democracy in america-1-第47节
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The practical consequences of these different systems may easily be perceived。 An attentive observer will soon remark that the business of the Union is incomparably better conducted than that of any individual State。 The conduct of the Federal Government is more fair and more temperate than that of the States； its designs are more fraught with wisdom； its projects are more durable and more skilfully combined； its measures are put into execution with more vigor and consistency。
I recapitulate the substance of this chapter in a few words： The existence of democracies is threatened by two dangers； viz。； the complete subjection of the legislative body to the caprices of the electoral body； and the concentration of all the powers of the Government in the legislative authority。 The growth of these evils has been encouraged by the policy of the legislators of the States； but it has been resisted by the legislators of the Union by every means which lay within their control。
Characteristics Which Distinguish The Federal Constitution Of The United States Of America From All Other Federal Constitutions American Union appears to resemble all other confederations … Nevertheless its effects are different … Reason of this … Distinctions between the Union and all other confederations … The American Government not a federal but an imperfect national Government。
The United States of America do not afford either the first or the only instance of confederate States； several of which have existed in modern Europe； without adverting to those of antiquity。 Switzerland； the Germanic Empire； and the Republic of the United Provinces either have been or still are confederations。 In studying the constitutions of these different countries； the politician is surprised to observe that the powers with which they invested the Federal Government are nearly identical with the privileges awarded by the American Constitution to the Government of the United States。 They confer upon the central power the same rights of making peace and war； of raising money and troops； and of providing for the general exigencies and the common interests of the nation。 Nevertheless the Federal Government of these different peoples has always been as remarkable for its weakness and inefficiency as that of the Union is for its vigorous and enterprising spirit。 Again； the first American Confederation perished through the excessive weakness of its Government； and this weak Government was； notwithstanding； in possession of rights even more extensive than those of the Federal Government of the present day。 But the more recent Constitution of the United States contains certain principles which exercise a most important influence； although they do not at once strike the observer。
This Constitution； which may at first sight be confounded with the federal constitutions which preceded it； rests upon a novel theory； which may be considered as a great invention in modern political science。 In all the confederations which had been formed before the American Constitution of 1789 the allied States agreed to obey the injunctions of a Federal Government； but they reserved to themselves the right of ordaining and enforcing the execution of the laws of the Union。 The American States which combined in 1789 agreed that the Federal Government should not only dictate the laws； but that it should execute it own enactments。 In both cases the right is the same； but the exercise of the right is different； and this alteration produced the most momentous consequences。
In all the confederations which had been formed before the American Union the Federal Government demanded its supplies at the hands of the separate Governments； and if the measure it prescribed was onerous to any one of those bodies means were found to evade its claims： if the State was powerful； it had recourse to arms； if it was weak； it connived at the resistance which the law of the Union； its sovereign； met with； and resorted to inaction under the plea of inability。 Under these circumstances one of the two alternatives has invariably occurred； either the most preponderant of the allied peoples has assumed the privileges of the Federal authority and ruled all the States in its name； *p or the Federal Government has been abandoned by its natural supporters； anarchy has arisen between the confederates； and the Union has lost all powers of action。 *q
＇Footnote p： This was the case in Greece； when Philip undertook to execute the decree of the Amphictyons； in the Low Countries； where the province of Holland always gave the law； and； in our own time； in the Germanic Confederation； in which Austria and Prussia assume a great degree of influence over the whole country； in the name of the Diet。＇
＇Footnote q： Such has always been the situation of the Swiss Confederation； which would have perished ages ago but for the mutual jealousies of its neighbors。＇
In America the subjects of the Union are not States； but private citizens： the national Government levies a tax； not upon the State of Massachusetts； but upon each inhabitant of Massachusetts。 All former confederate governments presided over communities； but that of the Union rules individuals； its force is not borrowed； but self…derived； and it is served by its own civil and military officers； by its own army； and its own courts of justice。 It cannot be doubted that the spirit of the nation； the passions of the multitude； and the provincial prejudices of each State tend singularly to diminish the authority of a Federal authority thus constituted； and to facilitate the means of resistance to its mandates； but the comparative weakness of a restricted sovereignty is an evil inherent in the Federal system。 In America； each State has fewer opportunities of resistance and fewer temptations to non…compliance； nor can such a design be put in execution （if indeed it be entertained） without an open violation of the laws of the Union； a direct interruption of the ordinary course of justice； and a bold declaration of revolt； in a word； without taking a decisive step which men hesitate to adopt。
In all former confederations the privileges of the Union furnished more elements of discord than of power； since they multiplied the claims of the nation without augmenting the means of enforcing them： and in accordance with this fact it may be remarked that the real weakness of federal governments has almost always been in the exact ratio of their nominal power。 Such is not the case in the American Union； in which； as in ordinary governments； the Federal Government has the means of enforcing all it is empowered to demand。
The human understanding more easily invents new things than new words； and we are thence constrained to employ a multitude of improper and inadequate expressions。 When several nations form a permanent league and establish a supreme authority； which； although it has not the same influence over the members of the community as a national government； acts upon each of the Confederate States in a body； this Government； which is so essentially different from all others； is denominated a Federal one。 Another form of society is afterwards discovered； in which several peoples are fused into one and the same nation with regard to certain common interests； although they remain distinct； or at least only confederate； with regard to all their other concerns。 In this case the central power acts directly upon those whom it governs； whom it rules； and whom it judges； in the same manner； as； but in a more limited circle than； a national government。 Here the term Federal Government is clearly no longer applicable to a state of things which must be styled an incomplete national Government： a form of government has been found out which is neither exactly national nor federal； but no further progress has been made； and the new word which will one day designate this novel invention does not yet exist。
The absence of this new species of confederation has been the cause which has brought all Unions to Civil War； to subjection； or to a stagnant apathy； and the peoples which formed these leagues have been either too dull to discern； or too pusillanimous to apply this great remedy。 The American Confederation perished by the same defects。
But the Confederate States of America had been long accustomed to form a portion of one empire before they had won their independence； they had not contracted the habit of governing themselves； and their national prejudices had not taken deep root in their minds。 Superior to the rest of the world in political knowledge； and sharing that knowledge equally amongst themselves； they were little agitated by the passions which generally oppose the extension of federal authority in a nation； and those passions were checked by the wisdom of the chief citizens。 The Americans applied the remedy with prudent firmness as soon as they were conscious of the evil； they amended their laws； and they saved their country。
Chapter VIII： The Federal Constitution … Part V
Advantages Of The Federal System In General； And Its Special Utility In America
Happiness and freedom of small nations … Power of great nations … Great empires favorable to the growth of civil
