully followed the example. How nearly impracticable has it been in South America !

In 1786, the strength of attachment to “law and order" was tested by the rebellion. Yet
this served, probably, to convince the majority, that, in order to maintain their freedom, that
freedom must be guarded sedulously by wise provisions, to which men must submit. The
quelling of that rebellion seems to have destroyed the very seeds of anarchy and confusion.
Still, the sympathy excited by the French revolution threatened for a time no little disturbance
of the political quiet, until the extravagances of the miserable leaders alienated from them all
sober men.

5. The actual adoption of the federal constitution forms another era. The state had just
experienced the necessity of resorting to arms to preserve its own domestic government. And
it was but right to expect that its leading men should prove warm advocates for a system of
rule that should fulfil the legitimate end of such an establishment, and be “a terror to the evil,
and a praise and encouragement to them that do well."

Under the subsequent operation of this government, Massachusetts has partaken both of the
weal and woe of the United States. She has furnished from the beginning her quota of able
men in the councils of the nation, and twice has a citizen of her own been promoted to the
presidential chair. Her orators and statesmen from Ames to Webster have distinguished
themselves, and honored and gratified their constituents, while they have contributed to advance
the welfare and fame of their country.

In the mean while, that is, in 1820, Maine, ripe for self-government, was disconnected, and
became a separate and independent state. The measure, it was apprehended, would greatly
diminish the weight and influence of Massachusetts in the national councils, by the withdraw-
ment of so large a constituency in respect to representation. Yet has the increase of popu-
lation since been such, that at the present time it is nearly as great within the actual bounds
of Massachusetts proper, as it was in both territories during the last year of the union of
Maine with the state.

The deliberate adjustment of the various civil and political rights and privileges of a people,
as asserted and maintained on this side the Atlantic, published in regular codes of law ; the
enrolment of citizens authorized to vote, whereby the violences attending some elections