Eighty-four years ago, thirteen American colonies revolted from the British Empire. All acknowledged the right of property in one race of men. But only in six colonies was this idea inwrought into the texture of society; in seven northern provinces it was already a condemned barbarism. These seven northern colonies were inclined to believe in the natural right of every man to freedom sufficient to develop his own nature without hindrance to other men; a right to be forever asserted and secured by a government of the whole people. The masses of the six southern colonies believed heartily in the enslavement of the negro laborer, such enslavement to be ensured by an aristocratic form of society and organization of the State. The colony of Massachusetts was the foremost representative of the northern idea, which not only commanded majorities in seven provinces, but largely influenced the ablest patriot leaders of Virginia. The southern column was led by the Carolinas and Georgia. These states, with a white population of 480,000, contained 230,000 slaves. Throughout the Revolution they were the focus of indifference and opposition to the common cause; being practically a British province during most of the war. Their idea of society held the majority of the people in Virginia and Maryland, and governed an aristocratic party in the middle states, whose descendants abide with us to-day. The northern idea prevailed; wrote the Declaration of Independence; carried Washington through the war, and organized the government radically on the basis of civil and religious liberty for all races of men. The Carolinas and Georgia, at the last hour, forced into the Constitution a recognition of slavery, alien to its spirit, and supposed, by the wisest patriots, to be of temporary necessity. Thus did freedom triumph in 1787; though robbed of the complete fruits of victory by the obstinancy of a hostile idea. Thus armed, free society girded itself up to the majestic toil of subduing and civilizing a new continent. It entrenched itself on the rocky shores and snowy hills of New England, and made those six states the foremost representative of the true Democratic idea. Under the auspices of Jay, King, Livingston and a band of like-minded statesmen, the idea was organized in the State of New York; the great constructive centre of American civilization.