democracy in america-1-第116节
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But from the Potomac to the mouth of the Mississippi the coast is sandy and flat。 In this part of the Union the mouths of almost all the rivers are obstructed； and the few harbors which exist amongst these lagoons afford much shallower water to vessels； and much fewer commercial advantages than those of the North。
This first natural cause of inferiority is united to another cause proceeding from the laws。 We have already seen that slavery； which is abolished in the North； still exists in the South； and I have pointed out its fatal consequences upon the prosperity of the planter himself。
The North is therefore superior to the South both in commerce *m and manufacture； the natural consequence of which is the more rapid increase of population and of wealth within its borders。 The States situate upon the shores of the Atlantic Ocean are already half…peopled。 Most of the land is held by an owner； and these districts cannot therefore receive so many emigrants as the Western States； where a boundless field is still open to their exertions。 The valley of the Mississippi is far more fertile than the coast of the Atlantic Ocean。 This reason； added to all the others； contributes to drive the Europeans westward … a fact which may be rigorously demonstrated by figures。 It is found that the sum total of the population of all the United States has about tripled in the course of forty years。 But in the recent States adjacent to the Mississippi； the population has increased thirty…one…fold； within the same space of time。 *n
＇Footnote m： The following statements will suffice to show the difference which exists between the commerce of the South and that of the North： …
In 1829 the tonnage of all the merchant vessels belonging to Virginia； the two Carolinas； and Georgia （the four great Southern States）； amounted to only 5；243 tons。 In the same year the tonnage of the vessels of the State of Massachusetts alone amounted to 17；322 tons。 （See Legislative Documents； 21st Congress； 2d session； No。 140； p。 244。） Thus the State of Massachusetts had three times as much shipping as the four above…mentioned States。 Nevertheless the area of the State of Massachusetts is only 7；335 square miles； and its population amounts to 610；014 inhabitants ＇2；238；943 in 1890＇； whilst the area of the four other States I have quoted is 210；000 square miles； and their population 3；047；767。 Thus the area of the State of Massachusetts forms only one…thirtieth part of the area of the four States； and its population is five times smaller than theirs。 （See 〃Darby's View of the United States。〃） Slavery is prejudicial to the commercial prosperity of the South in several different ways； by diminishing the spirit of enterprise amongst the whites； and by preventing them from meeting with as numerous a class of sailors as they require。 Sailors are usually taken from the lowest ranks of the population。 But in the Southern States these lowest ranks are composed of slaves； and it is very difficult to employ them at sea。 They are unable to serve as well as a white crew； and apprehensions would always be entertained of their mutinying in the middle of the ocean； or of their escaping in the foreign countries at which they might touch。＇
＇Footnote n： 〃Darby's View of the United States；〃 p。 444。＇
The relative position of the central federal power is continually displaced。 Forty years ago the majority of the citizens of the Union was established upon the coast of the Atlantic； in the environs of the spot upon which Washington now stands； but the great body of the people is now advancing inland and to the north； so that in twenty years the majority will unquestionably be on the western side of the Alleghanies。 If the Union goes on to subsist； the basin of the Mississippi is evidently marked out； by its fertility and its extent； as the future centre of the Federal Government。 In thirty or forty years； that tract of country will have assumed the rank which naturally belongs to it。 It is easy to calculate that its population； compared to that of the coast of the Atlantic； will be； in round numbers； as 40 to 11。 In a few years the States which founded the Union will lose the direction of its policy； and the population of the valley of the Mississippi will preponderate in the federal assemblies。
This constant gravitation of the federal power and influence towards the northwest is shown every ten years； when a general census of the population is made； and the number of delegates which each State sends to Congress is settled afresh。 *o In 1790 Virginia had nineteen representatives in Congress。 This number continued to increase until the year 1813； when it reached to twenty…three； from that time it began to decrease； and in 1833 Virginia elected only twenty…one representatives。 *p During the same period the State of New York progressed in the contrary direction： in 1790 it had ten representatives in Congress； in 1813； twenty…seven； in 1823； thirty…four； and in 1833； forty。 The State of Ohio had only one representative in 1803； and in 1833 it had already nineteen。
＇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
