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nd¡¡indirectly¡¡bring¡¡about¡¡a¡¡revolution£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡epoch¡¡is¡¡still¡¡very¡¡remote¡£

It¡¡may£»¡¡however£»¡¡be¡¡foreseen¡¡even¡¡now£»¡¡that¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Americans¡¡lose¡¡their¡¡republican¡¡institutions¡¡they¡¡will¡¡speedily¡¡arrive¡¡at¡¡a¡¡despotic¡¡government£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡long¡¡interval¡¡of¡¡limited¡¡monarchy¡£¡¡¡¡Montesquieu¡¡remarked£»¡¡that¡¡nothing¡¡is¡¡more¡¡absolute¡¡than¡¡the¡¡authority¡¡of¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡who¡¡immediately¡¡succeeds¡¡a¡¡republic£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡powers¡¡which¡¡had¡¡fearlessly¡¡been¡¡intrusted¡¡to¡¡an¡¡elected¡¡magistrate¡¡are¡¡then¡¡transferred¡¡to¡¡a¡¡hereditary¡¡sovereign¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡true¡¡in¡¡general£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡more¡¡peculiarly¡¡applicable¡¡to¡¡a¡¡democratic¡¡republic¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States£»¡¡the¡¡magistrates¡¡are¡¡not¡¡elected¡¡by¡¡a¡¡particular¡¡class¡¡of¡¡citizens£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nation£»¡¡they¡¡are¡¡the¡¡immediate¡¡representatives¡¡of¡¡the¡¡passions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡multitude£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡they¡¡are¡¡wholly¡¡dependent¡¡upon¡¡its¡¡pleasure£»¡¡they¡¡excite¡¡neither¡¡hatred¡¡nor¡¡fear£º¡¡hence£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡have¡¡already¡¡shown£»¡¡very¡¡little¡¡care¡¡has¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡to¡¡limit¡¡their¡¡influence£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡are¡¡left¡¡in¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡arbitrary¡¡power¡£¡¡This¡¡state¡¡of¡¡things¡¡has¡¡engendered¡¡habits¡¡which¡¡would¡¡outlive¡¡itself£»¡¡the¡¡American¡¡magistrate¡¡would¡¡retain¡¡his¡¡power£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡would¡¡cease¡¡to¡¡be¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡exercise¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡say¡¡what¡¡bounds¡¡could¡¡then¡¡be¡¡set¡¡to¡¡tyranny¡£

Some¡¡of¡¡our¡¡European¡¡politicians¡¡expect¡¡to¡¡see¡¡an¡¡aristocracy¡¡arise¡¡in¡¡America£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡already¡¡predict¡¡the¡¡exact¡¡period¡¡at¡¡which¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡assume¡¡the¡¡reins¡¡of¡¡government¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡previously¡¡observed£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡repeat¡¡my¡¡assertion£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡present¡¡tendency¡¡of¡¡American¡¡society¡¡appears¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡become¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡democratic¡£¡¡¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡assert¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Americans¡¡will¡¡not£»¡¡at¡¡some¡¡future¡¡time£»¡¡restrict¡¡the¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡political¡¡rights¡¡in¡¡their¡¡country£»¡¡or¡¡confiscate¡¡those¡¡rights¡¡to¡¡the¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡a¡¡single¡¡individual£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡imagine¡¡that¡¡they¡¡will¡¡ever¡¡bestow¡¡the¡¡exclusive¡¡exercise¡¡of¡¡them¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡privileged¡¡class¡¡of¡¡citizens£»¡¡or£»¡¡in¡¡other¡¡words£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡will¡¡ever¡¡found¡¡an¡¡aristocracy¡£¡¡

An¡¡aristocratic¡¡body¡¡is¡¡composed¡¡of¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡number¡¡of¡¡citizens¡¡who£»¡¡without¡¡being¡¡very¡¡far¡¡removed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡are£»¡¡nevertheless£»¡¡permanently¡¡stationed¡¡above¡¡it£º¡¡a¡¡body¡¡which¡¡it¡¡is¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡touch¡¡and¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡strike£»¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡people¡¡are¡¡in¡¡daily¡¡contact£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡which¡¡they¡¡can¡¡never¡¡combine¡£¡¡¡¡Nothing¡¡can¡¡be¡¡imagined¡¡more¡¡contrary¡¡to¡¡nature¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡propensities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡human¡¡heart¡¡than¡¡a¡¡subjection¡¡of¡¡this¡¡kind£»¡¡and¡¡men¡¡who¡¡are¡¡left¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡their¡¡own¡¡bent¡¡will¡¡always¡¡prefer¡¡the¡¡arbitrary¡¡power¡¡of¡¡a¡¡king¡¡to¡¡the¡¡regular¡¡administration¡¡of¡¡an¡¡aristocracy¡£¡¡¡¡Aristocratic¡¡institutions¡¡cannot¡¡subsist¡¡without¡¡laying¡¡down¡¡the¡¡inequality¡¡of¡¡men¡¡as¡¡a¡¡fundamental¡¡principle£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡part¡¡and¡¡parcel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡legislation£»¡¡affecting¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡human¡¡family¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡it¡¡affects¡¡that¡¡of¡¡society£»¡¡but¡¡these¡¡are¡¡things¡¡so¡¡repugnant¡¡to¡¡natural¡¡equity¡¡that¡¡they¡¡can¡¡only¡¡be¡¡extorted¡¡from¡¡men¡¡by¡¡constraint¡£

I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡think¡¡a¡¡single¡¡people¡¡can¡¡be¡¡quoted£»¡¡since¡¡human¡¡society¡¡began¡¡to¡¡exist£»¡¡which¡¡has£»¡¡by¡¡its¡¡own¡¡free¡¡will¡¡and¡¡by¡¡its¡¡own¡¡exertions£»¡¡created¡¡an¡¡aristocracy¡¡within¡¡its¡¡own¡¡bosom¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡aristocracies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Middle¡¡Ages¡¡were¡¡founded¡¡by¡¡military¡¡conquest£»¡¡the¡¡conqueror¡¡was¡¡the¡¡noble£»¡¡the¡¡vanquished¡¡became¡¡the¡¡serf¡£¡¡¡¡Inequality¡¡was¡¡then¡¡imposed¡¡by¡¡force£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡introduced¡¡into¡¡the¡¡maners¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡it¡¡maintained¡¡its¡¡own¡¡authority£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡sanctioned¡¡by¡¡the¡¡legislation¡£¡¡¡¡Communities¡¡have¡¡existed¡¡which¡¡were¡¡aristocratic¡¡from¡¡their¡¡earliest¡¡origin£»¡¡owing¡¡to¡¡circumstances¡¡anterior¡¡to¡¡that¡¡event£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡became¡¡more¡¡democratic¡¡in¡¡each¡¡succeeding¡¡age¡£¡¡¡¡Such¡¡was¡¡the¡¡destiny¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Romans£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡barbarians¡¡after¡¡them¡£¡¡But¡¡a¡¡people£»¡¡having¡¡taken¡¡its¡¡rise¡¡in¡¡civilization¡¡and¡¡democracy£»¡¡which¡¡should¡¡gradually¡¡establish¡¡an¡¡inequality¡¡of¡¡conditions£»¡¡until¡¡it¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡inviolable¡¡privileges¡¡and¡¡exclusive¡¡castes£»¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡novelty¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡intimates¡¡that¡¡America¡¡is¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡furnish¡¡so¡¡singular¡¡an¡¡example¡£

Reflection¡¡On¡¡The¡¡Causes¡¡Of¡¡The¡¡Commercial¡¡Prosperity¡¡Of¡¡The¡¡Of¡¡The¡¡United¡¡States

The¡¡Americans¡¡destined¡¡by¡¡Nature¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡great¡¡maritime¡¡people¡¡¡­¡¡Extent¡¡of¡¡their¡¡coasts¡¡¡­¡¡Depth¡¡of¡¡their¡¡ports¡¡¡­¡¡Size¡¡of¡¡their¡¡rivers¡¡¡­¡¡The¡¡commercial¡¡superiority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Anglo¡­Americans¡¡less¡¡attributable£»¡¡however£»¡¡to¡¡physical¡¡circumstances¡¡than¡¡to¡¡moral¡¡and¡¡intellectual¡¡causes¡¡¡­¡¡Reason¡¡of¡¡this¡¡opinion¡¡¡­Future¡¡destiny¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Anglo¡­Americans¡¡as¡¡a¡¡commercial¡¡nation¡¡¡­¡¡The¡¡dissolution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Union¡¡would¡¡not¡¡check¡¡the¡¡maritime¡¡vigor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡States¡¡¡­¡¡Reason¡¡of¡¡this¡¡¡­¡¡Anglo¡­Americans¡¡will¡¡naturally¡¡supply¡¡the¡¡wants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡South¡¡America¡¡¡­¡¡They¡¡will¡¡become£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡English£»¡¡the¡¡factors¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£

The¡¡coast¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Bay¡¡of¡¡Fundy¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Sabine¡¡River¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gulf¡¡of¡¡Mexico£»¡¡is¡¡more¡¡than¡¡two¡¡thousand¡¡miles¡¡in¡¡extent¡£¡¡These¡¡shores¡¡form¡¡an¡¡unbroken¡¡line£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡are¡¡all¡¡subject¡¡to¡¡the¡¡same¡¡government¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡nation¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡possesses¡¡vaster£»¡¡deeper£»¡¡or¡¡more¡¡secure¡¡ports¡¡for¡¡shipping¡¡than¡¡the¡¡Americans¡£

The¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡constitute¡¡a¡¡great¡¡civilized¡¡people£»¡¡which¡¡fortune¡¡has¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡an¡¡uncultivated¡¡country¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡three¡¡thousand¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡the¡¡central¡¡point¡¡of¡¡civilization¡£¡¡America¡¡consequently¡¡stands¡¡in¡¡daily¡¡need¡¡of¡¡European¡¡trade¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Americans¡¡will£»¡¡no¡¡doubt£»¡¡ultimately¡¡succeed¡¡in¡¡producing¡¡or¡¡manufacturing¡¡at¡¡home¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡articles¡¡which¡¡they¡¡require£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡two¡¡continents¡¡can¡¡never¡¡be¡¡independent¡¡of¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡so¡¡numerous¡¡are¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡ties¡¡which¡¡exist¡¡between¡¡their¡¡wants£»¡¡their¡¡ideas£»¡¡their¡¡habits£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡manners¡£¡¡

The¡¡Union¡¡produces¡¡peculiar¡¡commodities¡¡which¡¡are¡¡now¡¡become¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡us£»¡¡but¡¡which¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡cultivated£»¡¡or¡¡can¡¡only¡¡be¡¡raised¡¡at¡¡an¡¡enormous¡¡expense£»¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡soil¡¡of¡¡Europe¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Americans¡¡only¡¡consume¡¡a¡¡small¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡this¡¡produce£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡are¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡us¡¡the¡¡rest¡£¡¡¡¡Europe¡¡is¡¡therefore¡¡the¡¡market¡¡of¡¡America£»¡¡as¡¡America¡¡is¡¡the¡¡market¡¡of¡¡Europe£»¡¡and¡¡maritime¡¡commerce¡¡is¡¡no¡¡less¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡enable¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡to¡¡transport¡¡their¡¡raw¡¡materials¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ports¡¡of¡¡Europe£»¡¡than¡¡it¡¡is¡¡to¡¡enable¡¡us¡¡to¡¡supply¡¡them¡¡with¡¡our¡¡manufactured¡¡produce¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡United¡¡States¡¡were¡¡therefore¡¡necessarily¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡alternative¡¡of¡¡increasing¡¡the¡¡business¡¡of¡¡other¡¡maritime¡¡nations¡¡to¡¡a¡¡great¡¡extent£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡themselves¡¡declined¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡into¡¡commerce£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Spaniards¡¡of¡¡Mexico¡¡have¡¡hitherto¡¡done£»¡¡or£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡second¡¡place£»¡¡of¡¡becoming¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡trading¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡globe¡£¡¡

The¡¡Anglo¡­Americans¡¡have¡¡always¡¡displayed¡¡a¡¡very¡¡decided¡¡taste¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sea¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Declaration¡¡of¡¡Independence¡¡broke¡¡the¡¡commercial¡¡restrictions¡¡which¡¡united¡¡them¡¡to¡¡England£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡and¡¡powerful¡¡stimulus¡¡to¡¡their¡¡maritime¡¡genius¡£¡¡¡¡Ever¡¡since¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡the¡¡shipping¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Union¡¡has¡¡increased¡¡in¡¡almost¡¡the¡¡same¡¡rapid¡¡proportion¡¡as¡¡the¡¡number¡¡of¡¡its¡¡inhabitants¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Americans¡¡themselves¡¡now¡¡transport¡¡to¡¡their¡¡own¡¡shores¡¡nine¡­tenths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡European¡¡produce¡¡which¡¡they¡¡consume¡£¡¡*g¡¡And¡¡they¡¡also¡¡bring¡¡three¡­¡¡quarters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡exports¡¡of¡¡the¡¡New¡¡World¡¡to¡¡the¡¡European¡¡consumer¡£¡¡*h¡¡The¡¡ships¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡fill¡¡the¡¡docks¡¡of¡¡Havre¡¡and¡¡of¡¡Liverpool£»¡¡whilst¡¡the¡¡number¡¡of¡¡English¡¡and¡¡French¡¡vessels¡¡which¡¡are¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡at¡¡New¡¡York¡¡is¡¡comparatively¡¡small¡£¡¡*i

£§Footnote¡¡g£º¡¡The¡¡total¡¡value¡¡of¡¡goods¡¡imported¡¡during¡¡the¡¡year¡¡which¡¡ended¡¡on¡¡September¡¡30£»¡¡1832£»¡¡was¡¡101£»129£»266¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cargoes¡¡of¡¡foreign¡¡vessels¡¡did¡¡not¡¡amount¡¡to¡¡10£»731£»039£»¡¡or¡¡about¡¡one¡­tenth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡sum¡££§

£§Footnote¡¡h£º¡¡The¡¡value¡¡of¡¡goods¡¡exported¡¡during¡¡the¡¡same¡¡year¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡87£»176£»943£»¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡goods¡¡exported¡¡by¡¡foreign¡¡vessels¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡21£»036£»183£»¡¡or¡¡about¡¡one¡¡quarter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡sum¡£¡¡¡¡£¨Williams's¡¡¡¨Register£»¡¨¡¡1833£»¡¡p¡£¡¡398¡££©£§

£§Footnote¡¡i£º¡¡The¡¡tonnage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessels¡¡which¡¡entered¡¡all¡¡the¡¡ports¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Union¡¡in¡¡the¡¡years¡¡1829£»¡¡1830£»¡¡and¡¡1831£»¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡3£»307£»719¡¡tons£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡544£»571¡¡tons¡¡were¡¡foreign¡¡vessels£»¡¡they¡¡stood£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡American¡¡vessels¡¡in¡¡a¡¡ratio¡¡of¡¡about¡¡16¡¡to¡¡100¡£¡¡¡¡£¨¡¨National¡¡Calendar£»¡¨¡¡1833£»¡¡p¡£¡¡304¡££©¡¡The¡¡tonnage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡English¡¡vessels¡¡which¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡ports¡¡of¡¡London£»¡¡Liverpool£»¡¡and¡¡Hull£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡years¡¡1820£»¡¡1826£»¡¡and¡¡1831£»¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡443£»800¡¡tons¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡foreign¡¡vessels¡¡which¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡same¡¡ports¡¡during¡¡the¡¡same¡¡years¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡159£»431¡¡tons¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡ratio¡¡between¡¡them¡¡was£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡about¡¡36¡¡to¡¡100¡£¡¡¡¡£¨¡¨Companion¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Almanac£»¡¨¡¡1834£»¡¡p¡£¡¡169¡££©¡¡In¡¡the¡¡year¡¡1832¡¡the¡¡ratio¡¡between¡¡the¡¡foreign¡¡and¡¡British¡¡ships¡¡which¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡ports¡¡of¡¡Great¡¡Britain¡¡was¡¡29¡¡to¡¡100¡£¡¡£§These¡¡statements¡¡relate¡¡to¡¡a¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡affairs¡¡which¡¡has¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡exist£»¡¡the¡¡Civil¡¡War¡¡and¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡taxation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡entirely¡¡altered¡¡the¡¡trade¡¡and¡¡navigation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡££§£§¡¡

Thus£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡does¡¡the¡¡American¡¡merchant¡¡face¡¡the¡¡competition¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡countrymen£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡even¡¡supports¡¡that¡¡of¡¡foreign¡¡nations¡¡in¡¡their¡¡own¡¡ports¡¡with¡¡success¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡readily¡¡explained¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡the¡¡vessels¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡can¡¡cross¡¡the¡¡seas¡¡at¡¡a¡¡cheaper¡¡rate¡¡than¡¡any¡¡other¡¡vessels¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡long¡¡as¡¡the¡¡mercantile¡¡shipping¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡preserves¡¡this¡¡superiority£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡not¡¡only¡¡retain¡¡what¡¡it¡¡has¡¡acquired£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡will¡¡constantly¡¡increase¡¡in¡¡prosperity¡£


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