第2章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Democracy In America",免费读到尾

  InnocountryinEuropehasthegreatsocialrevolutionwhichIhavebeendescribingmadesuchrapidprogressasinFrance;butithasalwaysbeenborneonbychance。TheheadsoftheStatehaveneverhadanyforethoughtforitsexigencies,anditsvictorieshavebeenobtainedwithouttheirconsentorwithouttheirknowledge。Themostpowerful,themostintelligent,andthemostmoralclassesofthenationhaveneverattemptedtoconnectthemselveswithitinordertoguideit。Thepeoplehasconsequentlybeenabandonedtoitswildpropensities,andithasgrownuplikethoseoutcastswhoreceivetheireducationinthepublicstreets,andwhoareunacquaintedwithaughtbutthevicesandwretchednessofsociety。Theexistenceofademocracywasseeminglyunknown,whenonasuddenittookpossessionofthesupremepower。Everythingwasthensubmittedtoitscaprices;itwasworshippedastheidolofstrength;until,whenitwasenfeebledbyitsownexcesses,thelegislatorconceivedtherashprojectofannihilatingitspower,insteadofinstructingitandcorrectingitsvices;noattemptwasmadetofitittogovern,butallwerebentonexcludingitfromthegovernment。

  Theconsequenceofthishasbeenthatthedemocraticrevolutionhasbeeneffectedonlyinthematerialpartsofsociety,withoutthatconcomitantchangeinlaws,ideas,customs,andmannerswhichwasnecessarytorendersucharevolutionbeneficial。Wehavegottenademocracy,butwithouttheconditionswhichlessenitsvicesandrenderitsnaturaladvantagesmoreprominent;andalthoughwealreadyperceivetheevilsitbrings,weareignorantofthebenefitsitmayconfer。

  WhilethepoweroftheCrown,supportedbythearistocracy,peaceablygovernedthenationsofEurope,societypossessed,inthemidstofitswretchedness,severaldifferentadvantageswhichcannowscarcelybeappreciatedorconceived。Thepowerofapartofhissubjectswasaninsurmountablebarriertothetyrannyoftheprince;andthemonarch,whofeltthealmostdivinecharacterwhichheenjoyedintheeyesofthemultitude,derivedamotiveforthejustuseofhispowerfromtherespectwhichheinspired。Highastheywereplacedabovethepeople,thenoblescouldnotbuttakethatcalmandbenevolentinterestinitsfatewhichtheshepherdfeelstowardshisflock;andwithoutacknowledgingthepoorastheirequals,theywatchedoverthedestinyofthosewhosewelfareProvidencehadentrustedtotheircare。Thepeopleneverhavingconceivedtheideaofasocialconditiondifferentfromitsown,andentertainingnoexpectationofeverrankingwithitschiefs,receivedbenefitsfromthemwithoutdiscussingtheirrights。Itgrewattachedtothemwhentheywereclementandjust,anditsubmittedwithoutresistanceorservilitytotheirexactions,astotheinevitablevisitationsofthearmofGod。Custom,andthemannersofthetime,hadmoreovercreatedaspeciesoflawinthemidstofviolence,andestablishedcertainlimitstooppression。Asthenobleneversuspectedthatanyonewouldattempttodeprivehimoftheprivilegeswhichhebelievedtobelegitimate,andastheserflookeduponhisowninferiorityasaconsequenceoftheimmutableorderofnature,itiseasytoimaginethatamutualexchangeofgood—willtookplacebetweentwoclassessodifferentlygiftedbyfate。Inequalityandwretchednesswerethentobefoundinsociety;butthesoulsofneitherrankofmenweredegraded。Menarenotcorruptedbytheexerciseofpowerordebasedbythehabitofobedience,butbytheexerciseofapowerwhichtheybelievetobeillegalandbyobediencetoarulewhichtheyconsidertobeusurpedandoppressive。Ononesidewaswealth,strength,andleisure,accompaniedbytherefinementsofluxury,theeleganceoftaste,thepleasuresofwit,andthereligionofart。Ontheotherwaslaborandarudeignorance;butinthemidstofthiscoarseandignorantmultitudeitwasnotuncommontomeetwithenergeticpassions,generoussentiments,profoundreligiousconvictions,andindependentvirtues。ThebodyofaStatethusorganizedmightboastofitsstability,itspower,and,aboveall,ofitsglory。

  Butthesceneisnowchanged,andgraduallythetworanksmingle;thedivisionswhichonceseveredmankindarelowered,propertyisdivided,powerisheldincommon,thelightofintelligencespreads,andthecapacitiesofallclassesareequallycultivated;theStatebecomesdemocratic,andtheempireofdemocracyisslowlyandpeaceablyintroducedintotheinstitutionsandthemannersofthenation。Icanconceiveasocietyinwhichallmenwouldprofessanequalattachmentandrespectforthelawsofwhichtheyarethecommonauthors;inwhichtheauthorityoftheStatewouldberespectedasnecessary,thoughnotasdivine;andtheloyaltyofthesubjecttoitschiefmagistratewouldnotbeapassion,butaquietandrationalpersuasion。Everyindividualbeinginthepossessionofrightswhichheissuretoretain,akindofmanlyrelianceandreciprocalcourtesywouldarisebetweenallclasses,alikeremovedfromprideandmeanness。Thepeople,wellacquaintedwithitstrueinterests,wouldallowthatinordertoprofitbytheadvantagesofsocietyitisnecessarytosatisfyitsdemands。

  Inthisstateofthingsthevoluntaryassociationofthecitizensmightsupplytheindividualexertionsofthenobles,andthecommunitywouldbealikeprotectedfromanarchyandfromoppression。

  Iadmitthat,inademocraticStatethusconstituted,societywillnotbestationary;buttheimpulsesofthesocialbodymayberegulatedanddirectedforwards;iftherebelesssplendorthaninthehallsofanaristocracy,thecontrastofmiserywillbelessfrequentalso;thepleasuresofenjoymentmaybelessexcessive,butthoseofcomfortwillbemoregeneral;thesciencesmaybelessperfectlycultivated,butignorancewillbelesscommon;theimpetuosityofthefeelingswillberepressed,andthehabitsofthenationsoftened;therewillbemorevicesandfewercrimes。Intheabsenceofenthusiasmandofanardentfaith,greatsacrificesmaybeobtainedfromthemembersofacommonwealthbyanappealtotheirunderstandingsandtheirexperience;eachindividualwillfeelthesamenecessityforunitingwithhisfellow—citizenstoprotecthisownweakness;andasheknowsthatiftheyaretoassisthemustco—operate,hewillreadilyperceivethathispersonalinterestisidentifiedwiththeinterestofthecommunity。Thenation,takenasawhole,willbelessbrilliant,lessglorious,andperhapslessstrong;butthemajorityofthecitizenswillenjoyagreaterdegreeofprosperity,andthepeoplewillremainquiet,notbecauseitdespairsofamelioration,butbecauseitisconsciousoftheadvantagesofitscondition。Ifalltheconsequencesofthisstateofthingswerenotgoodoruseful,societywouldatleasthaveappropriatedallsuchaswereusefulandgood;andhavingonceandforeverrenouncedthesocialadvantagesofaristocracy,mankindwouldenterintopossessionofallthebenefitswhichdemocracycanafford。

  Buthereitmaybeaskedwhatwehaveadoptedintheplaceofthoseinstitutions,thoseideas,andthosecustomsofourforefatherswhichwehaveabandoned。Thespellofroyaltyisbroken,butithasnotbeensucceededbythemajestyofthelaws;

  thepeoplehaslearnedtodespiseallauthority,butfearnowextortsalargertributeofobediencethanthatwhichwasformerlypaidbyreverenceandbylove。

  Iperceivethatwehavedestroyedthoseindependentbeingswhichwereabletocopewithtyrannysingle—handed;butitistheGovernmentthathasinheritedtheprivilegesofwhichfamilies,corporations,andindividualshavebeendeprived;theweaknessofthewholecommunityhasthereforesucceededthatinfluenceofasmallbodyofcitizens,which,ifitwassometimesoppressive,wasoftenconservative。Thedivisionofpropertyhaslessenedthedistancewhichseparatedtherichfromthepoor;butitwouldseemthatthenearertheydrawtoeachother,thegreateristheirmutualhatred,andthemorevehementtheenvyandthedreadwithwhichtheyresisteachother’sclaimstopower;thenotionofRightisalikeinsensibletobothclasses,andForceaffordstoboththeonlyargumentforthepresent,andtheonlyguaranteeforthefuture。Thepoormanretainstheprejudicesofhisforefatherswithouttheirfaith,andtheirignorancewithouttheirvirtues;hehasadoptedthedoctrineofself—interestastheruleofhisactions,withoutunderstandingthesciencewhichcontrolsit,andhisegotismisnolessblindthanhisdevotednesswasformerly。Ifsocietyistranquil,itisnotbecauseitreliesuponitsstrengthanditswell—being,butbecauseitknowsitsweaknessanditsinfirmities;asingleeffortmaycostititslife;everybodyfeelstheevil,butnoonehascourageorenergyenoughtoseekthecure;thedesires,theregret,thesorrows,andthejoysofthetimeproducenothingthatisvisibleorpermanent,likethepassionsofoldmenwhichterminateinimpotence。

  Wehave,then,abandonedwhateveradvantagestheoldstateofthingsafforded,withoutreceivinganycompensationfromourpresentcondition;wehavedestroyedanaristocracy,andweseeminclinedtosurveyitsruinswithcomplacency,andtofixourabodeinthemidstofthem。

  Thephenomenawhichtheintellectualworldpresentsarenotlessdeplorable。ThedemocracyofFrance,checkedinitscourseorabandonedtoitslawlesspassions,hasoverthrownwhatevercrosseditspath,andhasshakenallthatithasnotdestroyed。

  Itsempireonsocietyhasnotbeengraduallyintroducedorpeaceablyestablished,butithasconstantlyadvancedinthemidstofdisorderandtheagitationofaconflict。Intheheatofthestruggleeachpartisanishurriedbeyondthelimitsofhisopinionsbytheopinionsandtheexcessesofhisopponents,untilhelosessightoftheendofhisexertions,andholdsalanguagewhichdisguiseshisrealsentimentsorsecretinstincts。Hencearisesthestrangeconfusionwhichwearewitnessing。Icannotrecalltomymindapassageinhistorymoreworthyofsorrowandofpitythanthesceneswhicharehappeningunderoureyes;itisasifthenaturalbondwhichunitestheopinionsofmantohistastesandhisactionstohisprincipleswasnowbroken;thesympathywhichhasalwaysbeenacknowledgedbetweenthefeelingsandtheideasofmankindappearstobedissolved,andallthelawsofmoralanalogytobedissolved,andallthelawsofmoralanalogytobeabolished。

  ZealousChristiansmaybefoundamongstuswhosemindsarenurturedintheloveandknowledgeofafuturelife,andwhoreadilyespousethecauseofhumanlibertyasthesourceofallmoralgreatness。Christianity,whichhasdeclaredthatallmenareequalinthesightofGod,willnotrefusetoacknowledgethatallcitizensareequalintheeyeofthelaw。But,byasingularconcourseofevents,religionisentangledinthoseinstitutionswhichdemocracyassails,anditisnotunfrequentlybroughttorejecttheequalityitloves,andtocursethatcauseoflibertyasafoewhichitmighthallowbyitsalliance。

  BythesideofthesereligiousmenIdiscernotherswhoselooksareturnedtotheearthmorethantoHeaven;theyarethepartisansofliberty,notonlyasthesourceofthenoblestvirtues,butmoreespeciallyastherootofallsolidadvantages;

  andtheysincerelydesiretoextenditssway,andtoimpartitsblessingstomankind。Itisnaturalthattheyshouldhastentoinvoketheassistanceofreligion,fortheymustknowthatlibertycannotbeestablishedwithoutmorality,normoralitywithoutfaith;buttheyhaveseenreligionintheranksoftheiradversaries,andtheyinquirenofurther;someofthemattackitopenly,andtheremainderareafraidtodefendit。

  Informeragesslaveryhasbeenadvocatedbythevenalandslavish—minded,whilsttheindependentandthewarm—heartedwerestrugglingwithouthopetosavethelibertiesofmankind。Butmenofhighandgenerouscharactersarenowtobemetwith,whoseopinionsareatvariancewiththeirinclinations,andwhopraisethatservilitywhichtheyhavethemselvesneverknown。Others,onthecontrary,speakinthenameofliberty,asiftheywereabletofeelitssanctityanditsmajesty,andloudlyclaimforhumanitythoserightswhichtheyhavealwaysdisowned。Therearevirtuousandpeacefulindividualswhosepuremorality,quiethabits,affluence,andtalentsfitthemtobetheleadersofthesurroundingpopulation;theirloveoftheircountryissincere,andtheyarepreparedtomakethegreatestsacrificestoitswelfare,buttheyconfoundtheabusesofcivilizationwithitsbenefits,andtheideaofevilisinseparableintheirmindsfromthatofnovelty。

  Notfarfromthisclassisanotherparty,whoseobjectistomaterializemankind,tohituponwhatisexpedientwithoutheedingwhatisjust,toacquireknowledgewithoutfaith,andprosperityapartfromvirtue;assumingthetitleofthechampionsofmoderncivilization,andplacingthemselvesinastationwhichtheyusurpwithinsolence,andfromwhichtheyaredrivenbytheirownunworthiness。Wherearewethen?Thereligionistsaretheenemiesofliberty,andthefriendsoflibertyattackreligion;thehigh—mindedandthenobleadvocatesubjection,andthemeanestandmostservilemindspreachindependence;honestandenlightenedcitizensareopposedtoallprogress,whilstmenwithoutpatriotismandwithoutprinciplesaretheapostlesofcivilizationandofintelligence。Hassuchbeenthefateofthecenturieswhichhaveprecededourown?andhasmanalwaysinhabitedaworldlikethepresent,wherenothingislinkedtogether,wherevirtueiswithoutgenius,andgeniuswithouthonor;wheretheloveoforderisconfoundedwithatasteforoppression,andtheholyritesoffreedomwithacontemptoflaw;

  wherethelightthrownbyconscienceonhumanactionsisdim,andwherenothingseemstobeanylongerforbiddenorallowed,honorableorshameful,falseortrue?Icannot,however,believethattheCreatormademantoleavehiminanendlessstrugglewiththeintellectualmiserieswhichsurroundus:GoddestinesacalmerandamorecertainfuturetothecommunitiesofEurope;I

  amunacquaintedwithHisdesigns,butIshallnotceasetobelieveinthembecauseIcannotfathomthem,andIhadrathermistrustmyowncapacitythanHisjustice。

  ThereisacountryintheworldwherethegreatrevolutionwhichIamspeakingofseemsnearlytohavereacheditsnaturallimits;ithasbeeneffectedwitheaseandsimplicity,sayratherthatthiscountryhasattainedtheconsequencesofthedemocraticrevolutionwhichweareundergoingwithouthavingexperiencedtherevolutionitself。TheemigrantswhofixedthemselvesontheshoresofAmericainthebeginningoftheseventeenthcenturyseveredthedemocraticprinciplefromalltheprincipleswhichrepresseditintheoldcommunitiesofEurope,andtransplanteditunalloyedtotheNewWorld。Ithastherebeenallowedtospreadinperfectfreedom,andtoputforthitsconsequencesinthelawsbyinfluencingthemannersofthecountry。

  Itappearstomebeyondadoubtthatsoonerorlaterweshallarrive,liketheAmericans,atanalmostcompleteequalityofconditions。ButIdonotconcludefromthisthatweshalleverbenecessarilyledtodrawthesamepoliticalconsequenceswhichtheAmericanshavederivedfromasimilarsocialorganization。Iamfarfromsupposingthattheyhavechosentheonlyformofgovernmentwhichademocracymayadopt;buttheidentityoftheefficientcauseoflawsandmannersinthetwocountriesissufficienttoaccountfortheimmenseinterestwehaveinbecomingacquaintedwithitseffectsineachofthem。

  Itisnot,then,merelytosatisfyalegitimatecuriositythatIhaveexaminedAmerica;mywishhasbeentofindinstructionbywhichwemayourselvesprofit。WhoevershouldimaginethatIhaveintendedtowriteapanegyricwillperceivethatsuchwasnotmydesign;norhasitbeenmyobjecttoadvocateanyformofgovernmentinparticular,forIamofopinionthatabsoluteexcellenceisrarelytobefoundinanylegislation;Ihavenotevenaffectedtodiscusswhetherthesocialrevolution,whichIbelievetobeirresistible,isadvantageousorprejudicialtomankind;Ihaveacknowledgedthisrevolutionasafactalreadyaccomplishedorontheeveofitsaccomplishment;andIhaveselectedthenation,fromamongstthosewhichhaveundergoneit,inwhichitsdevelopmenthasbeenthemostpeacefulandthemostcomplete,inordertodiscernitsnaturalconsequences,and,ifitbepossible,todistinguishthemeansbywhichitmayberenderedprofitable。IconfessthatinAmericaIsawmorethanAmerica;Isoughttheimageofdemocracyitself,withitsinclinations,itscharacter,itsprejudices,anditspassions,inordertolearnwhatwehavetofearortohopefromitsprogress。

  InthefirstpartofthisworkIhaveattemptedtoshowthetendencygiventothelawsbythedemocracyofAmerica,whichisabandonedalmostwithoutrestrainttoitsinstinctivepropensities,andtoexhibitthecourseitprescribestotheGovernmentandtheinfluenceitexercisesonaffairs。Ihavesoughttodiscovertheevilsandtheadvantageswhichitproduces。IhaveexaminedtheprecautionsusedbytheAmericanstodirectit,aswellasthosewhichtheyhavenotadopted,andI

  haveundertakentopointoutthecauseswhichenableittogovernsociety。IdonotknowwhetherIhavesucceededinmakingknownwhatIsawinAmerica,butIamcertainthatsuchhasbeenmysinceredesire,andthatIhavenever,knowingly,mouldedfactstoideas,insteadofideastofacts。

  Wheneverapointcouldbeestablishedbytheaidofwrittendocuments,Ihavehadrecoursetotheoriginaltext,andtothemostauthenticandapprovedworks。Ihavecitedmyauthoritiesinthenotes,andanyonemayrefertothem。Wheneveranopinion,apoliticalcustom,oraremarkonthemannersofthecountrywasconcerned,IendeavoredtoconsultthemostenlightenedmenImetwith。Ifthepointinquestionwasimportantordoubtful,Iwasnotsatisfiedwithonetestimony,butIformedmyopinionontheevidenceofseveralwitnesses。Herethereadermustnecessarilybelievemeuponmyword。Icouldfrequentlyhavequotednameswhichareeitherknowntohim,orwhichdeservetobeso,inproofofwhatIadvance;butIhavecarefullyabstainedfromthispractice。Astrangerfrequentlyhearsimportanttruthsatthefire—sideofhishost,whichthelatterwouldperhapsconcealfromtheearoffriendship;heconsoleshimselfwithhisguestforthesilencetowhichheisrestricted,andtheshortnessofthetraveller’sstaytakesawayallfearofhisindiscretion。I

  carefullynotedeveryconversationofthisnatureassoonasitoccurred,butthesenoteswillneverleavemywriting—case;Ihadratherinjurethesuccessofmystatementsthanaddmynametothelistofthosestrangerswhorepaythegeneroushospitalitytheyhavereceivedbysubsequentchagrinandannoyance。

  Iamawarethat,notwithstandingmycare,nothingwillbeeasierthantocriticisethisbook,ifanyoneeverchoosestocriticiseit。Thosereaderswhomayexamineitcloselywilldiscoverthefundamentalideawhichconnectstheseveralpartstogether。ButthediversityofthesubjectsIhavehadtotreatisexceedinglygreat,anditwillnotbedifficulttoopposeanisolatedfacttothebodyoffactswhichIquote,oranisolatedideatothebodyofideasIputforth。Ihopetobereadinthespiritwhichhasguidedmylabors,andthatmybookmaybejudgedbythegeneralimpressionitleaves,asIhaveformedmyownjudgmentnotonanysinglereason,butuponthemassofevidence。

  Itmustnotbeforgottenthattheauthorwhowishestobeunderstoodisobligedtopushallhisideastotheirutmosttheoreticalconsequences,andoftentothevergeofwhatisfalseorimpracticable;forifitbenecessarysometimestoquittherulesoflogicinactivelife,suchisnotthecaseindiscourse,andamanfindsthatalmostasmanydifficultiesspringfrominconsistencyoflanguageasusuallyarisefrominconsistencyofconduct。

  Iconcludebypointingoutmyselfwhatmanyreaderswillconsidertheprincipaldefectofthework。Thisbookiswrittentofavornoparticularviews,andincomposingitIhaveentertainednodesignsofservingorattackinganyparty;Ihaveundertakennottoseedifferently,buttolookfurtherthanparties,andwhilsttheyarebusiedforthemorrowIhaveturnedmythoughtstotheFuture。

  ChapterI:ExteriorFormOfNorthAmericaChapterSummaryNorthAmericadividedintotwovastregions,oneincliningtowardsthePole,theothertowardstheEquator—ValleyoftheMississippi—TracesoftheRevolutionsoftheGlobe—ShoreoftheAtlanticOceanwheretheEnglishColonieswerefounded—

  DifferenceintheappearanceofNorthandofSouthAmericaatthetimeoftheirDiscovery—ForestsofNorthAmerica—Prairies—WanderingTribesofNatives—Theiroutwardappearance,manners,andlanguage—Tracesofanunknownpeople。

  ExteriorFormOfNorthAmericaNorthAmericapresentsinitsexternalformcertaingeneralfeatureswhichitiseasytodiscriminateatthefirstglance。A

  sortofmethodicalorderseemstohaveregulatedtheseparationoflandandwater,mountainsandvalleys。Asimple,butgrand,arrangementisdiscoverableamidsttheconfusionofobjectsandtheprodigiousvarietyofscenes。Thiscontinentisdivided,almostequally,intotwovastregions,oneofwhichisboundedonthenorthbytheArcticPole,andbythetwogreatoceansontheeastandwest。Itstretchestowardsthesouth,formingatrianglewhoseirregularsidesmeetatlengthbelowthegreatlakesofCanada。Thesecondregionbeginswheretheotherterminates,andincludesalltheremainderofthecontinent。TheoneslopesgentlytowardsthePole,theothertowardstheEquator。

  Theterritorycomprehendedinthefirstregiondescendstowardsthenorthwithsoimperceptibleaslopethatitmayalmostbesaidtoformalevelplain。Withintheboundsofthisimmensetractofcountrythereareneitherhighmountainsnordeepvalleys。Streamsmeanderthroughitirregularly:greatriversmixtheircurrents,separateandmeetagain,disperseandformvastmarshes,losingalltraceoftheirchannelsinthelabyrinthofwaterstheyhavethemselvescreated;andthus,atlength,afterinnumerablewindings,fallintothePolarSeas。

  Thegreatlakeswhichboundthisfirstregionarenotwalledin,likemostofthoseintheOldWorld,betweenhillsandrocks。

  Theirbanksareflat,andrisebutafewfeetabovetheleveloftheirwaters;eachofthemthusformingavastbowlfilledtothebrim。TheslightestchangeinthestructureoftheglobewouldcausetheirwaterstorusheithertowardsthePoleortothetropicalsea。

  Thesecondregionismorevariedonitssurface,andbettersuitedforthehabitationofman。Twolongchainsofmountainsdivideitfromoneextremetotheother;theAlleghanyridgetakestheformoftheshoresoftheAtlanticOcean;theotherisparallelwiththePacific。Thespacewhichliesbetweenthesetwochainsofmountainscontains1,341,649squaremiles。*aItssurfaceisthereforeaboutsixtimesasgreatasthatofFrance。

  Thisvastterritory,however,formsasinglevalley,onesideofwhichdescendsgraduallyfromtheroundedsummitsoftheAlleghanies,whiletheotherrisesinanuninterruptedcoursetowardsthetopsoftheRockyMountains。Atthebottomofthevalleyflowsanimmenseriver,intowhichthevariousstreamsissuingfromthemountainsfallfromallparts。Inmemoryoftheirnativeland,theFrenchformerlycalledthisrivertheSt。

  Louis。TheIndians,intheirpompouslanguage,havenamedittheFatherofWaters,ortheMississippi。

  [Footnotea:Darby’s\"ViewoftheUnitedStates。\"]

  TheMississippitakesitssourceabovethelimitofthetwogreatregionsofwhichIhavespoken,notfarfromthehighestpointofthetable—landwheretheyunite。Nearthesamespotrisesanotherriver,*bwhichemptiesitselfintothePolarseas。

  ThecourseoftheMississippiisatfirstdubious:itwindsseveraltimestowardsthenorth,fromwhenceitrose;andatlength,afterhavingbeendelayedinlakesandmarshes,itflowsslowlyonwardstothesouth。Sometimesquietlyglidingalongtheargillaceousbedwhichnaturehasassignedtoit,sometimesswollenbystorms,theMississippiwaters2,500milesinitscourse。*cAtthedistanceof1,364milesfromitsmouththisriverattainsanaveragedepthoffifteenfeet;anditisnavigatedbyvesselsof300tonsburdenforacourseofnearly500miles。Fifty—sevenlargenavigableriverscontributetoswellthewatersoftheMississippi;amongstothers,theMissouri,whichtraversesaspaceof2,500miles;theArkansasof1,300miles,theRedRiver1,000miles,fourwhosecourseisfrom800to1,000milesinlength,viz。,theIllinois,theSt。

  Peter’s,theSt。Francis,andtheMoingona;besidesacountlessmultitudeofrivuletswhichunitefromallpartstheirtributarystreams。

  [Footnoteb:TheRedRiver。]

  [Footnotec:Warden’s\"DescriptionoftheUnitedStates。\"]

  ThevalleywhichiswateredbytheMississippiseemsformedtobethebedofthismightyriver,which,likeagodofantiquity,dispensesbothgoodandevilinitscourse。Ontheshoresofthestreamnaturedisplaysaninexhaustiblefertility;

  inproportionasyourecedefromitsbanks,thepowersofvegetationlanguish,thesoilbecomespoor,andtheplantsthatsurvivehaveasicklygrowth。NowherehavethegreatconvulsionsoftheglobeleftmoreevidenttracesthaninthevalleyoftheMississippi;thewholeaspectofthecountryshowsthepowerfuleffectsofwater,bothbyitsfertilityandbyitsbarrenness。

  Thewatersoftheprimevaloceanaccumulatedenormousbedsofvegetablemouldinthevalley,whichtheylevelledastheyretired。Upontherightshoreoftheriverareseenimmenseplains,assmoothasifthehusbandmanhadpassedoverthemwithhisroller。Asyouapproachthemountainsthesoilbecomesmoreandmoreunequalandsterile;thegroundis,asitwere,piercedinathousandplacesbyprimitiverocks,whichappearlikethebonesofaskeletonwhosefleshispartlyconsumed。Thesurfaceoftheearthiscoveredwithagranitesandandhugeirregularmassesofstone,amongwhichafewplantsforcetheirgrowth,andgivetheappearanceofagreenfieldcoveredwiththeruinsofavastedifice。Thesestonesandthissanddiscover,onexamination,aperfectanalogywiththosewhichcomposethearidandbrokensummitsoftheRockyMountains。Thefloodofwaterswhichwashedthesoiltothebottomofthevalleyafterwardscarriedawayportionsoftherocksthemselves;andthese,dashedandbruisedagainsttheneighboringcliffs,wereleftscatteredlikewrecksattheirfeet。*dThevalleyoftheMississippiis,uponthewhole,themostmagnificentdwelling—placepreparedbyGodforman’sabode;andyetitmaybesaidthatatpresentitisbutamightydesert。

  [Footnoted:SeeAppendix,A。]

  OntheeasternsideoftheAlleghanies,betweenthebaseofthesemountainsandtheAtlanticOcean,thereliesalongridgeofrocksandsand,whichtheseaappearstohaveleftbehindasitretired。Themeanbreadthofthisterritorydoesnotexceedonehundredmiles;butitisaboutninehundredmilesinlength。

  ThispartoftheAmericancontinenthasasoilwhichofferseveryobstacletothehusbandman,anditsvegetationisscantyandunvaried。

  Uponthisinhospitablecoastthefirstunitedeffortsofhumanindustryweremade。ThetongueofaridlandwasthecradleofthoseEnglishcolonieswhichweredestinedonedaytobecometheUnitedStatesofAmerica。Thecentreofpowerstillremainshere;whilstinthebackwoodsthetrueelementsofthegreatpeopletowhomthefuturecontrolofthecontinentbelongsaregatheringalmostinsecrecytogether。

  WhentheEuropeansfirstlandedontheshoresoftheWestIndies,andafterwardsonthecoastofSouthAmerica,theythoughtthemselvestransportedintothosefabulousregionsofwhichpoetshadsung。Theseasparkledwithphosphoriclight,andtheextraordinarytransparencyofitswatersdiscoveredtotheviewofthenavigatorallthathadhithertobeenhiddeninthedeepabyss。*eHereandthereappearedlittleislandsperfumedwithodoriferousplants,andresemblingbasketsofflowersfloatingonthetranquilsurfaceoftheocean。Everyobjectwhichmetthesight,inthisenchantingregion,seemedpreparedtosatisfythewantsorcontributetothepleasuresofman。Almostallthetreeswereloadedwithnourishingfruits,andthosewhichwereuselessasfooddelightedtheeyebythebrilliancyandvarietyoftheircolors。Ingrovesoffragrantlemon—trees,wildfigs,floweringmyrtles,acacias,andoleanders,whichwerehungwithfestoonsofvariousclimbingplants,coveredwithflowers,amultitudeofbirdsunknowninEuropedisplayedtheirbrightplumage,glitteringwithpurpleandazure,andmingledtheirwarblingwiththeharmonyofaworldteemingwithlifeandmotion。*fUnderneaththisbrilliantexteriordeathwasconcealed。Buttheairoftheseclimateshadsoenervatinganinfluencethatman,absorbedbypresentenjoyment,wasrenderedregardlessofthefuture。

  [Footnotee:MalteBruntellsus(vol。v。p。726)thatthewateroftheCaribbeanSeaissotransparentthatcoralsandfisharediscernibleatadepthofsixtyfathoms。Theshipseemedtofloatinair,thenavigatorbecamegiddyashiseyepenetratedthroughthecrystalflood,andbeheldsubmarinegardens,orbedsofshells,orgildedfishesglidingamongtuftsandthicketsofseaweed。]

  [Footnotef:SeeAppendix,B。]

  NorthAmericaappearedunderaverydifferentaspect;thereeverythingwasgrave,serious,andsolemn:itseemedcreatedtobethedomainofintelligence,astheSouthwasthatofsensualdelight。Aturbulentandfoggyoceanwasheditsshores。Itwasgirtroundbyabeltofgraniterocks,orbywidetractsofsand。

  Thefoliageofitswoodswasdarkandgloomy,fortheywerecomposedoffirs,larches,evergreenoaks,wildolive—trees,andlaurels。Beyondthisouterbeltlaythethickshadesofthecentralforest,wherethelargesttreeswhichareproducedinthetwohemispheresgrowsidebyside。Theplane,thecatalpa,thesugar—maple,andtheVirginianpoplarmingledtheirbrancheswiththoseoftheoak,thebeech,andthelime。Inthese,asintheforestsoftheOldWorld,destructionwasperpetuallygoingon。Theruinsofvegetationwereheapeduponeachother;buttherewasnolaboringhandtoremovethem,andtheirdecaywasnotrapidenoughtomakeroomforthecontinualworkofreproduction。Climbingplants,grasses,andotherherbsforcedtheirwaythroughthemassofdyingtrees;theycreptalongtheirbendingtrunks,foundnourishmentintheirdustycavities,andapassagebeneaththelifelessbark。Thusdecaygaveitsassistancetolife,andtheirrespectiveproductionsweremingledtogether。Thedepthsoftheseforestsweregloomyandobscure,undirectedintheircoursebyhumanindustry,preservedinthemaconstantmoisture。Itwasraretomeetwithflowers,wildfruits,orbirdsbeneaththeirshades。Thefallofatreeoverthrownbyage,therushingtorrentofacataract,thelowingofthebuffalo,andthehowlingofthewindweretheonlysoundswhichbrokethesilenceofnature。

  Totheeastofthegreatriver,thewoodsalmostdisappeared;intheirsteadwereseenprairiesofimmenseextent。

点击下载App,搜索"Democracy In America",免费读到尾