Front matter
A^
4 c
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Preface
THIS little book is an attempt to do for the study of American history what the photographer does for the study of art, — to collect a brief series of illustrations which, without including a hundredth part of the whole field, may give examples of the things most important to know. Yet, as no sensible person expects to get a knowledge of art simply from seeing a series of lantern slides, so it is not expected that the history of the United States can be learned from a Source Book, without. the intelligent use of a good text-book or narrative history to bring out the connection and to suggest the many great men, large events, and broad movements which in this small collection of reprints have no mention. What I hope is that these brief records may awaken interest in the books from which they came and in the men who wrote them ; that a clearer idea of what our ancestors did and thought and suffered may be had from their own writings ; that the book may serve as a part of the material necessary for topical study ; and, above all, that it may throw a human interest about the necessarily compact and factful statements of text-books.
In making up the texts I have taken some pains to give an objectlesson in the methods of using and citing books, by adopting the severe principles of scientific work in history ; in every case I have sought for the earliest authentic edition of printed material ; every omission is indicated by periods (...); the text is reprinted precisely, necessary corrections or glosses being indicated by brackets or in the margin ; and to every extract is appended an exact reference to the source from which it came. Acknowledgments of the use of materials are thus in every case made by reference to the editions used ; I am under much obhgation to the owners of copyright material, who have most fully and generously given their permission to reprint extracts.
vi Preface
The facsimile illustrations are intended to suggest to young people the kind of manuscript and other material with which historians are familiar. For the frontispiece nothing more characteristic of Puritan sentiment, Puritan government, and Puritan hand-writing could be found than the Mayflower Compact of 1620. The two pieces of Continental currency show the rude engraving and printing of the time, as well as the financial devices of the Revolution. Charles Carroll of Carrollton's letter on his fugitive slaves is a rare example of the business-like fashion in which the best planters looked upon their chattels. The extracts from the final Proclamation of Emancipation show Lincoln's characteristic hand-writing, in one of the most famous of the sources of American history.
I make no excuse for reproducing the few documents as exactly as possible ; and I make none for printing extracts from books exactly as they appear in the original editions, with any peculiarities of grammar or speUing which now would be errors. In the seventeenth century, and even in the eighteenth, there were as yet no fixed rules on such subjects ; and town clerks and other writers often had Httle book education. Pupils of the age of those for whom this book is intended will not find their own style affected by these obvious deviations from modern usage ; and to reduce the quaint and wandering sentences of our ancestors to order would be like putting Cotton Mather into the silk hat and plain black coat of modern society.
The work of preparation has been interesting to me ; I hope the result may be interesting to those who use it. Though I have chosen extracts which would bring out the two sides of great controversies, I take no other responsibility for the sentiments herein expressed than that of one who introduces a set of living, individual people, who speak for themselves of their lives, their interests, their standards, and their conception of their country's history.
ALBERT BUSHNELL HART.
Cambridge, April 2. 1899.
The Use of Sources ....
Materials for Source Study The Sources in Secondary Schools .
The Sources in Normal Schools Subjects for Topical Study from Sources
CHAPTER I — DISCOVERIES Christopher Columbus
Discovery of the Nerv World, 1492 Peter Martyr d'Anghiera :
An English Voyage to North America, 1497 Francisco Vasquez Coronado :
A Spanish Exploration, 1541 Anonymous :
An English Plundering Voyage, 1 5 78-15 79 Anonymous :
The First English Exploration, 1607 Samuel Sieur de Champlain :
A French Exploration, 1615 .
CHAPTER II — CONDITIONS OF SETTLEMENT John Evelyn : Reverend William Castell
Reasons for Emigration, 1641 Henry Spelman :
Indian Life, 1609-1613 John Sadler :
Requiremetits of an Efnigrani, 1634 John Josselyn :
Some Rarities of Neiu England, 1663-1671 Thomas Ash :
Praise of Indian Corn, 1682 .
PAGE
. xvii
XX
. xxiv . xxix xxxiii
4 6
9 II
18 21
23 26 29 viii Contents
Chapter III — First Era Of Colonization Page
13. Captain John Smith:
Settlement of Virginia, 1 607 ..,.,..,. 33
14. Doctor William Barlow :
The King and tlie Puritans, 1 604 '37
15. Governor William Bradford:
Settlement of Plymouth, 1 620 39
16. Father Isaac Jogues :
Settlement of New Amsterdam, \b\t^-\b^^ 42
17. Governor Thomas Dudley :
Planting of Massachusetts, 1627-1631 45
18. Jaspar Dankers and Peter Sluyter :
Conditions of Maryland, 1632 ........ 48
19. Henry Wolcott, Jr. :
Foundation of Governinent in Connecticut, 1638 . . . . • 5'
20. Secretary Nathaniel Morton :
Foundation of Rhode Island, 1636 ........ 52
21. Governor John Winthrop :
Foundation of Neiv Hampshire, 1637-1639 ...... 55
Chapter IV — Second Era Of Colonization
22. Governor Sir Edmund Andros :
An Account of Neiv York, 1678 58
23. John Fenwick :
New Jersey " a Healthy Pleasant, and Plentiful Country ^^
1675 62
24. Late Governor John Archdale :
Description of Carolina, 1 665-1695 ....... 65
25. Richard Townsend :
Settlement of Pennsylvania, 1682 ........ 67
26. Reverend William Eldmundson :
A Journey through Delaware, 1676 ....... 69
27. General James Edward Oglethorpe (?) :
Progress of Georgia, 1733 . . . . . . . . -7'
Chapter V — Colonial Life In The Seventeenth Century
28. Governor John Winthrop :
29. Thomas Lech ford:
PAGE
30. William Robinson and Marmaduke Stevenson :
31. Reverend Cotton Mather:
A Witch Trial, 1692 82
32. Ordinances of New Amsterdam :
Life in New York, 1 647- 1 658 85
33. Robert Holden :
The Trade of the Colonies, 1679 88
34. Anonymous :
Plantation Life in Virginia, 1648 9^
35. Virginia Assembly :
Chapter VI — Rivals For Empire
36. Henry Sieur de Tonty :
La Salle on the Mississippi, 1 681-1682 96
37. Anonymous :
Destruction of Deerfeld, 1704 ........ 98
38. Professor Peter Kalm :
The French Trade with the Indians, 1 749 ...... lOO
39. Colonel George Washington :
Braddock's Defeat, 1755 103
40. Francois Bigot :
Capture of Quebec, 1 759 I05
Chapter VII — Colonial Life In The Eighteenth Century
41. Colonel John Seymour:
Discomforts of Colonial IJfe, 1 708 108
42. Reverend George Whitefield :
The Great Awakening in New England, \1\o ..... 109
43. Ebenezer Cook :
A Satire on Tobacco Planters, 1 708 .Hi
44. William Black :
Social Life in Philadelphia, 1744 1 15
45. Professor Peter Kalm :
The Toivn of New York, 1748 1 17
46. Colonel William Byrd :
A Southern Criticism of Slavery, 1736 ....... II9
47. Alexander Graydon :
A Colonial School- Boy, I'jbo-i'j^iy 122
X Contents
Chapter VIII — Colonial Government Pagb
48. James Earl of Stanhope :
The English Council for Trade a7id Plantations, 1715 . ■ . . . 124
49. Samuel Purviance, Jr. :
How to Manage Elections, 1765 . . . , , . , .126
50. Professor Peter Kalm :
The Governor and Assembly in New York, 1748 . . . . .128
51. Agent Benjamin Franklin :
Objections to Governing of Colonies by Instructions, 1772 . . . 131
52. Boston Town Records :
A Colonial Town-Meeting, 1729 ........ 132
Chapter IX — The Revolution
53. Deacon John Tudor :
77/1? Boston Tea-Party, I'JTi . 137
54. Reverend John Witherspoon :
" Condiict of the British Ministry,^' I'j'jt^ ...... 138
55. Reverend Andrew Burnaby :
Undeniable Supremacy of Parliament, 1775 ...... 141
56. Anonymous :
" The American Patriots Prayer^'' 1776 ...... 143
57. Reverend William Emerson:
Battle of Lexington and Concord, 1775 144
58. Delegate John Adams:
Drafting the Declaration of Independence, X'j'jd ..... I47
59. General George Washington :
Report of the Battle of Princeton, l']']'] 149
60. Eliza Wilkinson :
A Southern Lady^s Experience of War, 1780 . . . . .151
61. Captain Georg Pausch :
Hard Fighting at Saratoga, 1777 ........ 154
62. Robert Morton :
I'he Baneful Influence of Paper Money, X'j']'] 157
63. Anonymous :
A Ballad on Cornwallis, 178 1 . . . . . . . • '59
Chapter X — The Confederation And The Constitution
64. J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur :
IVhat is an Atnerican ? 1 782 ........ 161
65- Judge Benjamin Huntington:
Life in Congress, 1783 164
PAGE
66. Jean Pierre Brissot de Warville:
67. Reverend Manasseh Cutler :
The Inner History of the Northivest Ordinance , \'j%'j . . , .169 _68. Delegate George Mason :
Objections to the Constitution, 1787 . . . . . . .172
69. Colonel Jonathan B. Smith :
The Political Harvest Time, X'j'iZ ° '^IS
70. Francis Hopkinson :
'' The New Roof," x'j'iZ 178
Chapter XI — Making A Government, 1789-1801
71. Senator William Maclay :
A Democratic View of Washington, \i%()-\'](y> l8l
72. Representative Fisher Ames :
Speech on the Tariff, 1789 .183
73. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson :
A Question of Cotnpromise, 1790 . . 186
74. Chief Justice John Jay :
Maritime Grievances, 1794 . . 188
75. C. C. Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry:
" The X Y Z Despatches," i'](jy 191
76. Richard Carter :
A Case of Impressment, 1799 194
Chapter XII — Jefferson's Policy, 1801-1808
77. Theodore Dwight :
Election of fefferson, 1801 . . . . . , . . • . 197
78. President Thomas Jefferson :
Acquisition of louisiana, 1803 ........ 200
79. Midshipman Basil Hall :
" Blockading a Neutral Port," 1 804 ....... 202
80. Patrick Gass :
lewis and Clark's Oregon Expedition, 1804-1805 .... 206
81. Representative Josiah Quincy :
Effect of the Embargo, 1808 ......... 209
Chapter Xiii— The War Of 1812
82. Francis James Jackson :
Impressions of America, 1810 ........ 212
83. President James Madison :
Causes of the War, i8i2 214
Xll
Contents
84. Captain Isaac Hull :
Capture of the Guerriere, l8l2 . . . .• . " . , ^ . 216
85. Reverend George Robert Gleig:
Capture of Washington, 1814 . i 218
86. Major Arsene Lacarriere Latour :
Battle of A^e%v Orleans, 1815 220
87. Commissioner Albert Gallatin :
Discussion of the Peace, 1814 . o 223
Chapter XIV — Conditions Of National Growth, 1815-1830
88. John Melish :
Boston and Neigkboriftg Towns, 1 806 ....... 226
89. Colonel Thomas Jefferson Randolph :
The Virginia Gentlemati, 1801-1809 228
90. Reverend Timothy Flint :
Religious Life in the West, 1828 . 231
91. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams :
Missouri Compromise, 1 820 ......... 234
92. Morris Birkbeck :
A Settler in Illinois, 1817 . . ., 237
93. Surgeon Henry Bradshaw Fearon :
Amusements in New Orleans, 1818 240
Chapter XV — Abolitionists, 1835-1841
94. Reverend John Rankin :
A Western Abolition Argument, 1824
95. Governor George McDuffie :
A Southern Defence of Slavery, 1835
96. William Lloyd Garrison :
An Anti-Abolitionist Mob, 1835 .
97. George William Featherstonhaugh :
The Internal Slave- Trade, 1834 .
98. Charity Bowery:
A Slave's Narrative, 1844 .
99. John Greenleaf Whittier :
Fare-well of a Slave Mother, 1838 100. Henry Box Brown :
A Fugitive's Narrative, 1848 101 Salmon Portland Chase :
A Political Abolitionist, 1845
Chapter XVI — Territorial Development, 1841-1853 Page
102. Charles Augustus Davis :
Jacksoii's Responsibility, 1833 ........ 266
103. Francis Parkman, Jr. :
The Oregon Trail, 1846 268
104. James Russell Lowell:
A Satire on the Mexican War, 1846 . . . , , . .271
105. Reverend Walter Colton :
At the Gold Fields, \^i,Z 276
106. Senator Henry Clay :
Compromise of 18^0 279
Chapter XVII — Slavery Contest, 185 1-1860
107. Richard Henry Dana, Jr. :
The Rescue of Shadrach, 1 85 1 . 282
108. Representative Thomas Hart Benton :
A Criticism of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1 854 284
109. Erastus D. Ladd :
1 10. Justice John McLean:
The Dred Scott Decision, 1856 ........ 290
111. Senator Stephen A. Douglas:
A Criticism of Lincoln, 1858 ........ 291
112. Captain John Brown :
John Brorvn^s Last Speech, 1859 294
113. Alexander H. Stephens :
Slavery the Corner-Stone of the Confederacy, 1861 .... 296
1 14. Captain Abner Doubleday :
Attack on Fort Sutnter, 1861 299
Chapter XVIII — Civil War, 1861-1865
115. Reverend Morgan Dix :
The Rousing of the A^orth, 1 86 1. . 303
116. Edmund Clarence Stedman :
Battle of Bull Run, 1861 305
117. George Cary Eggleston :
The Southern Soldier, 1861-1865 308
118. Reverend Francis Nathan Peloubet and Reverend George Lansing Taylor :
Supplies for the Wounded, 1862 . . . . . . . .311
119. Flag-Officer David Glasgow Farragut :
Farragut at Nexo Orleans, 1862 . 313
XIV
Contents
1 20. Francis Bicknell Carpenter :
Proclamation of Emancipation, 1 86* . . . , , , 'S'S
121. Doctor Albert Gaillard Hart :
In the Thick of the I-igkt, l2,6^ 318
Cave Life in a Besieged City, 1863 320
123. New York Tribune :
Battle of Gettysburg, 1 863 . , 323
124. President Abraham Lincoln :
The IVar and Slavery, 1864 ........ 327
125. General Horace Porter :
Surrender of Lee, 1865 329
126. James Russell Lowell:
Abraham Lincoln, 1865 333
Chapter XIX — Reconstruction, 1865-1871
127. Sidney Andrews :
Condition of the South, 1865
128. Elizabeth Hyde Botume :
A Negro School, 1862 .....
129. General Robert E. Lee:
A Southerner's Advice on Reconstruction, 1865
130. Representative Thaddeus Stevens:
Congressional Reconstruction, \?>6i)
131. General Oliver Otis Howard:
A Military Governor in Louisiana, 1865-1866
132. Attorney-General Daniel Henry Chamberlain :
Failure of Reconstruction, 1871
336 339 342 344 346 349
Chapter XX — Union Restored, 1871-1885
133. Samuel Jones Tilden :
Iniquities of the Tweed Ring, 1869-1871 352
134. Caleb Gushing :
Treaty of Washington, 1871 355
135. John Greenleaf Whittier :
136. New York World :
Resujftption of Specie Payments, 1879 ....... 360
137. George William Curtis :
Workings of Civil Service Reform, i88l . . . . . • 363
PAGE
138. Thomas Jefferson Morgan :
Our rreaime)U of the Indians, 1891 366
139. James Bryce :
Chai'ader of the Americans, 1888 369
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