Month: June 2018
-
Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part X
It is difficult to say for what reason the Americans can trade at a lower rate than other nations; and one is at first led to attribute this circumstance to the physical or natural advantages which are within their reach; but this supposition is erroneous. The American vessels cost almost…
Read More » -
Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part IX
In the meantime South Carolina armed her militia, and prepared for war. But Congress, which had slighted its suppliant subjects, listened to their complaints as soon as they were found to have taken up arms. *d A law was passed, by which the tariff duties were to be progressively reduced…
Read More » -
Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part VIII
It is difficult to imagine a durable union of a people which is rich and strong with one which is poor and weak, even if it were proved that the strength and wealth of the one are not the causes of the weakness and poverty of the other. But union…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part VI
What Are The Chances In Favor Of The Duration Of The American Union, And What Dangers Threaten It *y y [ [This chapter is one of the most curious and interesting portions of the work, because it embraces almost all the constitutional and social questions which were raised by the…
Read More » -
Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part V
In the North, as I have already remarked, a twofold migration ensues upon the abolition of slavery, or even precedes that event when circumstances have rendered it probable; the slaves quit the country to be transported southwards; and the whites of the Northern States, as well as the emigrants from…
Read More » -
Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part IV
But this truth was most satisfactorily demonstrated when civilization reached the banks of the Ohio. The stream which the Indians had distinguished by the name of Ohio, or Beautiful River, waters one of the most magnificent valleys that has ever been made the abode of man. Undulating lands extend upon…
Read More » -
Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part III
In 1830 the State of Mississippi assimilated the Choctaws and Chickasaws to the white population, and declared that any of them that should take the title of chief would be punished by a fine of $1,000 and a year’s imprisonment. When these laws were enforced upon the Choctaws, who inhabited…
Read More » -
Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part II
These are great evils; and it must be added that they appear to me to be irremediable. I believe that the Indian nations of North America are doomed to perish; and that whenever the Europeans shall be established on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, that race of men will…
Read More » -
Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races In The United States—Part I
The Present And Probable Future Condition Of The Three Races Which Inhabit The Territory Of The United States The principal part of the task which I had imposed upon myself is now performed. I have shown, as far as I was able, the laws and the manners of the American…
Read More » -
Chapter XVII: Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic Republic—Part IV
The Laws Contribute More To The Maintenance Of The Democratic Republic In The United States Than The Physical Circumstances Of The Country, And The Manners More Than The Laws All the nations of America have a democratic state of society—Yet democratic institutions only subsist amongst the Anglo-Americans—The Spaniards of South…
Read More » -
Chapter XVII: Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic Republic—Part III
Principal Causes Which Render Religion Powerful In America Care taken by the Americans to separate the Church from the State—The laws, public opinion, and even the exertions of the clergy concur to promote this end—Influence of religion upon the mind in the United States attributable to this cause—Reason of this—What…
Read More » -
Chapter XVII: Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic Republic—Part II
Influence Of The Laws Upon The Maintenance Of The Democratic Republic In The United States Three principal causes of the maintenance of the democratic republic—Federal Constitutions—Municipal institutions—Judicial power. The principal aim of this book has been to make known the laws of the United States; if this purpose has been…
Read More » -
Chapter XVII: Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic Republic—Part I
Principal Causes Which Tend To Maintain The Democratic Republic In The United States A democratic republic subsists in the United States, and the principal object of this book has been to account for the fact of its existence. Several of the causes which contribute to maintain the institutions of America…
Read More » -
Chapter XVI: Causes Mitigating Tyranny In The United States—Part II
Trial By Jury In The United States Considered As A Political Institution Trial by jury, which is one of the instruments of the sovereignty of the people, deserves to be compared with the other laws which establish that sovereignty—Composition of the jury in the United States—Effect of trial by jury…
Read More » -
Chapter XVI: Causes Mitigating Tyranny In The United States—Part I
Chapter Summary The national majority does not pretend to conduct all business—Is obliged to employ the town and county magistrates to execute its supreme decisions. I have already pointed out the distinction which is to be made between a centralized government and a centralized administration. The former exists in America,…
Read More » -
Chapter XV: Unlimited Power Of Majority, And Its Consequences—Part II
Tyranny Of The Majority How the principle of the sovereignty of the people is to be understood—Impossibility of conceiving a mixed government—The sovereign power must centre somewhere—Precautions to be taken to control its action—These precautions have not been taken in the United States—Consequences. I hold it to be an impious…
Read More » -
Chapter XV: Unlimited Power Of Majority, And Its Consequences—Part I
Chapter Summary Natural strength of the majority in democracies—Most of the American Constitutions have increased this strength by artificial means—How this has been done—Pledged delegates—Moral power of the majority—Opinion as to its infallibility—Respect for its rights, how augmented in the United States. Unlimited Power Of The Majority In The United…
Read More » -
Chapter XIV: Advantages American Society Derive From Democracy—Part II
Respect For The Law In The United States Respect of the Americans for the law—Parental affection which they entertain for it—Personal interest of everyone to increase the authority of the law. It is not always feasible to consult the whole people, either directly or indirectly, in the formation of the…
Read More » -
Chapter XIV: Advantages American Society Derive From Democracy—Part I
What The Real Advantages Are Which American Society Derives From The Government Of The Democracy Before I enter upon the subject of the present chapter I am induced to remind the reader of what I have more than once adverted to in the course of this book. The political institutions…
Read More » -
Chapter XIII: Government Of The Democracy In America—Part III
Corruption And Vices Of The Rulers In A Democracy, And Consequent Effects Upon Public Morality In aristocracies rulers sometimes endeavor to corrupt the people—In democracies rulers frequently show themselves to be corrupt—In the former their vices are directly prejudicial to the morality of the people—In the latter their indirect influence…
Read More » -
Chapter XIII: Government Of The Democracy In America—Part II
Instability Of The Administration In The United States In America the public acts of a community frequently leave fewer traces than the occurrences of a family—Newspapers the only historical remains—Instability of the administration prejudicial to the art of government. The authority which public men possess in America is so brief,…
Read More » -
Chapter XIII: Government Of The Democracy In America—Part I
I am well aware of the difficulties which attend this part of my subject, but although every expression which I am about to make use of may clash, upon some one point, with the feelings of the different parties which divide my country, I shall speak my opinion with the…
Read More » -
Chapter XII: Political Associations In The United States
Chapter Summary Daily use which the Anglo-Americans make of the right of association—Three kinds of political associations—In what manner the Americans apply the representative system to associations—Dangers resulting to the State—Great Convention of 1831 relative to the Tariff—Legislative character of this Convention—Why the unlimited exercise of the right of association…
Read More » -
Chapter XI: Liberty Of The Press In The United States
Chapter Summary Difficulty of restraining the liberty of the press—Particular reasons which some nations have to cherish this liberty—The liberty of the press a necessary consequence of the sovereignty of the people as it is understood in America—Violent language of the periodical press in the United States—Propensities of the periodical…
Read More » -
Chapter X: Parties In The United States
Chapter Summary Great distinction to be made between parties—Parties which are to each other as rival nations—Parties properly so called—Difference between great and small parties—Epochs which produce them—Their characteristics—America has had great parties—They are extinct—Federalists—Republicans—Defeat of the Federalists—Difficulty of creating parties in the United States—What is done with this intention—Aristocratic…
Read More » -
Chapter IX: Why The People May Strictly Be Said To Govern In The United States
I have hitherto examined the institutions of the United States; I have passed their legislation in review, and I have depicted the present characteristics of political society in that country. But a sovereign power exists above these institutions and beyond these characteristic features which may destroy or modify them at…
Read More » -
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 civilization—Strength often the first element of national prosperity—Aim of the Federal system to unite the twofold advantages resulting from a small and…
Read More » -
Chapter VIII: The Federal Constitution—Part IV
Procedure Of The Federal Courts Natural weakness of the judiciary power in confederations—Legislators ought to strive as much as possible to bring private individuals, and not States, before the Federal Courts—How the Americans have succeeded in this—Direct prosecution of private individuals in the Federal Courts—Indirect prosecution of the States which…
Read More » -
Chapter VIII: The Federal Constitution—Part III
Re-election Of The President When the head of the executive power is re-eligible, it is the State which is the source of intrigue and corruption—The desire of being re-elected the chief aim of a President of the United States—Disadvantage of the system peculiar to America—The natural evil of democracy is…
Read More »