Question

Can someone help me paraphrase this?

(2) Everything has tended to regenerate them; new laws, a new mode of living, a new social system; here they are become men: in Europe they were as so many useless plants, wanting vegetative mold³, and refreshing showers; they withered, and were mowed down by want, hunger, and war; but now by the power of transplantation, like all other plants they have taken root and flourished! Formerly they were not numbered in any civil lists of their country, except in those of the poor; here they rank as citizens. By what invisible power has this surprising metamorphosis been performed? By that of the laws and that of their industry. The laws, the indulgent laws, protect them as they arrive, stamping on them the symbol of adoption; they receive ample rewards for their labors; these accumulated rewards procure them lands; those lands confer on them the title of freemen, and to that title every benefit is affixed which men can possibly require. This is the great operation daily performed by our laws. From whence proceed these laws? From our government. Whence the government? It is derived from the original genius and strong desire of the people.....

Answer 1

The people who were once useless plants in Europe, with no prospects of growth, have now become flourishing beings in America. Their transformation into citizens has been made possible through new laws, a new way of life, and a new social structure. They used to be considered poor and unimportant in their home country, but in America, they are respected and protected by the laws. They are rewarded for their hard work, given land, and granted the title of freemen, which comes with many privileges. This process is made possible by the laws created by the government, which is formed by the will and desire of the people.

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Answer 2

Rephrasing - Laws, social systems, and ways of life have been reformed and renewed. In this they become men as they would have been much like the useless plants hosting vegetative mold and showers of rain and snow. Withered and mowed down by their ceaseless want, endless hunger, and perpetual state of war; yet now by the powers that have let them transplant they have taken root and prospered. They were once not named nor numbered in the civil lists of their homeland except in the hearts of the poor. Now, they rank as citizens with rights of their own. By the laws of their industry, oh indulgent laws that protect as they arrive, claiming them as their adopted own. They are rewarded for theur labors, and they may procure lands that call them free. As such every benefit that man may need has been given to them by the laws. Not the laws that once turned a blind eye, but a kind government that has allowed them to thrive. The genius and desire of the human peoples that have since allowed for the allocation of right and reason, and benevolently protected those who come for protection.

- P.S. I wasn't sure what tone of voice you wanted to I tried to mimic the poetic way of speech that the excerpt used. If it doesn't work for you then I can redo it in a different way, just lmk :)