Therelativepositionofthecentralfederalpoweriscontinuallydisplaced。FortyyearsagothemajorityofthecitizensoftheUnionwasestablisheduponthecoastoftheAtlantic，intheenvironsofthespotuponwhichWashingtonnowstands;butthegreatbodyofthepeopleisnowadvancinginlandandtothenorth，sothatintwentyyearsthemajoritywillunquestionablybeonthewesternsideoftheAlleghanies。IftheUniongoesontosubsist，thebasinoftheMississippiisevidentlymarkedout，byitsfertilityanditsextent，asthefuturecentreoftheFederalGovernment。Inthirtyorfortyyears，thattractofcountrywillhaveassumedtherankwhichnaturallybelongstoit。Itiseasytocalculatethatitspopulation，comparedtothatofthecoastoftheAtlantic，willbe，inroundnumbers，as40to11。InafewyearstheStateswhichfoundedtheUnionwilllosethedirectionofitspolicy，andthepopulationofthevalleyoftheMississippiwillpreponderateinthefederalassemblies。
Thisconstantgravitationofthefederalpowerandinfluencetowardsthenorthwestisshowneverytenyears，whenageneralcensusofthepopulationismade，andthenumberofdelegateswhicheachStatesendstoCongressissettledafresh。*oIn1790
VirginiahadnineteenrepresentativesinCongress。Thisnumbercontinuedtoincreaseuntiltheyear1813，whenitreachedtotwenty—three;fromthattimeitbegantodecrease，andin1833
Virginiaelectedonlytwenty—onerepresentatives。*pDuringthesameperiodtheStateofNewYorkprogressedinthecontrarydirection:in1790ithadtenrepresentativesinCongress;in1813，twenty—seven;in1823，thirty—four;andin1833，forty。
TheStateofOhiohadonlyonerepresentativein1803，andin1833ithadalreadynineteen。
[Footnoteo:Itmaybeseenthatinthecourseofthelasttenyears（1820—1830）thepopulationofonedistrict，as，forinstance，theStateofDelaware，hasincreasedintheproportionoffivepercent。;whilstthatofanother，astheterritoryofMichigan，hasincreased250percent。ThusthepopulationofVirginiahadaugmentedthirteenpercent。，andthatoftheborderStateofOhiosixty—onepercent。，inthesamespaceoftime。
Thegeneraltableofthesechanges，whichisgiveninthe\"NationalCalendar，\"displaysastrikingpictureoftheunequalfortunesofthedifferentStates。]
[Footnotep:IthasjustbeensaidthatinthecourseofthelasttermthepopulationofVirginiahasincreasedthirteenpercent。;
anditisnecessarytoexplainhowthenumberofrepresentativesforaStatemaydecrease，whenthepopulationofthatState，farfromdiminishing，isactuallyupontheincrease。ItaketheStateofVirginia，towhichIhavealreadyalluded，asmytermofcomparison。ThenumberofrepresentativesofVirginiain1823
wasproportionatetothetotalnumberoftherepresentativesoftheUnion，andtotherelationwhichthepopulationboretothatofthewholeUnion:in1833thenumberofrepresentativesofVirginiawaslikewiseproportionatetothetotalnumberoftherepresentativesoftheUnion，andtotherelationwhichitspopulation，augmentedinthecourseoftenyears，boretotheaugmentedpopulationoftheUnioninthesamespaceoftime。ThenewnumberofVirginianrepresentativeswillthenbetotheoldnumver，ontheonehand，asthenewnumverofalltherepresentativesistotheoldnumber;and，ontheotherhand，astheaugmentationofthepopulationofVirginiaistothatofthewholepopulationofthecountry。Thus，iftheincreaseofthepopulationofthelessercountrybetothatofthegreaterinanexactinverseratiooftheproportionbetweenthenewandtheoldnumbersofalltherepresentatives，thenumberoftherepresentativesofVirginiawillremainstationary;andiftheincreaseoftheVirginianpopulationbetothatofthewholeUnioninafeeblerratiothanthenewnumberoftherepresentativesoftheUniontotheoldnumber，thenumberoftherepresentativesofVirginiamustdecrease。[Thus，tothe56thCongressin1899，VirginiaandWestVirginiasendonlyfourteenrepresentatives。]]
ChapterXVIII:FutureConditionOfThreeRaces—PartVIII
Itisdifficulttoimagineadurableunionofapeoplewhichisrichandstrongwithonewhichispoorandweak，evenifitwereprovedthatthestrengthandwealthoftheonearenotthecausesoftheweaknessandpovertyoftheother。Butunionisstillmoredifficulttomaintainatatimeatwhichonepartyislosingstrength，andtheotherisgainingit。ThisrapidanddisproportionateincreaseofcertainStatesthreatenstheindependenceoftheothers。NewYorkmightperhapssucceed，withits2，000，000ofinhabitantsanditsfortyrepresentatives，indictatingtotheotherStatesinCongress。ButevenifthemorepowerfulStatesmakenoattempttobeardownthelesserones，thedangerstillexists;forthereisalmostasmuchinthepossibilityoftheactasintheactitself。Theweakgenerallymistrustthejusticeandthereasonofthestrong。TheStateswhichincreaselessrapidlythantheotherslookuponthosewhicharemorefavoredbyfortunewithenvyandsuspicion。Hencearisethedeep—seateduneasinessandill—definedagitationwhichareobservableintheSouth，andwhichformsostrikingacontrasttotheconfidenceandprosperitywhicharecommontootherpartsoftheUnion。IaminclinedtothinkthatthehostilemeasurestakenbytheSouthernprovincesuponarecentoccasionareattributabletonoothercause。TheinhabitantsoftheSouthernStatesare，ofalltheAmericans，thosewhoaremostinterestedinthemaintenanceoftheUnion;theywouldassuredlysuffermostfrombeinglefttothemselves;andyettheyaretheonlycitizenswhothreatentobreakthetieofconfederation。ButitiseasytoperceivethattheSouth，whichhasgivenfourPresidents，Washington，Jefferson，Madison，andMonroe，totheUnion，whichperceivesthatitislosingitsfederalinfluence，andthatthenumberofitsrepresentativesinCongressisdiminishingfromyeartoyear，whilstthoseoftheNorthernandWesternStatesareincreasing;theSouth，whichispeopledwithardentandirasciblebeings，isbecomingmoreandmoreirritatedandalarmed。Thecitizensreflectupontheirpresentpositionandremembertheirpastinfluence，withthemelancholyuneasinessofmenwhosuspectoppression:iftheydiscoveralawoftheUnionwhichisnotunequivocallyfavorabletotheirinterests，theyprotestagainstitasanabuseofforce;andiftheirardentremonstrancesarenotlistenedto，theythreatentoquitanassociationwhichloadsthemwithburdenswhilstitdeprivesthemoftheirdueprofits。
\"Thetariff，\"saidtheinhabitantsofCarolinain1832，\"enrichestheNorth，andruinstheSouth;forifthiswerenotthecase，towhatcanweattributethecontinuallyincreasingpowerandwealthoftheNorth，withitsinclementskiesandaridsoil;whilsttheSouth，whichmaybestyledthegardenofAmerica，israpidlydeclining？\"*q[Footnoteq:SeethereportofitscommitteetotheConventionwhichproclaimedthenullificationofthetariffinSouthCarolina。]
IfthechangeswhichIhavedescribedweregradual，sothateachgenerationatleastmighthavetimetodisappearwiththeorderofthingsunderwhichithadlived，thedangerwouldbeless;buttheprogressofsocietyinAmericaisprecipitate，andalmostrevolutionary。ThesamecitizenmayhavelivedtoseehisStatetaketheleadintheUnion，andafterwardsbecomepowerlessinthefederalassemblies;andanAnglo—Americanrepublichasbeenknowntogrowasrapidlyasamanpassingfrombirthandinfancytomaturityinthecourseofthirtyyears。Itmustnotbeimagined，however，thattheStateswhichlosetheirpreponderance，alsolosetheirpopulationortheirriches:nostopisputtotheirprosperity，andtheyevengoontoincreasemorerapidlythananykingdominEurope。*rButtheybelievethemselvestobeimpoverishedbecausetheirwealthdoesnotaugmentasrapidlyasthatoftheirneighbors;anytheythinkthattheirpowerislost，becausetheysuddenlycomeintocollisionwithapowergreaterthantheirown:*sthustheyaremorehurtintheirfeelingsandtheirpassionsthanintheirinterests。ButthisisamplysufficienttoendangerthemaintenanceoftheUnion。Ifkingsandpeopleshadonlyhadtheirtrueinterestsinvieweversincethebeginningoftheworld，thenameofwarwouldscarcelybeknownamongmankind。
[Footnoter:Thepopulationofacountryassuredlyconstitutesthefirstelementofitswealth。Inthetenyears（1820—1830）
duringwhichVirginialosttwoofitsrepresentativesinCongress，itspopulationincreasedintheproportionof13。7percent。;thatofCarolinaintheproportionoffifteenpercent。;
andthatofGeorgia，15。5percent。（Seethe\"AmericanAlmanac，\"
1832，p。162）ButthepopulationofRussia，whichincreasesmorerapidlythanthatofanyotherEuropeancountry，onlyaugmentsintenyearsattherateof9。5percent。;inFrance，attherateofsevenpercent。;andinEuropeingeneral，attherateof4。7percent。（See\"MalteBrun，\"vol。vi。p。95）]
[Footnotes:Itmustbeadmitted，however，thatthedepreciationwhichhastakenplaceinthevalueoftobacco，duringthelastfiftyyears，hasnotablydiminishedtheopulenceoftheSouthernplanters:butthiscircumstanceisasindependentofthewilloftheirNorthernbrethrenasitisoftheirown。]
ThustheprosperityoftheUnitedStatesisthesourceofthemostseriousdangersthatthreatenthem，sinceittendstocreateinsomeoftheconfederateStatesthatover—excitementwhichaccompaniesarapidincreaseoffortune;andtoawakeninothersthosefeelingsofenvy，mistrust，andregretwhichusuallyattenduponthelossofit。TheAmericanscontemplatethisextraordinaryandhastyprogresswithexultation;buttheywouldbewisertoconsideritwithsorrowandalarm。TheAmericansoftheUnitedStatesmustinevitablybecomeoneofthegreatestnationsintheworld;theiroffsetwillcoveralmostthewholeofNorthAmerica;thecontinentwhichtheyinhabitistheirdominion，anditcannotescapethem。Whaturgesthemtotakepossessionofitsosoon？Riches，power，andrenowncannotfailtobetheirsatsomefuturetime，buttheyrushupontheirfortuneasifbutamomentremainedforthemtomakeittheirown。
IthinkthatIhavedemonstratedthattheexistenceofthepresentconfederationdependsentirelyonthecontinuedassentofalltheconfederates;and，startingfromthisprinciple，IhaveinquiredintothecauseswhichmayinducetheseveralStatestoseparatefromtheothers。TheUnionmay，however，perishintwodifferentways:oneoftheconfederateStatesmaychoosetoretirefromthecompact，andsoforciblytoseverthefederaltie;anditistothissuppositionthatmostoftheremarksthatIhavemadeapply:ortheauthorityoftheFederalGovernmentmaybeprogressivelyentrenchedonbythesimultaneoustendencyoftheunitedrepublicstoresumetheirindependence。Thecentralpower，successivelystrippedofallitsprerogatives，andreducedtoimpotencebytacitconsent，wouldbecomeincompetenttofulfilitspurpose;andthesecondUnionwouldperish，likethefirst，byasortofsenileinaptitude。Thegradualweakeningofthefederaltie，whichmayfinallyleadtothedissolutionoftheUnion，isadistinctcircumstance，thatmayproduceavarietyofminorconsequencesbeforeitoperatessoviolentachange。Theconfederationmightstillsubsist，althoughitsGovernmentwerereducedtosuchadegreeofinanitionastoparalyzethenation，tocauseinternalanarchy，andtocheckthegeneralprosperityofthecountry。
AfterhavinginvestigatedthecauseswhichmayinducetheAnglo—Americanstodisunite，itisimportanttoinquirewhether，iftheUnioncontinuestosubsist，theirGovernmentwillextendorcontractitssphereofaction，andwhetheritwillbecomemoreenergeticormoreweak。
TheAmericansareevidentlydisposedtolookupontheirfutureconditionwithalarm。Theyperceivethatinmostofthenationsoftheworldtheexerciseoftherightsofsovereigntytendstofallunderthecontrolofafewindividuals，andtheyaredismayedbytheideathatsuchwillalsobethecaseintheirowncountry。Eventhestatesmenfeel，oraffecttofeel，thesefears;for，inAmerica，centralizationisbynomeanspopular，andthereisnosurermeansofcourtingthemajoritythanbyinveighingagainsttheencroachmentsofthecentralpower。TheAmericansdonotperceivethatthecountriesinwhichthisalarmingtendencytocentralizationexistsareinhabitedbyasinglepeople;whilstthefactoftheUnionbeingcomposedofdifferentconfederatecommunitiesissufficienttobafflealltheinferenceswhichmightbedrawnfromanalogouscircumstances。I
confessthatIaminclinedtoconsiderthefearsofagreatnumberofAmericansaspurelyimaginary;andfarfromparticipatingintheirdreadoftheconsolidationofpowerinthehandsoftheUnion，IthinkthattheFederalGovernmentisvisiblylosingstrength。
ToprovethisassertionIshallnothaverecoursetoanyremoteoccurrences，buttocircumstanceswhichIhavemyselfwitnessed，andwhichbelongtoourowntime。
AnattentiveexaminationofwhatisgoingonintheUnitedStateswilleasilyconvinceusthattwooppositetendenciesexistinthatcountry，liketwodistinctcurrentsflowingincontrarydirectionsinthesamechannel。TheUnionhasnowexistedforforty—fiveyears，andinthecourseofthattimeavastnumberofprovincialprejudices，whichwereatfirsthostiletoitspower，havediedaway。ThepatrioticfeelingwhichattachedeachoftheAmericanstohisownnativeStateisbecomelessexclusive;andthedifferentpartsoftheUnionhavebecomemoreintimatelyconnectedthebettertheyhavebecomeacquaintedwitheachother。
Thepost，*tthatgreatinstrumentofintellectualintercourse，nowreachesintothebackwoods;andsteamboatshaveestablisheddailymeansofcommunicationbetweenthedifferentpointsofthecoast。Aninlandnavigationofunexampledrapidityconveyscommoditiesupanddowntheriversofthecountry。*uAndtothesefacilitiesofnatureandartmaybeaddedthoserestlesscravings，thatbusy—mindedness，andloveofpelf，whichareconstantlyurgingtheAmericanintoactivelife，andbringinghimintocontactwithhisfellow—citizens。Hecrossesthecountryineverydirection;hevisitsallthevariouspopulationsoftheland;andthereisnotaprovinceinFranceinwhichthenativesaresowellknowntoeachotherasthe13，000，000ofmenwhocovertheterritoryoftheUnitedStates。
[Footnotet:In1832，thedistrictofMichigan，whichonlycontains31，639inhabitants，andisstillanalmostunexploredwilderness，possessed940milesofmail—roads。TheterritoryofArkansas，whichisstillmoreuncultivated，wasalreadyintersectedby1，938milesofmail—roads。（SeethereportoftheGeneralPostOffice，November30，1833。）ThepostageofnewspapersaloneinthewholeUnionamountedto$254，796。]
[Footnoteu:Inthecourseoftenyears，from1821to1831，271
steamboatshavebeenlaunchedupontheriverswhichwaterthevalleyoftheMississippialone。In1829259steamboatsexistedintheUnitedStates。（SeeLegislativeDocuments，No。140，p。
274。）]
ButwhilsttheAmericansintermingle，theygrowinresemblanceofeachother;thedifferencesresultingfromtheirclimate，theirorigin，andtheirinstitutions，diminish;andtheyalldrawnearerandnearertothecommontype。Everyyear，thousandsofmenleavetheNorthtosettleindifferentpartsoftheUnion:theybringwiththemtheirfaith，theiropinions，andtheirmanners;andastheyaremoreenlighthnedthanthemenamongstwhomtheyareabouttodwell，theysoonrisetotheheadofaffairs，andtheyadaptsocietytotheirownadvantage。ThiscontinualemigrationoftheNorthtotheSouthispeculiarlyfavorabletothefusionofallthedifferentprovincialcharactersintoonenationalcharacter。ThecivilizationoftheNorthappearstobethecommonstandard，towhichthewholenationwillonedaybeassimilated。
ThecommercialtieswhichunitetheconfederateStatesarestrengthenedbytheincreasingmanufacturesoftheAmericans;andtheunionwhichbegantoexistintheiropinions，graduallyformsapartoftheirhabits:thecourseoftimehassweptawaythebugbearthoughtswhichhauntedtheimaginationsofthecitizensin1789。Thefederalpowerisnotbecomeoppressive;ithasnotdestroyedtheindependenceoftheStates;ithasnotsubjectedtheconfederatestomonarchialinstitutions;andtheUnionhasnotrenderedthelesserStatesdependentuponthelargerones;
buttheconfederationhascontinuedtoincreaseinpopulation，inwealth，andinpower。IamthereforeconvincedthatthenaturalobstaclestothecontinuanceoftheAmericanUnionarenotsopowerfulatthepresenttimeastheywerein1789;andthattheenemiesoftheUnionarenotsonumerous。
Nevertheless，acarefulexaminationofthehistoryoftheUnitedStatesforthelastforty—fiveyearswillreadilyconvinceusthatthefederalpowerisdeclining;norisitdifficulttoexplainthecausesofthisphenomenon。*vWhentheConstitutionof1789waspromulgated，thenationwasapreytoanarchy;theUnion，whichsucceededthisconfusion，excitedmuchdreadandmuchanimosity;butitwaswarmlysupportedbecauseitsatisfiedanimperiouswant。Thus，althoughitwasmoreattackedthanitisnow，thefederalpowersoonreachedthemaximumofitsauthority，asisusuallythecasewithagovernmentwhichtriumphsafterhavingbraceditsstrengthbythestruggle。AtthattimetheinterpretationoftheConstitutionseemedtoextend，ratherthantorepress，thefederalsovereignty;andtheUnionoffered，inseveralrespects，theappearanceofasingleandundividedpeople，directedinitsforeignandinternalpolicybyasingleGovernment。Buttoattainthispointthepeoplehadrisen，toacertainextent，aboveitself。
[Footnotev:[Since1861themovementiscertainlyintheoppositedirection，andthefederalpowerhaslargelyincreased，andtendstofurtherincrease。]]
TheConstitutionhadnotdestroyedthedistinctsovereigntyoftheStates;andallcommunities，ofwhatevernaturetheymaybe，areimpelledbyasecretpropensitytoasserttheirindependence。ThispropensityisstillmoredecidedinacountrylikeAmerica，inwhicheveryvillageformsasortofrepublicaccustomedtoconductitsownaffairs。ItthereforecosttheStatesanefforttosubmittothefederalsupremacy;andallefforts，howeversuccessfultheymaybe，necessarilysubsidewiththecausesinwhichtheyoriginated。
AstheFederalGovernmentconsolidateditsauthority，Americaresumeditsrankamongstthenations，peacereturnedtoitsfrontiers，andpubliccreditwasrestored;confusionwassucceededbyafixedstateofthings，whichwasfavorabletothefullandfreeexerciseofindustriousenterprise。ItwasthisveryprosperitywhichmadetheAmericansforgetthecausetowhichitwasattributable;andwhenoncethedangerwaspassed，theenergyandthepatriotismwhichhadenabledthemtobraveitdisappearedfromamongstthem。Nosoonerweretheydeliveredfromthecareswhichoppressedthem，thantheyeasilyreturnedtotheirordinaryhabits，andgavethemselvesupwithoutresistancetotheirnaturalinclinations。WhenapowerfulGovernmentnolongerappearedtobenecessary，theyoncemorebegantothinkitirksome。TheUnionencouragedageneralprosperity，andtheStateswerenotinclinedtoabandontheUnion;buttheydesiredtorendertheactionofthepowerwhichrepresentedthatbodyaslightaspossible。ThegeneralprincipleofUnionwasadopted，butineveryminordetailtherewasanactualtendencytoindependence。Theprincipleofconfederationwaseverydaymoreeasilyadmitted，andmorerarelyapplied;sothattheFederalGovernmentbroughtaboutitsowndecline，whilstitwascreatingorderandpeace。
Assoonasthistendencyofpublicopinionbegantobemanifestedexternally，theleadersofparties，wholivebythepassionsofthepeople，begantoworkittotheirownadvantage。
ThepositionoftheFederalGovernmentthenbecameexceedinglycritical。Itsenemieswereinpossessionofthepopularfavor;
andtheyobtainedtherightofconductingitspolicybypledgingthemselvestolessenitsinfluence。FromthattimeforwardstheGovernmentoftheUnionhasinvariablybeenobligedtorecede，asoftenasithasattemptedtoenterthelistswiththegovernmentsoftheStates。AndwheneveraninterpretationofthetermsoftheFederalConstitutionhasbeencalledfor，thatinterpretationhasmostfrequentlybeenopposedtotheUnion，andfavorabletotheStates。
TheConstitutioninvestedtheFederalGovernmentwiththerightofprovidingfortheinterestsofthenation;andithadbeenheldthatnootherauthoritywassofittosuperintendthe\"internalimprovements\"whichaffectedtheprosperityofthewholeUnion;such，forinstance，asthecuttingofcanals。ButtheStateswerealarmedatapower，distinctfromtheirown，whichcouldthusdisposeofaportionoftheirterritory;andtheywereafraidthatthecentralGovernmentwould，bythismeans，acquireaformidableextentofpatronagewithintheirownconfines，andexerciseadegreeofinfluencewhichtheyintendedtoreserveexclusivelytotheirownagents。TheDemocraticparty，whichhasconstantlybeenopposedtotheincreaseofthefederalauthority，thenaccusedtheCongressofusurpation，andtheChiefMagistrateofambition。ThecentralGovernmentwasintimidatedbytheopposition;anditsoonacknowledgeditserror，promisingexactlytoconfineitsinfluenceforthefuturewithinthecirclewhichwasprescribedtoit。
TheConstitutionconfersupontheUniontherightoftreatingwithforeignnations。TheIndiantribes，whichborderuponthefrontiersoftheUnitedStates，hadusuallybeenregardedinthislight。Aslongasthesesavagesconsentedtoretirebeforethecivilizedsettlers，thefederalrightwasnotcontested:butassoonasanIndiantribeattemptedtofixitsdwellinguponagivenspot，theadjacentStatesclaimedpossessionofthelandsandtherightsofsovereigntyoverthenatives。ThecentralGovernmentsoonrecognizedboththeseclaims;andafterithadconcludedtreatieswiththeIndiansasindependentnations，itgavethemupassubjectstothelegislativetyrannyoftheStates。*w[Footnotew:SeeintheLegislativeDocuments，alreadyquotedinspeakingoftheIndians，theletterofthePresidentoftheUnitedStatestotheCherokees，hiscorrespondenceonthissubjectwithhisagents，andhismessagestoCongress。]
SomeoftheStateswhichhadbeenfoundeduponthecoastoftheAtlantic，extendedindefinitelytotheWest，intowildregionswherenoEuropeanhadeverpenetrated。TheStateswhoseconfineswereirrevocablyfixed，lookedwithajealouseyeupontheunboundedregionswhichthefuturewouldenabletheirneighborstoexplore。Thelatterthenagreed，withaviewtoconciliatetheothers，andtofacilitatetheactofunion，tolaydowntheirownboundaries，andtoabandonalltheterritorywhichlaybeyondthoselimitstotheconfederationatlarge。*xThenceforwardtheFederalGovernmentbecametheownerofalltheuncultivatedlandswhichliebeyondthebordersofthethirteenStatesfirstconfederated。Itwasinvestedwiththerightofparcellingandsellingthem，andthesumsderivedfromthissourcewereexclusivelyreservedtothepublictreasureoftheUnion，inordertofurnishsuppliesforpurchasingtractsofcountryfromtheIndians，foropeningroadstotheremotesettlements，andforacceleratingtheincreaseofcivilizationasmuchaspossible。NewStateshave，however，beenformedinthecourseoftime，inthemidstofthosewildswhichwereformerlycededbytheinhabitantsoftheshoresoftheAtlantic。Congresshasgoneontosell，fortheprofitofthenationatlarge，theuncultivatedlandswhichthosenewStatescontained。Butthelatteratlengthassertedthat，astheywerenowfullyconstituted，theyoughttoenjoytheexclusiverightofconvertingtheproduceofthesesalestotheirownuse。Astheirremonstrancesbecamemoreandmorethreatening，CongressthoughtfittodeprivetheUnionofaportionoftheprivilegeswhichithadhithertoenjoyed;andattheendof1832itpassedalawbywhichthegreatestpartoftherevenuederivedfromthesaleoflandswasmadeovertothenewwesternrepublics，althoughthelandsthemselveswerenotcededtothem。*y[Footnotex:ThefirstactofsessionwasmadebytheStateofNewYorkin1780;Virginia，Massachusetts，Connecticut，SouthandNorthCarolina，followedthisexampleatdifferenttimes，andlastly，theactofcessionofGeorgiawasmadeasrecentlyas1802。]
[Footnotey:ItistruethatthePresidentrefusedhisassenttothislaw;buthecompletelyadopteditinprinciple。（SeeMessageofDecember8，1833。）]
TheslightestobservationintheUnitedStatesenablesonetoappreciatetheadvantageswhichthecountryderivesfromthebank。Theseadvantagesareofseveralkinds，butoneofthemispeculiarlystrikingtothestranger。ThebanknotesoftheUnitedStatesaretakenuponthebordersofthedesertforthesamevalueasatPhiladelphia，wherethebankconductsitsoperations。
*z[Footnotez:ThepresentBankoftheUnitedStateswasestablishedin1816，withacapitalof$35，000，000;itscharterexpiresin1836。LastyearCongresspassedalawtorenewit，butthePresidentputhisvetouponthebill。Thestruggleisstillgoingonwithgreatviolenceoneitherside，andthespeedyfallofthebankmayeasilybeforeseen。[ItwassoonafterwardsextinguishedbyGeneralJackson。]]
TheBankoftheUnitedStatesisneverthelesstheobjectofgreatanimosity。ItsdirectorshaveproclaimedtheirhostilitytothePresident:andtheyareaccused，notwithoutsomeshowofprobability，ofhavingabusedtheirinfluencetothwarthiselection。ThePresidentthereforeattackstheestablishmentwhichtheyrepresentwithallthewarmthofpersonalenmity;andheisencouragedinthepursuitofhisrevengebytheconvictionthatheissupportedbythesecretpropensitiesofthemajority。
ThebankmayberegardedasthegreatmonetarytieoftheUnion，justasCongressisthegreatlegislativetie;andthesamepassionswhichtendtorendertheStatesindependentofthecentralpower，contributetotheoverthrowofthebank。
TheBankoftheUnitedStatesalwaysholdsagreatnumberofthenotesissuedbytheprovincialbanks，whichitcanatanytimeobligethemtoconvertintocash。Ithasitselfnothingtofearfromasimilardemand，astheextentofitsresourcesenablesittomeetallclaims。Buttheexistenceoftheprovincialbanksisthusthreatened，andtheiroperationsarerestricted，sincetheyareonlyabletoissueaquantityofnotesdulyproportionedtotheircapital。Theysubmitwithimpatiencetothissalutarycontrol。Thenewspaperswhichtheyhaveboughtover，andthePresident，whoseinterestrendershimtheirinstrument，attackthebankwiththegreatestvehemence。Theyrousethelocalpassionsandtheblinddemocraticinstinctofthecountrytoaidtheircause;andtheyassertthatthebankdirectorsformapermanentaristocraticbody，whoseinfluencemustultimatelybefeltintheGovernment，andmustaffectthoseprinciplesofequalityuponwhichsocietyrestsinAmerica。
ThecontestbetweenthebankanditsopponentsisonlyanincidentinthegreatstrugglewhichisgoingoninAmericabetweentheprovincesandthecentralpower;betweenthespiritofdemocraticindependenceandthespiritofgradationandsubordination。Idonotmeanthattheenemiesofthebankareidenticallythesameindividualswho，onotherpoints，attacktheFederalGovernment;butIassertthattheattacksdirectedagainstthebankoftheUnitedStatesoriginateinthesamepropensitieswhichmilitateagainsttheFederalGovernment;andthattheverynumerousopponentsoftheformeraffordadeplorablesymptomofthedecreasingsupportofthelatter。
TheUnionhasneverdisplayedsomuchweaknessasinthecelebratedquestionofthetariff。*aThewarsoftheFrenchRevolutionandof1812hadcreatedmanufacturingestablishmentsintheNorthoftheUnion，bycuttingoffallfreecommunicationbetweenAmericaandEurope。Whenpeacewasconcluded，andthechannelofintercoursereopenedbywhichtheproduceofEuropewastransmittedtotheNewWorld，theAmericansthoughtfittoestablishasystemofimportduties，forthetwofoldpurposeofprotectingtheirincipientmanufacturesandofpayingofftheamountofthedebtcontractedduringthewar。TheSouthernStates，whichhavenomanufacturestoencourage，andwhichareexclusivelyagricultural，sooncomplainedofthismeasure。Suchwerethesimplefacts，andIdonotpretendtoexamineinthisplacewhethertheircomplaintswerewellfoundedorunjust。
[Footnotea:Seeprincipallyforthedetailsofthisaffair，theLegislativeDocuments，22dCongress，2dSession，No。30。]
Asearlyastheyear1820，SouthCarolinadeclared，inapetitiontoCongress，thatthetariffwas\"unconstitutional，oppressive，andunjust。\"AndtheStatesofGeorgia，Virginia，NorthCarolina，Alabama，andMississippisubsequentlyremonstratedagainstitwithmoreorlessvigor。ButCongress，farfromlendinganeartothesecomplaints，raisedthescaleoftariffdutiesintheyears1824and1828，andrecognizedanewtheprincipleonwhichitwasfounded。Adoctrinewasthenproclaimed，orratherrevived，intheSouth，whichtookthenameofNullification。
IhaveshownintheproperplacethattheobjectoftheFederalConstitutionwasnottoformaleague，buttocreateanationalgovernment。TheAmericansoftheUnitedStatesformasoleandundividedpeople，inallthecaseswhicharespecifiedbythatConstitution;anduponthesepointsthewillofthenationisexpressed，asitisinallconstitutionalnations，bythevoiceofthemajority。Whenthemajorityhaspronounceditsdecision，itisthedutyoftheminoritytosubmit。Suchisthesoundlegaldoctrine，andtheonlyonewhichagreeswiththetextoftheConstitution，andtheknownintentionofthosewhoframedit。
ThepartisansofNullificationintheSouthmaintain，onthecontrary，thattheintentionoftheAmericansinunitingwasnottoreducethemselvestotheconditionofoneandthesamepeople;
thattheymeanttoconstitutealeagueofindependentStates;andthateachState，consequentlyretainsitsentiresovereignty，ifnotdefacto，atleastdejure;andhastherightofputtingitsownconstructionuponthelawsofCongress，andofsuspendingtheirexecutionwithinthelimitsofitsownterritory，iftheyareheldtobeunconstitutionalandunjust。
TheentiredoctrineofNullificationiscomprisedinasentenceutteredbyVice—PresidentCalhoun，theheadofthatpartyintheSouth，beforetheSenateoftheUnitedStates，intheyear1833:could:\"TheConstitutionisacompacttowhichtheStateswerepartiesintheirsovereigncapacity;now，wheneveracompactisenteredintobypartieswhichacknowledgenotribunalabovetheirauthoritytodecideinthelastresort，eachofthemhasarighttojudgeforitselfinrelationtothenature，extent，andobligationsoftheinstrument。\"ItisevidentthatasimilardoctrinedestroystheverybasisoftheFederalConstitution，andbringsbackalltheevilsoftheoldconfederation，fromwhichtheAmericansweresupposedtohavehadasafedeliverance。
WhenSouthCarolinaperceivedthatCongressturnedadeafeartoitsremonstrances，itthreatenedtoapplythedoctrineofnullificationtothefederaltariffbill。Congresspersistedinitsformersystem;andatlengththestormbrokeout。Inthecourseof1832thecitizensofSouthCarolina，*bnamedanationalConvention，toconsultupontheextraordinarymeasureswhichtheywerecalledupontotake;andonNovember24thofthesameyearthisConventionpromulgatedalaw，undertheformofadecree，whichannulledthefederallawofthetariff，forbadethelevyoftheimpostswhichthatlawcommands，andrefusedtorecognizetheappealwhichmightbemadetothefederalcourtsoflaw。*cThisdecreewasonlytobeputinexecutionintheensuingmonthofFebruary，anditwasintimated，thatifCongressmodifiedthetariffbeforethatperiod，SouthCarolinamightbeinducedtoproceednofurtherwithhermenaces;andavaguedesirewasafterwardsexpressedofsubmittingthequestiontoanextraordinaryassemblyofalltheconfederateStates。
[Footnoteb:Thatistosay，themajorityofthepeople;fortheoppositeparty，calledtheUnionparty，alwaysformedaverystrongandactiveminority。Carolinamaycontainabout47，000
electors;30，000wereinfavorofnullification，and17，000
opposedtoit。]