democracy in america-1-第131章
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een。
＇Footnote o： It may be seen that in the course of the last ten years （1820…1830） the population of one district； as； for instance； the State of Delaware； has increased in the proportion of five per cent。； whilst that of another； as the territory of Michigan； has increased 250 per cent。 Thus the population of Virginia had augmented thirteen per cent。； and that of the border State of Ohio sixty…one per cent。； in the same space of time。 The general table of these changes； which is given in the 〃National Calendar；〃 displays a striking picture of the unequal fortunes of the different States。＇
＇Footnote p： It has just been said that in the course of the last term the population of Virginia has increased thirteen per cent。； and it is necessary to explain how the number of representatives for a State may decrease； when the population of that State； far from diminishing； is actually upon the increase。 I take the State of Virginia； to which I have already alluded； as my term of comparison。 The number of representatives of Virginia in 1823 was proportionate to the total number of the representatives of the Union； and to the relation which the population bore to that of the whole Union： in 1833 the number of representatives of Virginia was likewise proportionate to the total number of the representatives of the Union； and to the relation which its population； augmented in the course of ten years； bore to the augmented population of the Union in the same space of time。 The new number of Virginian representatives will then be to the old numver； on the one hand； as the new numver of all the representatives is to the old number； and； on the other hand； as the augmentation of the population of Virginia is to that of the whole population of the country。 Thus； if the increase of the population of the lesser country be to that of the greater in an exact inverse ratio of the proportion between the new and the old numbers of all the representatives； the number of the representatives of Virginia will remain stationary； and if the increase of the Virginian population be to that of the whole Union in a feeblerratio than the new number of the representatives of the Union to the old number； the number of the representatives of Virginia must decrease。 ＇Thus； to the 56th Congress in 1899； Virginia and West Virginia send only fourteen representatives。＇＇
Chapter XVIII： Future Condition Of Three Races … Part VII
The inhabitants of the United States talk a great deal of their attachment to their country； but I confess that I do not rely upon that calculating patriotism which is founded upon interest； and which a change in the interests at stake may obliterate。 Nor do I attach much importance to the language of the Americans； when they manifest； in their daily conversations； the intention of maintaining the federal system adopted by their forefathers。 A government retains its sway over a great number of citizens； far less by the voluntary and rational consent of the multitude； than by that instinctive； and to a certain extent involuntary agreement； which results from similarity of feelings and resemblances of opinion。 I will never admit that men constitute a social body； simply because they obey the same head and the same laws。 Society can only exist when a great number of men consider a great number of things in the same point of view； when they hold the same opinions upon many subjects； and when the same occurrences suggest the same thoughts and impressions to their minds。
The observer who examines the present condition of the United States upon this principle； will readily discover； that although the citizens are divided into twenty…four distinct sovereignties； they nevertheless constitute a single people； and he may perhaps be led to think that the state of the Anglo…American Union is more truly a state of society than that of certain nations of Europe which live under the same legislation and the same prince。
Although the Anglo…Americans have several religious sects； they all regard religion in the same manner。 They are not always agreed upon the measures which are most conducive to good government； and they vary upon some of the forms of government which it is expedient to adopt； but they are unanimous upon the general principles which ought to rule human society。 From Maine to the Floridas； and from the Missouri to the Atlantic Ocean； the people is held to be the legitimate source of all power。 The same notions are entertained respecting liberty and equality； the liberty of the press； the right of association； the jury； and the responsibility of the agents of Government。
If we turn from their political and religious opinions to the moral and philosophical principles which regulate the daily actions of life and govern their conduct； we shall still find the same uniformity。 The Anglo…Americans *d acknowledge the absolute moral authority of the reason of the community； as they acknowledge the political authority of the mass of citizens； and they hold that public opinion is the surest arbiter of what is lawful or forbidden； true or false。 The majority of them believe that a man will be led to do what is just and good by following his own interest rightly understood。 They hold that every man is born in possession of the right of self…government； and that no one has the right of constraining his fellow…creatures to be happy。 They have all a lively faith in the perfectibility of man； they are of opinion that the effects of the diffusion of knowledge must necessarily be advantageous； and the consequences of ignorance fatal； they all consider society as a body in a state of improvement； humanity as a changing scene； in which nothing is； or ought to be； permanent； and they admit that what appears to them to be good to…day may be superseded by something better…to…morrow。 I do not give all these opinions as true； but I quote them as characteristic of the Americans。
＇Footnote d： It is scarcely necessary for me to observe that by the expression Anglo…Americans； I only mean to designate the great majority of the nation； for a certain number of isolated individuals are of course to be met with holding very different opinions。＇
The Anglo…Americans are not only united together by these common opinions； but they are separated from all other nations by a common feeling of pride。 For the last fifty years no pains have been spared to convince the inhabitants of the United States that they constitute the only religious； enlightened； and free people。 They perceive that； for the present； their own democratic institutions succeed； whilst those of other countries fail； hence they conceive an overweening opinion of their superiority； and they are not very remote from believing themselves to belong to a distinct race of mankind。
The dangers which threaten the American Union do not originate in the diversity of interests or of opinions； but in the various characters and passions of the Americans。 The men who inhabit the vast territory of the United States are almost all the issue of a common stock； but the effects of the climate； and more especially of slavery； have gradually introduced very striking differences between the British settler of the Southern States and the British settler of the North。 In Europe it is generally believed that slavery has rendered the interests of one part of the Union contrary to those of another part； but I by no means remarked this to be the case： slavery has not created interests in the South contrary to those of the North； but it has modified the character and changed the habits of the natives of the South。
I have already explained the influence which slavery has exercised upon the commercial ability of the Americans in the South； and this same influence equally extends to their manners。 The slave is a servant who never remonstrates； and who submits to everything without complaint。 He may sometimes assassinate； but he never withstands； his master。 In the South there are no families so poor as not to have slaves。 The citizen of the Southern States of the Union is invested with a sort of domestic dictatorship； from his earliest years； the first notion he acquires in life is that he is born to com
