第32章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Democracy In America",免费读到尾

  Inthisdivisionoftherightsofsovereignty,theshareoftheUnionseemsatfirstsighttobemoreconsiderablethanthatoftheStates;butamoreattentiveinvestigationshowsittobelessso。TheundertakingsoftheGovernmentoftheUnionaremorevast,buttheirinfluenceismorerarelyfelt。Thoseoftheprovincialgovernmentsarecomparativelysmall,buttheyareincessant,andtheyservetokeepalivetheauthoritywhichtheyrepresent。TheGovernmentoftheUnionwatchesthegeneralinterestsofthecountry;butthegeneralinterestsofapeoplehaveaveryquestionableinfluenceuponindividualhappiness,whilstprovincialinterestsproduceamostimmediateeffectuponthewelfareoftheinhabitants。TheUnionsecurestheindependenceandthegreatnessofthenation,whichdonotimmediatelyaffectprivatecitizens;buttheseveralStatesmaintaintheliberty,regulatetherights,protectthefortune,andsecurethelifeandthewholefutureprosperityofeverycitizen。

  TheFederalGovernmentisveryfarremovedfromitssubjects,whilsttheprovincialgovernmentsarewithinthereachofthemall,andarereadytoattendtothesmallestappeal。ThecentralGovernmenthasuponitssidethepassionsofafewsuperiormenwhoaspiretoconductit;butuponthesideoftheprovincialgovernmentsaretheinterestsofallthosesecond—rateindividualswhocanonlyhopetoobtainpowerwithintheirownState,andwhoneverthelessexercisethelargestshareofauthorityoverthepeoplebecausetheyareplacednearesttoitslevel。TheAmericanshavethereforemuchmoretohopeandtofearfromtheStatesthanfromtheUnion;and,inconformitywiththenaturaltendencyofthehumanmind,theyaremorelikelytoattachthemselvestotheformerthantothelatter。Inthisrespecttheirhabitsandfeelingsharmonizewiththeirinterests。

  Whenacompactnationdividesitssovereignty,andadoptsaconfederateformofgovernment,thetraditions,thecustoms,andthemannersofthepeopleareforalongtimeatvariancewiththeirlegislation;andtheformertendtogiveadegreeofinfluencetothecentralgovernmentwhichthelatterforbids。

  Whenanumberofconfederatestatesunitetoformasinglenation,thesamecausesoperateinanoppositedirection。IhavenodoubtthatifFranceweretobecomeaconfederaterepubliclikethatoftheUnitedStates,thegovernmentwouldatfirstdisplaymoreenergythanthatoftheUnion;andiftheUnionweretoalteritsconstitutiontoamonarchylikethatofFrance,I

  thinkthattheAmericanGovernmentwouldbealongtimeinacquiringtheforcewhichnowrulesthelatternation。WhenthenationalexistenceoftheAnglo—Americansbegan,theirprovincialexistencewasalreadyoflongstanding;necessaryrelationswereestablishedbetweenthetownshipsandtheindividualcitizensofthesameStates;andtheywereaccustomedtoconsidersomeobjectsascommontothemall,andtoconductotheraffairsasexclusivelyrelatingtotheirownspecialinterests。

  TheUnionisavastbodywhichpresentsnodefiniteobjecttopatrioticfeeling。TheformsandlimitsoftheStatearedistinctandcircumscribed;sinceitrepresentsacertainnumberofobjectswhicharefamiliartothecitizensandbelovedbyall。

  Itisidentifiedwiththeverysoil,withtherightofpropertyandthedomesticaffections,withtherecollectionsofthepast,thelaborsofthepresent,andthehopesofthefuture。

  Patriotism,then,whichisfrequentlyamereextensionofindividualegotism,isstilldirectedtotheState,andisnotexcitedbytheUnion。Thusthetendencyoftheinterests,thehabits,andthefeelingsofthepeopleistocentrepoliticalactivityintheStates,inpreferencetotheUnion。

  Itiseasytoestimatethedifferentforcesofthetwogovernments,byremarkingthemannerinwhichtheyfulfiltheirrespectivefunctions。WheneverthegovernmentofaStatehasoccasiontoaddressanindividualoranassemblyofindividuals,itslanguageisclearandimperative;andsuchisalsothetoneoftheFederalGovernmentinitsintercoursewithindividuals,butnosoonerhasitanythingtodowithaStatethanitbeginstoparley,toexplainitsmotivesandtojustifyitsconduct,toargue,toadvise,and,inshort,anythingbuttocommand。Ifdoubtsareraisedastothelimitsoftheconstitutionalpowersofeachgovernment,theprovincialgovernmentprefersitsclaimwithboldness,andtakespromptandenergeticstepstosupportit。InthemeanwhiletheGovernmentoftheUnionreasons;itappealstotheinterests,tothegoodsense,tothegloryofthenation;ittemporizes,itnegotiates,anddoesnotconsenttoactuntilitisreducedtothelastextremity。Atfirstsightitmightreadilybeimaginedthatitistheprovincialgovernmentwhichisarmedwiththeauthorityofthenation,andthatCongressrepresentsasingleState。

  TheFederalGovernmentis,therefore,notwithstandingtheprecautionsofthosewhofoundedit,naturallysoweakthatitmorepeculiarlyrequiresthefreeconsentofthegovernedtoenableittosubsist。ItiseasytoperceivethatitsobjectistoenabletheStatestorealizewithfacilitytheirdeterminationofremainingunited;and,aslongasthispreliminaryconditionexists,itsauthorityisgreat,temperate,andeffective。TheConstitutionfitstheGovernmenttocontrolindividuals,andeasilytosurmountsuchobstaclesastheymaybeinclinedtooffer;butitwasbynomeansestablishedwithaviewtothepossibleseparationofoneormoreoftheStatesfromtheUnion。

  IfthesovereigntyoftheUnionweretoengageinastrugglewiththatoftheStatesatthepresentday,itsdefeatmaybeconfidentlypredicted;anditisnotprobablethatsuchastrugglewouldbeseriouslyundertaken。AsoftenasasteadyresistanceisofferedtotheFederalGovernmentitwillbefoundtoyield。ExperiencehashithertoshownthatwheneveraStatehasdemandedanythingwithperseveranceandresolution,ithasinvariablysucceeded;andthatifaseparategovernmenthasdistinctlyrefusedtoact,itwaslefttodoasitthoughtfit。

  *z[Footnotez:SeetheconductoftheNorthernStatesinthewarof1812。\"Duringthatwar,\"saysJeffersoninalettertoGeneralLafayette,\"fouroftheEasternStateswereonlyattachedtotheUnion,likesomanyinanimatebodiestolivingmen。\"]

  ButeveniftheGovernmentoftheUnionhadanystrengthinherentinitself,thephysicalsituationofthecountrywouldrendertheexerciseofthatstrengthverydifficult。*aTheUnitedStatescoveranimmenseterritory;theyareseparatedfromeachotherbygreatdistances;andthepopulationisdisseminatedoverthesurfaceofacountrywhichisstillhalfawilderness。

  IftheUnionweretoundertaketoenforcetheallegianceoftheconfederateStatesbymilitarymeans,itwouldbeinapositionveryanalogoustothatofEnglandatthetimeoftheWarofIndependence。

  [Footnotea:TheprofoundpeaceoftheUnionaffordsnopretextforastandingarmy;andwithoutastandingarmyagovernmentisnotpreparedtoprofitbyafavorableopportunitytoconquerresistance,andtakethesovereignpowerbysurprise。[Thisnote,andtheparagraphinthetextwhichprecedes,havebeenshownbytheresultsoftheCivilWartobeamisconceptionofthewriter。]]

  Howeverstrongagovernmentmaybe,itcannoteasilyescapefromtheconsequencesofaprinciplewhichithasonceadmittedasthefoundationofitsconstitution。TheUnionwasformedbythevoluntaryagreementoftheStates;and,inunitingtogether,theyhavenotforfeitedtheirnationality,norhavetheybeenreducedtotheconditionofoneandthesamepeople。IfoneoftheStateschosetowithdrawitsnamefromthecontract,itwouldbedifficulttodisproveitsrightofdoingso;andtheFederalGovernmentwouldhavenomeansofmaintainingitsclaimsdirectly,eitherbyforceorbyright。InordertoenabletheFederalGovernmenteasilytoconquertheresistancewhichmaybeofferedtoitbyanyoneofitssubjects,itwouldbenecessarythatoneormoreofthemshouldbespeciallyinterestedintheexistenceoftheUnion,ashasfrequentlybeenthecaseinthehistoryofconfederations。

  IfitbesupposedthatamongsttheStateswhichareunitedbythefederaltietherearesomewhichexclusivelyenjoytheprincipaladvantagesofunion,orwhoseprosperitydependsonthedurationofthatunion,itisunquestionablethattheywillalwaysbereadytosupportthecentralGovernmentinenforcingtheobedienceoftheothers。ButtheGovernmentwouldthenbeexertingaforcenotderivedfromitself,butfromaprinciplecontrarytoitsnature。Statesformconfederationsinordertoderiveequaladvantagesfromtheirunion;andinthecasejustalludedto,theFederalGovernmentwouldderiveitspowerfromtheunequaldistributionofthosebenefitsamongsttheStates。

  IfoneoftheconfederateStateshaveacquiredapreponderancesufficientlygreattoenableittotakeexclusivepossessionofthecentralauthority,itwillconsidertheotherStatesassubjectprovinces,anditwillcauseitsownsupremacytoberespectedundertheborrowednameofthesovereigntyoftheUnion。GreatthingsmaythenbedoneinthenameoftheFederalGovernment,butinrealitythatGovernmentwillhaveceasedtoexist。*bInboththesecases,thepowerwhichactsinthenameoftheconfederationbecomesstrongerthemoreitabandonsthenaturalstateandtheacknowledgedprinciplesofconfederations。

  [Footnoteb:ThustheprovinceofHollandintherepublicoftheLowCountries,andtheEmperorintheGermanicConfederation,havesometimesputthemselvesintheplaceoftheunion,andhaveemployedthefederalauthoritytotheirownadvantage。]

  InAmericatheexistingUnionisadvantageoustoalltheStates,butitisnotindispensabletoanyoneofthem。Severalofthemmightbreakthefederaltiewithoutcompromisingthewelfareoftheothers,althoughtheirownprosperitywouldbelessened。AstheexistenceandthehappinessofnoneoftheStatesarewhollydependentonthepresentConstitution,theywouldnoneofthembedisposedtomakegreatpersonalsacrificestomaintainit。Ontheotherhand,thereisnoStatewhichseemshithertotohaveitsambitionmuchinterestedinthemaintenanceoftheexistingUnion。Theycertainlydonotallexercisethesameinfluenceinthefederalcouncils,butnooneofthemcanhopetodomineerovertherest,ortotreatthemasitsinferiorsorasitssubjects。

  ItappearstomeunquestionablethatifanyportionoftheUnionseriouslydesiredtoseparateitselffromtheotherStates,theywouldnotbeable,norindeedwouldtheyattempt,topreventit;andthatthepresentUnionwillonlylastaslongastheStateswhichcomposeitchoosetocontinuemembersoftheconfederation。Ifthispointbeadmitted,thequestionbecomeslessdifficult;andourobjectis,nottoinquirewhethertheStatesoftheexistingUnionarecapableofseparating,butwhethertheywillchoosetoremainunited。

  AmongstthevariousreasonswhichtendtorendertheexistingUnionusefultotheAmericans,twoprincipalcausesarepeculiarlyevidenttotheobserver。AlthoughtheAmericansare,asitwere,aloneupontheircontinent,theircommercemakesthemtheneighborsofallthenationswithwhichtheytrade。

  Notwithstandingtheirapparentisolation,theAmericansrequireacertaindegreeofstrength,whichtheycannotretainotherwisethanbyremainingunitedtoeachother。IftheStatesweretosplit,theywouldnotonlydiminishthestrengthwhichtheyarenowabletodisplaytowardsforeignnations,buttheywouldsooncreateforeignpowersupontheirownterritory。Asystemofinlandcustom—houseswouldthenbeestablished;thevalleyswouldbedividedbyimaginaryboundarylines;thecoursesoftheriverswouldbeconfinedbyterritorialdistinctions;andamultitudeofhindranceswouldpreventtheAmericansfromexploringthewholeofthatvastcontinentwhichProvidencehasallottedtothemforadominion。Atpresenttheyhavenoinvasiontofear,andconsequentlynostandingarmiestomaintain,notaxestolevy。

  IftheUnionweredissolved,alltheseburdensomemeasuresmighterelongberequired。TheAmericansarethenverypowerfullyinterestedinthemaintenanceoftheirUnion。Ontheotherhand,itisalmostimpossibletodiscoveranysortofmaterialinterestwhichmightatpresenttemptaportionoftheUniontoseparatefromtheotherStates。

  WhenwecastoureyesuponthemapoftheUnitedStates,weperceivethechainoftheAlleghanyMountains,runningfromthenortheasttothesouthwest,andcrossingnearlyonethousandmilesofcountry;andweareledtoimaginethatthedesignofProvidencewastoraisebetweenthevalleyoftheMississippiandthecoastoftheAtlanticOceanoneofthosenaturalbarrierswhichbreakthemutualintercourseofmen,andformthenecessarylimitsofdifferentStates。ButtheaverageheightoftheAlleghaniesdoesnotexceed2,500feet;theirgreatestelevationisnotabove4,000feet;theirroundedsummits,andthespaciousvalleyswhichtheyconcealwithintheirpasses,areofeasyaccessfromseveralsides。Besideswhich,theprincipalriverswhichfallintotheAtlanticOcean—theHudson,theSusquehanna,andthePotomac—taketheirrisebeyondtheAlleghanies,inanopendistrict,whichbordersuponthevalleyoftheMississippi。

  Thesestreamsquitthistractofcountry,maketheirwaythroughthebarrierwhichwouldseemtoturnthemwestward,andastheywindthroughthemountainstheyopenaneasyandnaturalpassagetoman。NonaturalbarrierexistsintheregionswhicharenowinhabitedbytheAnglo—Americans;theAlleghaniesaresofarfromservingasaboundarytoseparatenations,thattheydonotevenserveasafrontiertotheStates。NewYork,Pennsylvania,andVirginiacomprisethemwithintheirborders,andtheyextendasmuchtothewestastotheeastoftheline。Theterritorynowoccupiedbythetwenty—fourStatesoftheUnion,andthethreegreatdistrictswhichhavenotyetacquiredtherankofStates,althoughtheyalreadycontaininhabitants,coversasurfaceof1,002,600squaremiles,*cwhichisaboutequaltofivetimestheextentofFrance。Withintheselimitsthequalitiesofthesoil,thetemperature,andtheproduceofthecountry,areextremelyvarious。ThevastextentofterritoryoccupiedbytheAnglo—AmericanrepublicshasgivenrisetodoubtsastothemaintenanceoftheirUnion。Hereadistinctionmustbemade;

  contraryinterestssometimesariseinthedifferentprovincesofavastempire,whichoftenterminateinopendissensions;andtheextentofthecountryisthenmostprejudicialtothepoweroftheState。Butiftheinhabitantsofthesevastregionsarenotdividedbycontraryinterests,theextentoftheterritorymaybefavorabletotheirprosperity;fortheunityofthegovernmentpromotestheinterchangeofthedifferentproductionsofthesoil,andincreasestheirvaluebyfacilitatingtheirconsumption。

  [Footnotec:See\"Darby’sViewoftheUnitedStates,\"p。435。

  [In1890thenumberofStatesandTerritorieshadincreasedto51,thepopulationto62,831,900,andtheareaoftheStates,3,602,990squaremiles。ThisdoesnotincludethePhilippineIslands,Hawaii,orPortoRico。AconservativeestimateofthepopulationofthePhilippineIslandsis8,000,000;thatofHawaii,bythecensusof1897,wasgivenat109,020;andthepresentestimatedpopulationofPortoRicois900,000。TheareaofthePhilippineIslandsisabout120,000squaremiles,thatofHawaiiis6,740squaremiles,andtheareaofPortoRicoisabout3,600squaremiles。]]

  ItisindeedeasytodiscoverdifferentinterestsinthedifferentpartsoftheUnion,butIamunacquaintedwithanywhicharehostiletoeachother。TheSouthernStatesarealmostexclusivelyagricultural。TheNorthernStatesaremorepeculiarlycommercialandmanufacturing。TheStatesoftheWestareatthesametimeagriculturalandmanufacturing。IntheSouththecropsconsistoftobacco,ofrice,ofcotton,andofsugar;intheNorthandtheWest,ofwheatandmaize。Thesearedifferentsourcesofwealth;butunionisthemeansbywhichthesesourcesareopenedtoall,andrenderedequallyadvantageoustotheseveraldistricts。

  TheNorth,whichshipstheproduceoftheAnglo—Americanstoallpartsoftheworld,andbringsbacktheproduceoftheglobetotheUnion,isevidentlyinterestedinmaintainingtheconfederationinitspresentcondition,inorderthatthenumberofAmericanproducersandconsumersmayremainaslargeaspossible。TheNorthisthemostnaturalagentofcommunicationbetweentheSouthandtheWestoftheUnionontheonehand,andtherestoftheworldupontheother;theNorthisthereforeinterestedintheunionandprosperityoftheSouthandtheWest,inorderthattheymaycontinuetofurnishrawmaterialsforitsmanufactures,andcargoesforitsshipping。

  TheSouthandtheWest,ontheirside,arestillmoredirectlyinterestedinthepreservationoftheUnion,andtheprosperityoftheNorth。TheproduceoftheSouthis,forthemostpart,exportedbeyondseas;theSouthandtheWestconsequentlystandinneedofthecommercialresourcesoftheNorth。TheyarelikewiseinterestedinthemaintenanceofapowerfulfleetbytheUnion,toprotectthemefficaciously。TheSouthandtheWesthavenovessels,buttheycannotrefuseawillingsubsidytodefraytheexpensesofthenavy;forifthefleetsofEuropeweretoblockadetheportsoftheSouthandthedeltaoftheMississippi,whatwouldbecomeofthericeoftheCarolinas,thetobaccoofVirginia,andthesugarandcottonwhichgrowinthevalleyoftheMississippi?EveryportionofthefederalbudgetdoesthereforecontributetothemaintenanceofmaterialinterestswhicharecommontoalltheconfederateStates。

  Independentlyofthiscommercialutility,theSouthandtheWestoftheUnionderivegreatpoliticaladvantagesfromtheirconnectionwiththeNorth。TheSouthcontainsanenormousslavepopulation;apopulationwhichisalreadyalarming,andstillmoreformidableforthefuture。TheStatesoftheWestlieintheremotestpartsofasinglevalley;andalltheriverswhichintersecttheirterritoryriseintheRockyMountainsorintheAlleghanies,andfallintotheMississippi,whichbearsthemonwardstotheGulfofMexico。TheWesternStatesareconsequentlyentirelycutoff,bytheirposition,fromthetraditionsofEuropeandthecivilizationoftheOldWorld。TheinhabitantsoftheSouth,then,areinducedtosupporttheUnioninordertoavailthemselvesofitsprotectionagainsttheblacks;andtheinhabitantsoftheWestinordernottobeexcludedfromafreecommunicationwiththerestoftheglobe,andshutupinthewildsofcentralAmerica。TheNorthcannotbutdesirethemaintenanceoftheUnion,inordertoremain,asitnowis,theconnectinglinkbetweenthatvastbodyandtheotherpartsoftheworld。

  ThetemporalinterestsofalltheseveralpartsoftheUnionare,then,intimatelyconnected;andthesameassertionholdstruerespectingthoseopinionsandsentimentswhichmaybetermedtheimmaterialinterestsofmen。

  ChapterXVIII:FutureConditionOfThreeRaces—PartVII

  TheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStatestalkagreatdealoftheirattachmenttotheircountry;butIconfessthatIdonotrelyuponthatcalculatingpatriotismwhichisfoundeduponinterest,andwhichachangeintheinterestsatstakemayobliterate。NordoIattachmuchimportancetothelanguageoftheAmericans,whentheymanifest,intheirdailyconversations,theintentionofmaintainingthefederalsystemadoptedbytheirforefathers。Agovernmentretainsitsswayoveragreatnumberofcitizens,farlessbythevoluntaryandrationalconsentofthemultitude,thanbythatinstinctive,andtoacertainextentinvoluntaryagreement,whichresultsfromsimilarityoffeelingsandresemblancesofopinion。Iwillneveradmitthatmenconstituteasocialbody,simplybecausetheyobeythesameheadandthesamelaws。Societycanonlyexistwhenagreatnumberofmenconsideragreatnumberofthingsinthesamepointofview;

  whentheyholdthesameopinionsuponmanysubjects,andwhenthesameoccurrencessuggestthesamethoughtsandimpressionstotheirminds。

  TheobserverwhoexaminesthepresentconditionoftheUnitedStatesuponthisprinciple,willreadilydiscover,thatalthoughthecitizensaredividedintotwenty—fourdistinctsovereignties,theyneverthelessconstituteasinglepeople;andhemayperhapsbeledtothinkthatthestateoftheAnglo—AmericanUnionismoretrulyastateofsocietythanthatofcertainnationsofEuropewhichliveunderthesamelegislationandthesameprince。

  AlthoughtheAnglo—Americanshaveseveralreligioussects,theyallregardreligioninthesamemanner。Theyarenotalwaysagreeduponthemeasureswhicharemostconducivetogoodgovernment,andtheyvaryuponsomeoftheformsofgovernmentwhichitisexpedienttoadopt;buttheyareunanimousuponthegeneralprincipleswhichoughttorulehumansociety。FromMainetotheFloridas,andfromtheMissouritotheAtlanticOcean,thepeopleisheldtobethelegitimatesourceofallpower。Thesamenotionsareentertainedrespectinglibertyandequality,thelibertyofthepress,therightofassociation,thejury,andtheresponsibilityoftheagentsofGovernment。

  Ifweturnfromtheirpoliticalandreligiousopinionstothemoralandphilosophicalprincipleswhichregulatethedailyactionsoflifeandgoverntheirconduct,weshallstillfindthesameuniformity。TheAnglo—Americans*dacknowledgetheabsolutemoralauthorityofthereasonofthecommunity,astheyacknowledgethepoliticalauthorityofthemassofcitizens;andtheyholdthatpublicopinionisthesurestarbiterofwhatislawfulorforbidden,trueorfalse。Themajorityofthembelievethatamanwillbeledtodowhatisjustandgoodbyfollowinghisowninterestrightlyunderstood。Theyholdthateverymanisborninpossessionoftherightofself—government,andthatnoonehastherightofconstraininghisfellow—creaturestobehappy。Theyhaveallalivelyfaithintheperfectibilityofman;theyareofopinionthattheeffectsofthediffusionofknowledgemustnecessarilybeadvantageous,andtheconsequencesofignorancefatal;theyallconsidersocietyasabodyinastateofimprovement,humanityasachangingscene,inwhichnothingis,oroughttobe,permanent;andtheyadmitthatwhatappearstothemtobegoodto—daymaybesupersededbysomethingbetter—to—morrow。Idonotgivealltheseopinionsastrue,butIquotethemascharacteristicoftheAmericans。

  [Footnoted:ItisscarcelynecessaryformetoobservethatbytheexpressionAnglo—Americans,Ionlymeantodesignatethegreatmajorityofthenation;foracertainnumberofisolatedindividualsareofcoursetobemetwithholdingverydifferentopinions。]

  TheAnglo—Americansarenotonlyunitedtogetherbythesecommonopinions,buttheyareseparatedfromallothernationsbyacommonfeelingofpride。ForthelastfiftyyearsnopainshavebeensparedtoconvincetheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStatesthattheyconstitutetheonlyreligious,enlightened,andfreepeople。Theyperceivethat,forthepresent,theirowndemocraticinstitutionssucceed,whilstthoseofothercountriesfail;hencetheyconceiveanoverweeningopinionoftheirsuperiority,andtheyarenotveryremotefrombelievingthemselvestobelongtoadistinctraceofmankind。

  ThedangerswhichthreatentheAmericanUniondonotoriginateinthediversityofinterestsorofopinions,butinthevariouscharactersandpassionsoftheAmericans。ThemenwhoinhabitthevastterritoryoftheUnitedStatesarealmostalltheissueofacommonstock;buttheeffectsoftheclimate,andmoreespeciallyofslavery,havegraduallyintroducedverystrikingdifferencesbetweentheBritishsettleroftheSouthernStatesandtheBritishsettleroftheNorth。InEuropeitisgenerallybelievedthatslaveryhasrenderedtheinterestsofonepartoftheUnioncontrarytothoseofanotherpart;butIbynomeansremarkedthistobethecase:slaveryhasnotcreatedinterestsintheSouthcontrarytothoseoftheNorth,butithasmodifiedthecharacterandchangedthehabitsofthenativesoftheSouth。

  IhavealreadyexplainedtheinfluencewhichslaveryhasexerciseduponthecommercialabilityoftheAmericansintheSouth;andthissameinfluenceequallyextendstotheirmanners。

  Theslaveisaservantwhoneverremonstrates,andwhosubmitstoeverythingwithoutcomplaint。Hemaysometimesassassinate,butheneverwithstands,hismaster。IntheSouththerearenofamiliessopoorasnottohaveslaves。ThecitizenoftheSouthernStatesoftheUnionisinvestedwithasortofdomesticdictatorship,fromhisearliestyears;thefirstnotionheacquiresinlifeisthatheisborntocommand,andthefirsthabitwhichhecontractsisthatofbeingobeyedwithoutresistance。Hiseducationtends,then,togivehimthecharacterofasuperciliousandahastyman;irascible,violent,andardentinhisdesires,impatientofobstacles,buteasilydiscouragedifhecannotsucceeduponhisfirstattempt。

  TheAmericanoftheNorthernStatesissurroundedbynoslavesinhischildhood;heisevenunattendedbyfreeservants,andisusuallyobligedtoprovideforhisownwants。Nosoonerdoesheentertheworldthantheideaofnecessityassailshimoneveryside:hesoonlearnstoknowexactlythenaturallimitofhisauthority;heneverexpectstosubduethosewhowithstandhim,byforce;andheknowsthatthesurestmeansofobtainingthesupportofhisfellow—creatures,istowintheirfavor。Hethereforebecomespatient,reflecting,tolerant,slowtoact,andperseveringinhisdesigns。

  IntheSouthernStatesthemoreimmediatewantsoflifearealwayssupplied;theinhabitantsofthosepartsarenotbusiedinthematerialcaresoflife,whicharealwaysprovidedforbyothers;andtheirimaginationisdivertedtomorecaptivatingandlessdefiniteobjects。TheAmericanoftheSouthisfondofgrandeur,luxury,andrenown,ofgayety,ofpleasure,andaboveallofidleness;nothingobligeshimtoexerthimselfinordertosubsist;andashehasnonecessaryoccupations,hegiveswaytoindolence,anddoesnotevenattemptwhatwouldbeuseful。

  Buttheequalityoffortunes,andtheabsenceofslaveryintheNorth,plungetheinhabitantsinthosesamecaresofdailylifewhicharedisdainedbythewhitepopulationoftheSouth。

  Theyaretaughtfrominfancytocombatwant,andtoplacecomfortaboveallthepleasuresoftheintellectortheheart。Theimaginationisextinguishedbythetrivialdetailsoflife,andtheideasbecomelessnumerousandlessgeneral,butfarmorepracticalandmoreprecise。Asprosperityisthesoleaimofexertion,itisexcellentlywellattained;natureandmankindareturnedtothebestpecuniaryadvantage,andsocietyisdexterouslymadetocontributetothewelfareofeachofitsmembers,whilstindividualegotismisthesourceofgeneralhappiness。

  ThecitizenoftheNorthhasnotonlyexperience,butknowledge:neverthelesshesetsbutlittlevalueuponthepleasuresofknowledge;heesteemsitasthemeansofattainingacertainend,andheisonlyanxioustoseizeitsmorelucrativeapplications。ThecitizenoftheSouthismoregiventoactuponimpulse;heismoreclever,morefrank,moregenerous,moreintellectual,andmorebrilliant。Theformer,withagreaterdegreeofactivity,ofcommon—sense,ofinformation,andofgeneralaptitude,hasthecharacteristicgoodandevilqualitiesofthemiddleclasses。Thelatterhasthetastes,theprejudices,theweaknesses,andthemagnanimityofallaristocracies。Iftwomenareunitedinsociety,whohavethesameinterests,andtoacertainextentthesameopinions,butdifferentcharacters,differentacquirements,andadifferentstyleofcivilization,itisprobablethatthesemenwillnotagree。Thesameremarkisapplicabletoasocietyofnations。

  Slavery,then,doesnotattacktheAmericanUniondirectlyinitsinterests,butindirectlyinitsmanners。

  [Footnotee:Censusof1790,3,929,328;1830,12,856,165;1860,31,443,321;1870,38,555,983;1890,62,831,900。]

  TheStateswhichgavetheirassenttothefederalcontractin1790werethirteeninnumber;theUnionnowconsistsofthirty—fourmembers。Thepopulation,whichamountedtonearly4,000,000in1790,hadmorethantripledinthespaceoffortyyears;andin1830itamountedtonearly13,000,000。*eChangesofsuchmagnitudecannottakeplacewithoutsomedanger。

  Asocietyofnations,aswellasasocietyofindividuals,derivesitsprincipalchancesofdurationfromthewisdomofitsmembers,theirindividualweakness,andtheirlimitednumber。

  TheAmericanswhoquitthecoastsoftheAtlanticOceantoplungeintothewesternwilderness,areadventurersimpatientofrestraint,greedyofwealth,andfrequentlymenexpelledfromtheStatesinwhichtheywereborn。Whentheyarriveinthedesertstheyareunknowntoeachother,andtheyhaveneithertraditions,familyfeeling,northeforceofexampletochecktheirexcesses。

  Theempireofthelawsisfeebleamongstthem;thatofmoralityisstillmorepowerless。ThesettlerswhoareconstantlypeoplingthevalleyoftheMississippiare,then,ineveryrespectveryinferiortotheAmericanswhoinhabittheolderpartsoftheUnion。Nevertheless,theyalreadyexerciseagreatinfluenceinitscouncils;andtheyarriveatthegovernmentofthecommonwealthbeforetheyhavelearnttogovernthemselves。*f[Footnotef:Thisindeedisonlyatemporarydanger。IhavenodoubtthatintimesocietywillassumeasmuchstabilityandregularityintheWestasithasalreadydoneuponthecoastoftheAtlanticOcean。]

  Thegreatertheindividualweaknessofeachofthecontractingparties,thegreaterarethechancesofthedurationofthecontract;fortheirsafetyisthendependentupontheirunion。When,in1790,themostpopulousoftheAmericanrepublicsdidnotcontain500,000inhabitants,*geachofthemfeltitsowninsignificanceasanindependentpeople,andthisfeelingrenderedcompliancewiththefederalauthoritymoreeasy。

  ButwhenoneoftheconfederateStatesreckons,liketheStateofNewYork,2,000,000ofinhabitants,andcoversanextentofterritoryequalinsurfacetoaquarterofFrance,*hitfeelsitsownstrength;andalthoughitmaycontinuetosupporttheUnionasadvantageoustoitsprosperity,itnolongerregardsthatbodyasnecessarytoitsexistence,andasitcontinuestobelongtothefederalcompact,itsoonaimsatpreponderanceinthefederalassemblies。TheprobableunanimityoftheStatesisdiminishedastheirnumberincreases。AtpresenttheinterestsofthedifferentpartsoftheUnionarenotatvariance;butwhoisabletoforeseethemultifariouschangesofthefuture,inacountryinwhichtownsarefoundedfromdaytoday,andStatesalmostfromyeartoyear?

  [Footnoteg:Pennsylvaniacontained431,373inhabitantsin1790

  [and5,258,014in1890。]]

  [Footnoteh:TheareaoftheStateofNewYorkis49,170squaremiles。[SeeU。S。censusreportof1890。]]

  SincethefirstsettlementoftheBritishcolonies,thenumberofinhabitantshasaboutdoubledeverytwenty—twoyears。

  IperceivenocauseswhicharelikelytocheckthisprogressiveincreaseoftheAnglo—Americanpopulationforthenexthundredyears;andbeforethatspaceoftimehaselapsed,IbelievethattheterritoriesanddependenciesoftheUnitedStateswillbecoveredbymorethan100,000,000ofinhabitants,anddividedintofortyStates。*iIadmitthatthese100,000,000ofmenhavenohohostileinterests。Isuppose,onthecontrary,thattheyareallequallyinterestedinthemaintenanceoftheUnion;butIamstillofopinionthatwherethereare100,000,000ofmen,andfortydistinctnations,unequallystrong,thecontinuanceoftheFederalGovernmentcanonlybeafortunateaccident。

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