democracy in america-1-第113节
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gnty of the Union。 Great things may then be done in the name of the Federal Government； but in reality that Government will have ceased to exist。 *b In both these cases； the power which acts in the name of the confederation becomes stronger the more it abandons the natural state and the acknowledged principles of confederations。
＇Footnote b： Thus the province of Holland in the republic of the Low Countries； and the Emperor in the Germanic Confederation； have sometimes put themselves in the place of the union； and have employed the federal authority to their own advantage。＇
In America the existing Union is advantageous to all the States； but it is not indispensable to any one of them。 Several of them might break the federal tie without compromising the welfare of the others； although their own prosperity would be lessened。 As the existence and the happiness of none of the States are wholly dependent on the present Constitution； they would none of them be disposed to make great personal sacrifices to maintain it。 On the other hand； there is no State which seems hitherto to have its ambition much interested in the maintenance of the existing Union。 They certainly do not all exercise the same influence in the federal councils； but no one of them can hope to domineer over the rest； or to treat them as its inferiors or as its subjects。
It appears to me unquestionable that if any portion of the Union seriously desired to separate itself from the other States； they would not be able； nor indeed would they attempt； to prevent it； and that the present Union will only last as long as the States which compose it choose to continue members of the confederation。 If this point be admitted； the question becomes less difficult； and our object is； not to inquire whether the States of the existing Union are capable of separating； but whether they will choose to remain united。
Amongst the various reasons which tend to render the existing Union useful to the Americans； two principal causes are peculiarly evident to the observer。 Although the Americans are； as it were； alone upon their continent； their commerce makes them the neighbors of all the nations with which they trade。 Notwithstanding their apparent isolation； the Americans require a certain degree of strength； which they cannot retain otherwise than by remaining united to each other。 If the States were to split； they would not only diminish the strength which they are now able to display towards foreign nations； but they would soon create foreign powers upon their own territory。 A system of inland custom…houses would then be established； the valleys would be divided by imaginary boundary lines； the courses of the rivers would be confined by territorial distinctions； and a multitude of hindrances would prevent the Americans from exploring the whole of that vast continent which Providence has allotted to them for a dominion。 At present they have no invasion to fear； and consequently no standing armies to maintain； no taxes to levy。 If the Union were dissolved； all these burdensome measures might ere long be required。 The Americans are then very powerfully interested in the maintenance of their Union。 On the other hand； it is almost impossible to discover any sort of material interest which might at present tempt a portion of the Union to separate from the other States。
When we cast our eyes upon the map of the United States； we perceive the chain of the Alleghany Mountains； running from the northeast to the southwest； and crossing nearly one thousand miles of country； and we are led to imagine that the design of Providence was to raise between the valley of the Mississippi and the coast of the Atlantic Ocean one of those natural barriers which break the mutual intercourse of men； and form the necessary limits of different States。 But the average height of the Alleghanies does not exceed 2；500 feet； their greatest elevation is not above 4；000 feet； their rounded summits； and the spacious valleys which they conceal within their passes； are of easy access from several sides。 Besides which； the principal rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean … the Hudson； the Susquehanna； and the Potomac …take their rise beyond the Alleghanies； in an open district； which borders upon the valley of the Mississippi。 These streams quit this tract of country； make their way through the barrier which would seem to turn them westward； and as they wind through the mountains they open an easy and natural passage to man。 No natural barrier exists in the regions which are now inhabited by the Anglo…Americans； the Alleghanies are so far from serving as a boundary to separate nations； that they do not even serve as a frontier to the States。 New York； Pennsylvania； and Virginia comprise them within their borders； and they extend as much to the west as to the east of the line。 The territory now occupied by the twenty…four States of the Union； and the three great districts which have not yet acquired the rank of States； although they already contain inhabitants； covers a surface of 1；002；600 square miles； *c which is about equal to five times the extent of France。 Within these limits the qualities of the soil； the temperature； and the produce of the country； are extremely various。 The vast extent of territory occupied by the Anglo…American republics has given rise to doubts as to the maintenance of their Union。 Here a distinction must be made； contrary interests sometimes arise in the different provinces of a vast empire； which often terminate in open dissensions； and the extent of the country is then most prejudicial to the power of the State。 But if the inhabitants of these vast regions are not divided by contrary interests； the extent of the territory may be favorable to their prosperity； for the unity of the government promotes the interchange of the different productions of the soil； and increases their value by facilitating their consumption。
＇Footnote c： See 〃Darby's View of the United States；〃 p。 435。 ＇In 1890 the number of States and Territories had increased to 51； the population to 62；831；900； and the area of the States； 3；602；990 square miles。 This does not include the Philippine Islands； Hawaii； or Porto Rico。 A conservative estimate of the population of the Philippine Islands is 8；000；000； that of Hawaii； by the census of 1897； was given at 109；020； and the present estimated population of Porto Rico is 900；000。 The area of the Philippine Islands is about 120；000 square miles； that of Hawaii is 6；740 square miles； and the area of Porto Rico is about 3；600 square miles。＇＇
It is indeed easy to discover different interests in the different parts of the Union； but I am unacquainted with any which are hostile to each other。 The Southern States are almost exclusively agricultural。 The Northern States are more peculiarly commercial and manufacturing。 The States of the West are at the same time agricultural and manufacturing。 In the South the crops consist of tobacco； of rice； of cotton； and of sugar； in the North and the West； of wheat and maize。 These are different sources of wealth； but union is the means by which these sources are opened to all； and rendered equally advantageous to the several districts。
The North； which ships the produce of the Anglo…Americans to all parts of the world； and brings back the produce of the globe to the Union； is evidently interested in maintaining the confederation in its present condition； in order that the number of American producers and consumers may remain as large as possible。 The North is the most natural agent of communication between the South and the West of the Union on the one hand； and the rest of the world upon the other； the North is therefore interested in the union and prosperity of the South and the West； in order that they may continue to furnish raw materials for its manufactures； and cargoes for its shipping。
The South and the West； on their side； are still more directly interested in the preservation of the Union； and the prosperity of the North。 The produce of the South is； for the most part； exported beyond seas； the South and the West consequently stand in need of the commercial resources of the North。 They are likewise interested in the maintenance of a powerful fleet by the Union； to protect them efficaciously。 The South and the West have no vessels； but they cannot refuse a willing subsidy to defray the expenses of the navy； for if the fleets of Europe were to blockade the ports of the South and the delta of the Mississippi； what would become of the rice of the Carolinas； the tobacco of Virginia； and the sugar and cotton which grow in the valley of the Mississippi？ Every portion of the federal budget does therefore contribute to the maintenance of material interests which are common to all the confederate States。
Independently of this commercial utility； the South and the West of the Union derive great political advantages from their connection with the North。 The South contains an enormous slave population； a population which is already alarming； and still more formidable for the future。 The States of the West lie in the remotest parts of a single valley； and all the rivers which intersect their terr
