COLONIES OF NORTH AMERICA AND THE GENESIS OF THE COMMONWEALTHS OF THE UNITED STATES. By J. M. TONER, M. D. [NOTES ON THE PARTITION OF THE NEW WORLD, THE EARLY LAND GRANTS, SETTLEMENTS, COLONIES, PROVINCES AND PROPRIETARY PATENTS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT, WITH COMMENTS ON THE GENESIS OF THE POLITICAL DIVISIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. TO WHICH IS ADDED A LIST OF THE PROVINCES, COLONIES, STATES AND TERRITORIES THAT WERE PROPOSED OR BEGUN, BUT WERE NEVER SUCCESSFULLY PLANTED.] No event in history has interested mankind more than the discovery of the New World and the resulting proof that circumnavigation of the earth was possible. It revolutionized established opinions, laws and customs. The Old World had grown, colonies had been founded by her in what seemed remote places, and her great men had estimated the people's aspirations and endurance by past accomplishments. But this discovery so far exceeded all experiences in history and hope of the race as to command the attention of the wise and learned; the cautious as well as the ambitious rulers and adventurers were encouraged to take part in making explorations with a view to further discovery and the founding of new colonies. The word colony, as applied to the English settlements in America, had at one time, I apprehend, a more restricted meaning than the word province, although these words are now often used as synonyms. Colony is a general rather than a specific term. Historically it has been coupled with some word or phrase indicating locality, and whether a political, commercial, or military adventure. Colonies planted without charter or license were in some cases legalized on petition of the adventurous settlers themselves, showing their preferred allegiance, or were in other instances coerced by more prosperous colonies, and by royal mandate accompanied by force. The ordinary names applied by sovereignties and countries to their offshoots and annexes are allies, dependencies, colonies, dominions, territories, tracts, provinces, districts, prefectures, baronies, factories, lodges, settlements, companies, garrisons, stations, plantations, counties, precincts, etc. In the scheme of empires, nations and sovereignties, all adjuncts are deemed to be dependencies, though the converse of this proposition, that all dependencies are colonies, is not conceded to be true in international law. Yet the name colony is so generic as to embrace settlements and provinces of every kind, even when not a sovereign state recognized by the family of nations. After the discovery of America, Spain for a long time had the lion's share of territory from which to select tracts for settlements or colonization. This was conceded to her by reason of her position among nations, her maritime power and her right of discovery. Spain promptly assumed proprietary supervision over vast territories, established and maintained stations or colonies, and organized explorations, chiefly at the southern end and on the Pacific slope of the American continent. She did this chiefly for the purpose of exercising sovereignty, of bringing the territory and people under subjection, and of furnishing the Empire with precious metals and other treasures believed to exist therein. Her explorations, colonies, and companies were conducted mainly as military enterprises, rather than for founding habitations or laying out plantations for the permanent occupation and cultivation of the soil. Some of these adventures will be referred to at greater length farther on. The claims or assumed rights of European nations to American territory are vague, with a mixture of force, avarice, loyalty, and religious cant. Whenever an ambitious sovereign could induce an adventurer to sight supposed new lands, erect a cross, or plant a flag, he imagined he might set up an exclusive claim to it, whether it were an island or a continent. A number of the early English settlements in America were begun by companies of adventurers having joint-stock interests. The financial management was invested in companies organized in London and places elsewhere in England. Such companies were empowered to choose their president, treasurer, and manager, to conduct and govern the enterprise. These companies or colonies rarely, and to but a slight degree, aspired to self-government, or to anything beyond their immediate business interests. The colonial and proprietary aspiration for civil government by the American settlements was a matter of slow growth, and arose from necessity. But when a desire for independence and self-government is awakened among a people accustomed to arms and to freedom of thought, action, and speech it is not easily checked or silenced. That a clearer view may be had of the spirit of justice which prevailed among nations in 1492, as to the rights of sovereigns over newly discovered islands and countries uninhabited by Christians, we here give in full the text of the commission and prerogative granted by King Ferdinand of Spain and his wife, Queen Isabella, to Christopher Columbus before he set out on his voyage of discovery. The document refers to the discovery of lands, continents, and islands, but it is silent upon the matter of a shorter route to Cathay. The commission is in the nature of an inducement and a reward, and was issued to Columbus on the 30th of April, 1492. This document invested their agent, in case of success, with enumerated dignities, offices, and emoluments to be enjoyed by him and inherited by his heirs forever. The copy is taken from Poore's Charters and Constitutions of the United States, and is as follows: PREROGATIVES GRANTED TO CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. Ferdinand and Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, King and Queen of C'astile, of Leon, of Arragon, of Sicily, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Majorca, of Minorca, of Seville, of Sardinia, of Jaen, of Algarve, of Algezira, of Gibraltar, of the Canary Islands, Count and Countess of Barcelona, Lord and Lady of Biscay and Molino, Duke and Duchess of Athens and Neopatria, Count and Countess of Rousillion and Cerdaigne, Marquis and Marchioness of Oristan and Gociano, etc. For as much as you, Christopher Columbus, are going by our command, with some of our vessels and men, to discover and subdue some Islands and Continent in the ocean, and it is hoped that by God's assistance, some of the said Islands and Continent in the ocean will be discovered and conquered by your means and conduct, therefore it is but just and reasonable that since you expose yourself to such danger to serve us, you should be rewarded for it. And we being willing to honour and favour you for the reasons aforesaid; Our will is. That you, Christopher Columbus, after discovering the said Islands and Continent in the said ocean, or any of them, shall be our |