part15-第11节
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enterprise; is the last State in the Union to mean a _final_
separation; as being of all the most dependent on the others。 Not
raising bread for the sustenance of her own inhabitants; not having a
stick of timber for the construction of vessels; her principal
occupation; nor an article to export in them; where would she be;
excluded from the ports of the other States; and thrown into
dependence on England; her direct and natural; but now insidious
rival? At the head of this MINORITY is what is called the Essex
Junto of Massachusetts。 But the MAJORITY of these _leaders_ do not
aim at separation。 In this; they adhere to the known principle of
General Hamilton; never; under any views; to break the Union。
Anglomany; monarchy; and separation; then; are the principles of the
Essex federalists。 Anglomany and monarchy; those of the
Hamiltonians; and Anglomany alone; that of the portion among the
_people_ who call themselves federalists。 These last are as good
republicans as the brethren whom they oppose; and differ from them
only in their devotion to England and hatred of France which they
have imbibed from their leaders。 The moment that these leaders
should avowedly propose a separation of the Union; or the
establishment of regal government; their popular adherents would quit
them to a man; and join the republican standard; and the partisans of
this change; even in Massachusetts; would thus find themselves an
army of officers without a soldier。
The party called republican is steadily for the support of the
present constitution。 They obtained at its commencement; all the
amendments to it they desired。 These reconciled them to it
perfectly; and if they have any ulterior view; it is only; perhaps;
to popularize it further; by shortening the Senatorial term; and
devising a process for the responsibility of judges; more practical
than that of impeachment。 They esteem the people of England and
France equally; and equally detest the governing powers of both。
This I verily believe; after an intimacy of forty years with
the public councils and characters; is a true statement of the
grounds on which they are at present divided; and that it is not
merely an ambition for power。 An honest man can feel no pleasure in
the exercise of power over his fellow citizens。 And considering as
the only offices of power those conferred by the people directly;
that is to say; the executive and legislative functions of the
General and State governments; the common refusal of these and
multiplied resignations; are proofs sufficient that power is not
alluring to pure minds; and is not; with them; the primary principle
of contest。 This is my belief of it; it is that on which I have
acted; and had it been a mere contest who should be permitted to
administer the government according to its genuine republican
principles; there has never been a moment of my life in which I
should have relinquished for it the enjoyments of my family; my farm;
my friends and books。
You expected to discover the difference of our party principles
in General Washington's valedictory; and my inaugural address。 Not
at all。 General Washington did not harbor one principle of
federalism。 He was neither an Angloman; a monarchist; nor a
separatist。 He sincerely wished the people to have as much
self…government as they were competent to exercise themselves。 The
only point on which he and I ever differed in opinion; was; that I
had more confidence than he had in the natural integrity and
discretion of the people; and in the safety and extent to which they
might trust themselves with a control over their government。 He has
asseverated to me a thousand times his determination that the
existing government should have a fair trial; and that in support of
it he would spend the last drop of his blood。 He did this the more
repeatedly; because he knew General Hamilton's political bias; and my
apprehensions from it。 It is a mere calumny; therefore; in the
monarchists; to associate General Washington with their principles。
But that may have happened in this case which has been often seen in
ordinary cases; that; by oft repeating an untruth; men come to
believe it themselves。 It is a mere artifice in this party to
bolster themselves up on the revered name of that first of our
worthies。 If I have dwelt longer on this subject than was necessary;
it proves the estimation in which I hold your ultimate opinions; and
my desire of placing the subject truly before them。 In so doing; I
am certain I risk no use of the communication which may draw me into
contention before the public。 Tranquillity is the _summum bonum_ of
a Septagenaire。
To return to the merits of your work: I consider it as so
lively a picture of the real state of our country; that if I can
possibly obtain opportunities of conveyance; I propose to send a copy
to a friend in France; and another to one in Italy; who; I know; will
translate and circulate it as an antidote to the misrepresentations
of former travellers。 But whatever effect my profession of political
faith may have on your general opinion; a part of my object will be
obtained; if it satisfies you as to the principles of my own action;
and of the high respect and consideration with which I tender you my
salutations。
TYRANTS OF LAND AND SEA
_To Madame de Stael_
_United States of America; May 24; 1813_
I received with great pleasure; my dear Madam and friend; your
letter of November the 10th; from Stockholm; and am sincerely
gratified by the occasion it gives me of expressing to you the
sentiments of high respect and esteem which I entertain for you。 It
recalls to my remembrance a happy portion of my life; passed in your
native city; then the seat of the most amiable and polished society
of the world; and of which yourself and your venerable father were
such distinguished members。 But of what scenes has it since been the
theatre; and with what havoc has it overspread the earth! Robespiere
met the fate; and his memory the execration; he so justly merited。
The rich were his victims; and perished by thousands。 It is by
millions that Buonaparte destroys the poor; and he is eulogised and
deified by the sycophants even of science。 These merit more than the
mere oblivion to which they will be consigned; and the day will come
when a just posterity will give to their hero the only pre…eminence
he has earned; that of having been the greatest of the destroyers of
the human race。 What year of his military life has not consigned a
million of human beings to death; to poverty and wretchedness! What
field in Europe may not raise a monument of the murders; the
burnings; the desolations; the famines and miseries it has witnessed
from him! And all this to acquire a reputation; which Cartouche
attained with less injury to mankind; of being fearless of God or
man。
To complete and universalise the desolation of the globe; it
has been the will of Providence to raise up; at the same time; a
tyrant as unprincipled and as overwhelming; for the ocean。 Not in
the poor maniac George; but in his government and nation。 Buonaparte
will die; and his tyrannies with him。 But a nation never dies。 The
English government and its piratical principles and practices; have
no fixed term of duration。 Europe feels; and is writhing under the
scorpion whips of Buonaparte。 We are assailed by those of England。
The one continent thus placed under the gripe of England; and the
other of Buonaparte; each has to grapple with the enemy immediately
pressing on itself。 We must extinguish the fire kindled in our own
house; and leave to our friends beyond the water that which is
consuming theirs。 It was not till England had taken one thousand of
our ships; and impressed into her service more than six thousand of
our citizens; till she had declared; by the proclamation of her
Prince Regent; that she would not repeal her aggressive orders _as to
us_; until Buonaparte should have repealed his _as to all nations_;
till her minister; in formal conference with ours; declared; that no
proposition for protecting our seamen from being impressed; under
color of taking their own; was practicable or admissible; that; the
door to justice and to all amicable arrangement being closed; and
negotiation become both desperate and dishonorable; we concluded that
the war she had been for years waging against us; might as well
become a war on both sides。 She takes fewer vessels from us since
the declaration of war than before; because they venture more
cautiously; and we now make full reprisals where before we made none。
England is; in principle; the enemy of all maritime nations; as
Buonaparte is of the continental; and I place in the same line of
insult to the human understanding; the pretension of conquering