第15章

ItwillbesaidthattheconductofGeneralFremontduringthedaysofhiscommandinMissouriisnotamatterofmuchmomenttousinEngland；thatithasbeenproperlyhandledbythecommitteeofRepresentativesappointedbytheAmericanCongresstoinquireintothematter；andthatafterthepublicationofsuchareportbythem，itisungenerousinawriterfromanothernationtospeakuponthesubject。Thiswouldbesoiftheinquiriesmadebythatcommitteeandtheirreporthadresultedinanygeneralcondemnationofthemenwhosemisdeedsandpeculationshavebeenexposed。This，however，isbynomeansthecase。ThosewhowereheretoforeopposedtoGeneralFremontonpoliticalprinciplesareopposedtohimstill；butthosewhoheretoforesupportedhimarereadytosupporthimagain。Hehasnotbeenplacedbeyondthepaleofpublicfavorbytherecordwhichhasbeenmadeofhispublicmisdeeds。HeisdecriedbytheDemocratsbecauseheisaRepublican，andbytheanti-abolitionistsbecauseheisanAbolitionist；butheisnotdecriedbecausehehasshownhimselftobedishonestintheserviceofhisgovernment。HewasdismissedfromhiscommandintheWest，butmenonhissideofthequestiondeclarethathewassodismissedbecausehispoliticalopponentshadprevailed。Now，atthemomentthatIamwritingthis，menaresayingthatthePresidentmustgivehimanothercommand。Heisstillamajor-generalinthearmyoftheStates，andisasprobableacandidateasanyotherthatIcouldnameforthenextPresidency。*

*Sincethiswaswritten，GeneralFremonthasbeenrestoredtohighmilitarycommand，andnowholdsrankandequalauthoritywithMcClellanandHalleck。Infact，thechargesmadeagainsthimbythecommitteeoftheHouseofRepresentativeshavenotbeenallowedtostandinhisway。Heispoliticallypopularwithalargesectionofthenation，andthereforeithasbeenthoughtwelltopromotehimtohighplace。Whetherhebefitforsuchplaceeitherasregardscapabilityorintegrity，seemstobeconsideredofnomoment。

Thesameargumentmustbeusedwithreferencetotheothergentlemennamed。Mr。WellesisstillacabinetministerandSecretaryoftheNavy。IthasbeenfoundimpossibletokeepMr。Cameroninthecabinet，buthewasnamedastheministeroftheStatesgovernmenttoRussia，afterthepublicationoftheVanWyckreport，whentheresultofhisoldpoliticalfriendshipwithMr。AlexanderCummingswaswellknowntothePresidentwhoappointedhimandtotheSenatewhosanctionedhisappointment。Theindividualcorruptionofanyoneman——ofanytenmen——isnotmuch。Itshouldnotbeinsistedonloudlybyanyforeignerinmakingupabalance-sheetofthevirtuesandvicesofthegoodandbadqualitiesofanynation。Butthelightinwhichsuchcorruptionisviewedbythepeoplewhomitmostnearlyconcernsisverymuch。IamfarfromsayingthatdemocracyhasfailedinAmerica。Democracytherehasdonegreatthingsforanumerouspeople，andwillyet，asIthink，besuccessful。ButthatdoctrineastothenecessityofsmartnessmustbeeschewedbeforeaverdictinfavorofAmericandemocracycanbepronounced。“Itbehovesamantobesmart，sir。“InthosewordsarecontainedthecurseunderwhichtheStatesgovernmenthasbeensufferingforthelastthirtyyears。Letushopethatthepeoplewillfindamodeofriddingthemselvesofthatcurse。I，forone，believethattheywilldoso。

CHAPTERVIII。

BACKTOBOSTON。

FromLouisvillewereturnedtoCincinnati，inmakingwhichjourneyweweretakentoaplacecalledSeymour，inIndiana，atwhichspotwewereto“makeconnection“withthetrainrunningontheMississippiandOhiolinefromSt。LouistoCincinnati。Wedidmaketheconnection，butwerecalledupontoremainfourhoursatSeymourinconsequenceofsomeaccidentontheline。Inthesameway，whengoingeastwardfromCincinnatitoBaltimoreafewdayslater，IwasdetainedanotherfourhoursataplacecalledCrestline，inOhio。

OnbothoccasionsIspentmytimeinrealizing，asfarasthatmightbepossible，thesortoflifewhichmenleadwhosettlethemselvesatsuchlocalities。Boththesetowns——fortheycallthemselvestowns——hadbeencreatedbytherailways。IndeedthishasbeenthecasewithalmosteveryplaceatwhichafewhundredinhabitantshavebeendrawntogetherintheWesternStates。WiththeexceptionofsuchcitiesasChicago，St。Louis，andCincinnati，settlerscanhardlybesaidtohavechosentheirownlocalities。Thesehavebeenchosenforthembytheoriginatorsofthedifferentlinesofrailway。AndthereisnothinginEuropeinanywayliketotheseWesternrailwaysettlements。Inthefirstplace，thelineoftherailsrunsthroughthemainstreetofthetown，andformsnotunfrequentlytheonlyroad。AtSeymourIcouldfindnowayofgettingawayfromtherailsunlessIwentintothefields。AtCrestline，whichisalargerplace，Ididfindastreetinwhichtherewasnorailroad，butitwasdeserted，andmanifestlyoutoffavorwiththeinhabitants。Astherewererailwayjunctionsatboththeseposts，therewere，ofcourse，cross-streets，andthehousesextendedthemselvesfromthecenterthusmadealongthelines，housesbeingaddedtohousesatshortintervalsasnew-cornerssettledthemselvesdown。Thepanting，andgroaning，andwhistlingofenginesiscontinual；foratsuchplacesfreighttrainsarealwayskeptwaitingforpassengertrains，andtheslowerfreighttrainsforthosewhicharecalledfast。Thisisthelifeofthetown；andindeedasthewholeplaceisdependentontherailway，soistherailwayheldinfavorandbeloved。Thenoiseoftheenginesisnotdisliked，norareitspuffingsandgroaningsheldtobeunmusical。Withusalocomotivesteam-engineisstill，asitwere，abeastofprey，againstwhichonehastobeonone\'sguard——inrespecttowhichonespeciallywarnsthechildren。Butthere，intheWesternStates，ithasbeentakentothebosomsofthemallasadomesticanimal；noonefearsit，andthelittlechildrenrunaboutalmostamongitswheels。Itispettedandmademuchofonallsides——and，asfarasIknow，itseldombitesortears。Ihavenotheardofchildrenbeingdestroyedwholesaleinthestreets，orofdrunkenmenbecomingfrequentsacrifices。ButhadIbeenconsultedbeforehandastothenaturaleffectsofsuchanarrangement，I

shouldhavesaidthatnochildcouldhavebeenrearedinsuchatown，andthatanycontinuanceofpopulationundersuchcircumstancesmusthavebeenimpracticable。

Suchplaces，however，dothriveandprosperwithaprosperityespeciallytheirown，andtheboysandgirlsincreaseandmultiplyinspiteofalldangers。WithusinEnglanditisdifficulttorealizetheimportancewhichisattachedtoarailwayintheStates，andtheresultswhicharailwaycreates。Wehaveroadseverywhere，andourcountryhadbeencultivatedthroughoutwithmoreorlesscarebeforeoursystemofrailwayshadbeencommenced；butinAmerica，especiallyintheNorth，therailwayshavebeentheprecursorsofcultivation。Theyhavebeencarriedhitherandthither，throughprimevalforestsandoverprairies，withsmallhopeofothertrafficthanthatwhichtheythemselveswouldmakebytheirowninfluences。Thepeoplesettlingontheiredgeshavehadtheverybestofallroadsattheirservice；buttheyhavehadnootherroads。Thefaceofthecountrybetweenonesettlementandanotherisstillinmanycasesutterlyunknown；butthereistheconnectingroadbywhichproduceiscarriedaway，andnew-comersarebroughtin。Thetownthatisdistantahundredmilesbytherailissonearthatitsinhabitantsareneighbors；butasettlementtwentymilesdistantacrosstheunclearedcountryisunknown，unvisited，andprobablyunheardofbythewomenandchildren。Undersuchcircumstancestherailwayiseverything。Itisthefirstnecessityoflife，andgivestheonlyhopeofwealth。Itisthebackboneofexistencefromwhencespring，andbywhichareprotected，allthevitalorgansandfunctionsofthecommunity。Itistherightarmofcivilizationforthepeople，andthediscovererofthefertilityoftheland。Itisallinalltothosepeople，andtothoseregions。

Ithassuppliedthewantsoffrontierlifewithallthesubstantialcomfortofthecities，andcarriededucation，progress，andsocialhabitsintothewilderness。TotheeyeofthestrangersuchplacesasSeymourandCrestlinearedesolateanddreary。Thereisnothingofbeautyinthem——giveneitherbynatureorbyart。Therailwayitselfisugly，anditsnumeroussidingsandbranchesformamassofironroadwhichisbewildering，and，accordingtomyideas，initselfdisagreeable。Thewoodenhousesopendownupontheline，andhavenogardenstorelievethem。Aforeigner，whenfirstsurveyingsuchaspot，willcertainlyrecordwithinhimselfaverdictagainstit；butindoingsoheprobablycommitstheerrorofjudgingitbyawrongstandard。Heshouldcompareitwiththenewsettlementswhichmenhaveopenedupinspotswherenorailwayhasassistedthem，andnotwitholdtownsinwhichwealthhaslongbeencongregated。Thetravelermayseewhatistheplacewiththerailway；thenlethimconsiderhowitmighthavethrivenwithouttherailway。

IconfessthatIbecametiredofmysojournatboththeplacesI

havenamed。AteachIthinkthatIsaweveryhouseintheplace，althoughmyvisittoSeymourwasmadeinthenight；andatbothI

waslamentablyatalossforsomethingtodo。AtCrestlineIwasallalone，andbegantofeelthatthehourswhichIknewmustpassbeforethemissingtraincouldcomewouldnevermakeawaywiththemselves。ThereweremanyothersstationedthereasIwas，buttothemhadbeengivenacapabilityforloafingwhichniggardlyNaturehasdeniedtome。AnAmericanhasthepowerofseatinghimselfintheclosevicinityofahotstoveandfeedinginsilenceonhisownthoughtsbythehourtogether。Itmaybethathewillsmoke；butafterawhilehiscigarwillcometoanend。Hesitson，however，certainlypatient，andapparentlycontented。Itmaybethathechews，butifso，hedoesitwithmotionlessjaws，andsoslowamasticationofthepabulumuponwhichhefeeds，thathisemploymentinthisrespectonlydisturbstheabsolutequietofthecirclewhen，atcertainlong，distantintervals，hedepositsthesecretionofhistobaccoinanornamentalutensilwhichmayprobablybeplacedinthefarthestcornerofthehall。Butduringallthistimeheishappy。

Itdoesnotfrethimtositthereandthinkanddonothing。Heisbynomeansanidleman——probablyonemuchgiventocommercialenterprise。IdlemenoutthereintheWestwemaysaytherearenone。Howshouldanyidlemanliveinsuchacountry？AllwhoweresittinghourafterhourinthatcircleroundthestoveoftheCrestlineHotelhall——sittingtherehourafterhourinsilence，asI

couldnotsit——weremenwhoearnedtheirbreadbylabor。Theywerefarmers，mechanics，storekeepers；therewasalawyerortwo，andoneclergyman。Sufficientconversationtookplaceatfirsttoindicatetheprofessionsofmanyofthem。Onemayconcludethattherecouldnotbeplacethereforanidleman。Buttheyallofthemhadacapacityforaprolongedstateofdoingnothingwhichistomeunintelligible，andwhichisbymeverymuchtobeenvied。Theyarepatientascowswhichfromhourtohourlieonthegrasschewingtheircud。AnEnglishman，ifhebekeptwaitingbyatraininsomeforlornstationinwhichhecanfindnoemployment，curseshisfateandallthathasledtohispresentmisfortunewithanenergywhichtellsthestoryofhisdeepandthoroughmisery。Such，Iconfess，ismystateofexistenceundersuchcircumstances。ButaWesternAmericangiveshimselfupto“loafing，“andisquitehappy。Hebalanceshimselfonthebacklegsofanarm-chair，andremainsso，withoutspeaking，drinkingorsmokingforanhouratastretch；andwhileheisdoingsohelooksasthoughhehadallthathedesired。

Ibelievethatheishappy，andthathehasallthathewantsforsuchanoccasion——anarm-chairinwhichtosit，andastoveonwhichhecanputhisfeetandbywhichhecanmakehimselfwarm。

SuchwasnotthephaseofcharacterwhichIhadexpectedtofindamongthepeopleoftheWest。OfallvirtuespatiencewouldhavebeenthelastwhichIshouldhavethoughtofattributingtothem。I

shouldhaveexpectedtoseethemangrywhenrobbedoftheirtime，andirritableunderthestressofsuchgrievancesasrailwaydelays；

buttheyareneverirritableundersuchcircumstancesasIhaveattemptedtodescribe，nor，indeed，aretheyapeoplepronetoirritationunderanygrievances。Eveninpoliticalmatterstheyarelong-enduring，anddonotformthemselvesintomobsfortheexpressionofhotopinion。WeinEnglandthoughtthatmassesofthepeoplewouldriseinangerifMr。Lincoln\'sgovernmentshouldconsenttogiveupSlidellandMason；butthepeopleboreitwithoutanyrising。Thehabeascorpushasbeensuspended，thelibertyofthepresshasbeendestroyedforatime，thetelegraphwireshavebeentakenupbythegovernmentintotheirownhands，butneverthelessthepeoplehavesaidnothing。Therehasbeennorisingofamob，andnotevenanexpressionofanadverseopinion。Thepeoplerequiretobeallowedtovoteperiodically，and，havingacquiredthatprivilege，permitothermatterstogobytheboard。

Inthisrespectwehave，Ithink，insomedegreemisunderstoodtheircharacter。Theyhaveallbeentaughttoreverencethenatureofthatformofgovernmentunderwhichtheylive，buttheyarenotspeciallyaddictedtohotpoliticalfermentation。Theyhavelearnedtounderstandthatdemocraticinstitutionshavegiventhemliberty，andonthatsubjecttheyentertainastrongconvictionwhichisuniversal。Buttheyhavenothabituallyinterestedthemselvesdeeplyinthedoingsoftheirlegislatorsoroftheirgovernment。

Onthesubjectofslaverytherehavebeenandaredifferentopinions，heldwithgreattenacityandmaintainedoccasionallywithviolence；butonothersubjectsofdailypolicytheAmericanpeoplehavenot，Ithink，beeneagerpoliticians。Leadingmeninpubliclifehavebeenmuchlesstrammeledbypopularwillthanamongus。

Indeedwithusthemostconspicuousofourstatesmenandlegislatorsdonotlead，butareled。IntheStatesthenotedpoliticiansofthedayhavebeentheleaders，andnotunfrequentlythecoercersofopinion。Seeingthis，IclaimforEnglandabroaderfreedominpoliticalmattersthantheStateshaveasyetachieved。InspeakingoftheAmericanformofgovernment，IwillendeavortoexplainmoreclearlytheideaswhichIhavecometoholdonthismatter。

IsurvivedmydelayatSeymour，afterwhichIpassedagainthroughCincinnati，andthensurvivedmysubsequentdelayatCrestline。AstoCincinnati，ImustputonrecordtheresultofacountrywalkwhichItookthere，orratheronwhichIwastakenbymyfriend。Heprofessedtoknowthebeautiesoftheneighborhoodandtobewellacquaintedwithallthatwasattractiveinitsvicinity。CincinnatiisbuiltontheOhio，andiscloselysurroundedbypicturesquehillswhichoverhangthesuburbsofthecity。OvertheseIwastaken，plowingmywaythroughadepthofmudwhichcannotbeunderstoodbyanyordinaryEnglishman。Butthedepthofmudwasnottheonlyimpedimentnortheworstwhichweencountered。Aswebegantoascendfromtheleveloftheoutskirtsofthetownweweregreetedbyarisingflavorintheair，whichsoongrewintoastrongodor，andatlastdevelopeditselfintoastenchthatsurpassedinoffensivenessanythingthatmynosehadeverhithertosuffered。

Whenwewereattheworstwehardlyknewwhethertodescendortoproceed。IthadsoincreasedinvirulencethatatonetimeIfeltsurethatitarosefromsomematterburiedinthegroundbeneathmyfeet。Butmyfriend，whodeclaredhimselftobequiteathomeinCincinnatimatters，andtounderstandthedetailsofthegreatCincinnatitrade，declaredagainstthisopinionofmine。Hogs，hesaid，wereatthebottomofit。ItwastheodorofhogsgoinguptotheOhioheavens——ofhogsinastateoftransitfromhoggishnaturetoclothes-brushes，saddles，sausages，andlard。Hespokewithanauthoritythatconstrainedbelief；butIcanneverforgivehiminthathetookmeoverthosehills，knowingallthatheprofessedtoknow。LetthevisitorstoCincinnatikeepthemselveswithinthecity，andnotwanderforthamongthemountains。Itiswellthattheodorofhogsshouldascendtoheavenandnothangheavyoverthestreets；butitisnotwelltointerceptthatodorinitsascent。

Myfriendbecameillwithfever，andhadtobetakehimselftothecareofnursingfriends；sothatIpartedcompanywithhimatCincinnati。Ididnottellhimthathisillnesswasdeservedaswellasnatural，butsuchwasmyfeelingonthematter。Imyselfhappilyescapedtheevilconsequenceswhichhisimprudencemighthaveentailedonme。

IagainpassedthroughPittsburg，andovertheAlleghanyMountainsbyAltoona，anddowntoBaltimore——backintocivilization，secession，conversation，andgastronomy。Ineverhadsecessionistsympathiesandneverexpressedthem。IalwaysbelievedintheNorthasapeople——discrediting，however，totheutmosttheexistingNortherngovernment，or，asIshouldmoreproperlysay，theexistingNortherncabinet；butnevertheless，withsuchfeelingsandsuchbeliefIfoundmyselfveryhappyatBaltimore。PuttingasideBoston——whichmust，Ithink，begenerallypreferredbyEnglishmentoanyothercityintheStates——IshouldchooseBaltimoreasmyresidenceifIwerecalledupontoliveinAmerica。Iamnotledtothis，ifIknowmyself，solelybythecanvas-backducks；andastotheterrapins，Ithrowthemtothewinds。Themadeira，whichisstillkepttherewithareverencewhichIshouldcallsuperstitiouswereitnotthatitsfreecirculationamongoutsideworshipersprohibitsthejustuseofsuchaword，mayhavesomethingtodowithit，asmayalsothebeautyofthewomen——tosomesmallextent。

Triflesdobearuponourhappinessinamannerthatwedonotourselvesunderstandandofwhichweareunconscious。ButtherewasanEnglishlookaboutthestreetsandhouseswhichIthinkhadasmuchtodowithitaseitherthewine，thewomen，ortheducks，anditseemedtomeasthoughthemannersofthepeopleofMarylandweremoreEnglishthanthoseofotherAmericans。Idonotsaythattheywereonthisaccountbetter。MyEnglishhatis，Iamwellaware，lessgraceful，andIbelievelesscomfortable，thanaTurkishfezandturban；neverthelessIprefermyEnglishhat。NewYorkIregardasthemostthoroughlyAmericanofallAmericancities。ItisbynomeanstheoneinwhichIshouldfindmyselfthehappiest；butIdonotonthataccountcondemnit。

IhavesaidthatinreturningtoBaltimoreIfoundmyselfamongsecessionists。InsosayingIintendtospeakofacertainsetwhoseinfluencedependsperhapsmoreontheirwealth，position，andeducationthanontheirnumbers。Idonotthinkthatthepopulationofthecitywastheninfavorofsecession，evenifithadeverbeenso。IbelievethatthemobofBaltimoreisprobablytheroughestmobintheStates——ismoreakintoaParismob，andImayperhapsalsosaytoaManchestermob，thanthatofanyotherAmericancity。

TherearemoreroughsinBaltimorethanelsewhere，andtheroughstherearerougher。Inthoseearlydaysofsecession，whenthetroopswerebeingfirsthurrieddownfromNewEnglandfortheprotectionofWashington，thismobwasvehementlyopposedtoitsprogress。MenhadbeentaughttothinkthattherightsoftheStateofMarylandwerebeinginvadedbythepassageofthesoldiers，andtheyalsowereundoubtedlyimbuedwithastrongprepossessionfortheSoutherncause。Thetwoideashadthengonetogether。ButthemobofBaltimorehadceasedtobesecessionistswithintwelvemonthsoftheirfirstexploit。InApril，1861，theyhadrefusedtoallowMassachusettssoldierstopassthroughthetownontheirwaytoWashington；andinFebruary，1862，theywerenailingUnionflagsonthedoor-postsofthosewhorefusedtodisplaysuchbannersassignsoftriumphattheNorthernvictories！

ThatMarylandcanevergowiththeSouth，evenintheeventoftheSouthsucceedinginsecession，noMarylandercanbelieve。Itisnotpretendedthatthereisanystrugglenowgoingonwithsuchanobject。Nosuchresulthasbeenexpected，certainlysincethepossessionofWashingtonwassecuredtotheNorthbythearmyofthePotomac。Byfew，Ibelieve，wassucharesultexpectedevenwhenWashingtonwasinsecure。AndyetthefeelingforsecessionamongacertainclassinBaltimoreisasstrongnowaseveritwas。AnditisequallystrongincertaindistrictsoftheState——inthosedistrictswhicharemostakintoVirginiaintheirhabits，modesofthought，andtiesoffriendship。Thesemen，andthesewomenalso，prayfortheSouthiftheybepious，givetheirmoneytotheSouthiftheybegenerous，workfortheSouthiftheybeindustrious，fightfortheSouthiftheybeyoung，andtalkfortheSouthmorning，noon，andnight，inspiteofGeneralDixandhiscolumbiadsonFederalHill。Itisinvaintosaythatsuchmenandwomenhavenostrongfeelingonthematter，andthattheyarepraying，working，fighting，andtalkingunderdictation。Theirheartsareinit。Andjudgingfromthem，eventhoughtherewerenootherevidencefromwhichtojudge，IhavenodoubtthatasimilarfeelingisstrongthroughallthesecedingStates。OnthissubjecttheNorth，I

think，deceivesitselfinsupposingthattheSouthernrebellionhasbeencarriedonwithoutanystrongfeelingonthepartoftheSouthernpeople。WhetherthemobofCharlestonbelikethemobofBaltimoreIcannottell；butIhavenodoubtastothegentryofCharlestonandthegentryofBaltimorebeinginaccordonthesubject。

Inwhatway，then，whenthequestionhasbeensettledbytheforceofarms，willtheseclassesfindthemselvesobligedtoact？InVirginiaandMarylandtheycomprise，asarule，thehighestandbesteducatedofthepeople。AstopartsofKentuckythesamethingmaybesaid，andprobablyastothewholeofTennessee。ItmustberememberedthatthisisnotasthoughcertainaristocraticfamiliesinafewEnglishcountiesshouldfindthemselvesdividedofffromthepoliticsandnationalaspirationsoftheircountry-men，aswasthecaselongsincewithreferencetotheRomanCatholicadherentsoftheStuarts，andashasbeenthecasesincetheninalesserdegreewiththefirmestoftheoldTorieswhohadallowedthemselvestobedeceivedbySirRobertPeel。Ineachofthesecasestheminorityofdissentientswassosmallthatthenationsufferednothing，thoughindividualswereallbutrobbedoftheirnationality。butasregardsAmericaitmustberememberedthateachStatehasinitselfagoverningpower，andisinfactaseparatepeople。Eachhasitsownlegislature，andmusthaveitsownlineofpolitics。

ThesecessionistsofMarylandandofVirginiamayconsenttoliveinobscurity；butifthisbeso，whoistoruleinthoseStates？FromwhencearetocomethesenatorsandthemembersofCongress；thegovernorsandattorney-generals？FromwhenceistocomethenationalspiritofthetwoStates，andthesaltthatshallpreservetheirpoliticallife？IhaveneverbelievedthattheseStateswouldsucceedinsecession。IhavealwaysfeltthattheywouldbeheldwithintheUnion，whatevermightbetheirownwishes。ButIthinkthattheywillbesoheldinamannerandafterafashionthatwillrenderanypoliticalvitalityalmostimpossibletillanewgenerationshallhavesprungup。InthemeantimelifegoesonpleasantlyenoughinBaltimore，andladiesmeettogether，knittingstockingsandsewingshirtsfortheSouthernsoldiers，whilethegentlementalkSouthernpoliticsanddrinkthehealthofthe(Southern)presidentinambiguousterms，asourCavaliersusedtodrinkthehealthoftheking。

DuringmysecondvisittoBaltimoreIwentovertoWashingtonforadayortwo，andfoundthecapitalstillundertheempireofKingMud。Howtheeliteofanation——fortheinhabitantsofWashingtonconsiderthemselvestobetheelite——canconsenttoliveinsuchastateofthraldom，aforeignercannotunderstand。WereItosaythatitwasintendedtobetypicaloftheconditionofthegovernment，Imightbeconsideredcynical；butundoubtedlythesloughsofdespondwhichweredeepestintheirdespondencyweretobefoundinlocalitieswhichgaveanappearanceoftruthtosuchasurmise。TheSecretaryofState\'soffice，inwhichMr。Sewardwasstillreigning，thoughwithdiminishedglory，wasdividedfromtheheadquartersofthecommander-in-chief，whichareimmediatelyoppositetoit，byanopaqueriverwhichadmittedofnotransit。

ThesebuildingsstandatthecornerofPresidentSquare，andithadbeenlongunderstoodthatanycloseintercoursebetweenthemhadnotbeenconsidereddesirablebytheoccupantsofthemilitarysideofthecauseway。ButtheSecretaryofState\'sofficewasaltogetherunapproachablewithoutalongcircuitandbegrimedlegs。TheSecretaryofWar\'sdepartmentwas，ifpossible，inaworsecondition。ThisissituatedontheothersideofthePresident\'shouse，andthemudlay，ifpossible，thickerinthisquarterthanitdidroundMr。Seward\'schambers。ThepassageoverPennsylvaniaAvenue，immediatelyinfrontoftheWarOffice，wasathingnottobeattemptedinthosedays。Mr。Cameron，itistrue，hadgone，andMr。Stantonwasinstalled；butthelaborofcleansingtheinteriorofthatestablishmenthadhithertoallowednotimeforaglanceattheexteriordirt，andMr。Stantonshould，perhaps，beheldasexcused。ThattheNavyOfficeshouldbeburiedinmud，andquitedebarredfromapproach，wastobeexpected。ThespaceimmediatelyinfrontofMr。Lincoln\'sownresidencewasstillkeptfairlyclean，andIamhappytobeabletogivetestimonytothiseffect。Longmayitremainso。Icouldnot，however，butthinkthatanenergeticandcarefulPresidentwouldhaveseentotheremovalofthedirtfromhisownimmediateneighborhood。Itwassomethingthathisownshoesshouldremainunpolluted；butthefoulmudalwaysclingingtothebootsandleggingsofthosebywhomhewasdailysurroundedmust，Ishouldthink，havebeenoffensivetohim。TheentrancetotheTreasurywasdifficulttoachievebythosewhohadnotlearnedbypracticethewaysoftheplace；butImustconfessthatatolerablyclearpassagewasmaintainedonthatsidewhichledimmediatelydowntothehallsofCongress。UpattheCapitolthemudwasagaintriumphantinthefrontofthebuilding；thishoweverwasnotofgreatimportance，asthelegislativechambersoftheStatesarealwaysreachedbythebackdoors。I，onthisoccasion，attemptedtoleavethebuildingbythegrandentrance，butIsoonbecameentangledamongriversofmudandmazesofshiftingsand。

WithdifficultyIrecoveredmysteps，andfindingmywaybacktothebuildingwasforcedtocontentmyselfbyanexitamongthecrowdofSenatorsandRepresentativeswhowerethrongingdownthebackstairs。

OfdirtofallkindsitbehovesWashingtonandthoseconcernedinWashingtontomakethemselvesfree。ItistheAugeanstablesthroughwhichsomeAmericanHerculesmustturnapurifyingriverbeforetheAmericanpeoplecanjustlyboasteitheroftheircapitaloroftheirgovernment。Astothematerialmud，enoughhasbeensaid。Thepresenceofthearmyperhapscausedit，andtheexcessivequantityofrainwhichhadfallenmayalsobetakenasafairplea。

Butwhatexcuseshallwefindforthatotherdirt？Italsohadbeencausedbythepresenceofthearmy，andbythatlong-continueddown-

pouringofcontractswhichhadfallenlikeDanae\'sgoldenshowerintothelapsofthosewhounderstoodhowtoavailthemselvesofsuchheavenlywaters。TheleadersoftherebellionarehatedintheNorth。ThenamesofJeffersonDavis，ofCobb，Toombs，andFloydarementionedwithexecrationbytheverychildren。Thishassprungfromatrueandnoblefeeling；fromapatrioticloveofnationalgreatnessandahatredofthosewho，forsmallpartypurposes，havebeenwillingtolessenthenameoftheUnitedStates。IhavereverencedthefeelingevenwhenIhavenotsharedit。But，inadditiontothis，thenamesofthosealsoshouldbeexecratedwhohaverobbedtheircountrywhenpretendingtoserveit；whohavetakenitswagesinthedaysofitsgreatstruggle，andatthesametimehavefilchedfromitscoffers；whohaveundertakenthetaskofsteeringtheshipthroughthestorminorderthattheirhandsmightbedeepinthemeal-tubandthebread-basket，andthattheymightstufftheirownsackswiththeship\'sprovisions。Thesearethemenwhomustbeloathedbythenation——whosefatemustbeheldupasawarningtoothersbeforegoodcancome！NorthernmenandwomentalkofhangingDavisandhisaccomplices。Imyselftrustthattherewillbenohangingwhenthewarisover。Ibelievetherewillbenone，fortheAmericansarenotablood-thirstypeople。Butifpunishmentofanykindbemetedout，themenoftheNorthshouldunderstandthattheyhaveworseoffendersamongthemthanDavisandFloyd。

AttheperiodofwhichIamnowspeaking，therehadcomeachangeoverthespiritofMr。Lincoln\'scabinet。Mr。SewardwasstillhisSecretaryofState，buthewas，asfarasoutsideobserverscouldjudge，nolongerhisPrimeMinister。Intheearlydaysofthewar，anduptothedepartureofMr。Cameronfromoutofthecabinet，Mr。

SewardhadbeentheMinisterofthenation。InhisdispatcheshetalkseverofWeorofI。Ineverywordofhisofficialwritings，ofwhichalargevolumehasbeenpublished，heshowsplainlythatheintendstobeconsideredasthemanoftheday——astheherowhoistobringtheStatesthroughtheirdifficulties。Mr。Lincolnmaybeking，butMr。Sewardismayorofthepalace，andcarriesthekinginhispocket。Fromthedepthofhisownwisdomheundertakestoteachhisministersinallpartsoftheworld，notonlytheirduties，buttheirproperaspiration。Heisequallykindtoforeignstatesmen，andsendstothemmessagesasthoughfromanaltitudewhichnoEuropeanpoliticianhadeverreached。AthomehehasaffectedthePrimeMinisterineverything，droppingtheWeandusingtheIinamannerthathashardlymadeupbyitsaudacityforitsdeficiencyindiscretion。ItisofcourseknowneverywherethathehadrunMr。

LincolnveryhardforthepositionofRepublicancandidateforthePresidency。Mr。Lincolnbeathim，andMr。Sewardiswellawarethatinthestatesamanhasneverasecondchanceforthepresidentialchair。HencehasarisenhisambitiontomakeforhimselfanewplaceintheannalsofAmericanpolitics。HithertotherehasbeennoPrimeMinisterknowninthegovernmentoftheUnitedStates。Mr。

Sewardhasattemptedarevolutioninthatmatter，andhasessayedtofillthesituation。Forawhileitalmostseemedthathewassuccessful。Heinterferedwiththearmy，andhisinterferenceswereendured。Hetookuponhimselfthebusinessofthepolice，andarrestedmenathisownwillandpleasure。Thehabeascorpuswasinhishand，andhisnamewascurrentthroughtheStatesasacoveringauthorityforeveryoutrageontheoldlaws。Sufficientcraft，orperhapscleverness，hepossessedtoorganizeapositionwhichshouldgivehimapowergreaterthanthepowerofthePresident；buthehadnotthegeniuswhichwouldenablehimtoholdit。Hemadefoolishpropheciesaboutthewar，andtalkedofthetriumphswhichhewouldwin。Hewrotestate-papersonmatterswhichhedidnotunderstand，andgavehimselftheairsofdiplomaticlearningwhileheshowedhimselftobesadlyignorantoftheveryrudimentsofdiplomacy。HetriedtojokeasLordPalmerstonjokes，andnobodylikedhisjoking。

Hewasgreedyafterthelittleappanagesofpower，takingfromotherswholovedthemaswellashedidprivilegeswithwhichhemighthavedispensed。Andthen，lastly，hewassuccessfulinnothing。Hehadgivenhimselfoutasthecommanderofthecommander-in-chief；butthenunderhiscommandnothinggotitselfdone。ForamonthortwosomemenhadreallybelievedinMr。

Seward。Thepolicemenofthecountryhadcometohaveanabsolutetrustinhim，andtheunderlingsofthepublicofficeswerebeginningtothinkthathemightbeagreatman。Butthen，asiseverthecasewithsuchmen，therecamesuddenlyadownfall。Mr。

Cameronwentfromthecabinet，andeverybodyknewthatMr。Sewardwouldbenolongercommanderofthecommander-in-chief。Hisprimeministershipwasgonefromhim，andhesankdownintothecomparativelyhumblepositionofMinisterforForeignAffairs。Hislettresdecachetnolongerran。Hispassportsystemwasrepealed。

Hisprisonerswerereleased。Andthoughitistoomuchtosaythatwritsofhabeascorpuswerenolongersuspended，theeffectandverymeaningofthesuspensionwereatoncealtered。WhenIfirstleftWashington，Mr。Sewardwastheonlyministerofthecabinetwhosenamewasevermentionedwithreferencetoanygreatpoliticalmeasure。WhenIreturnedtoWashington，Mr。StantonwasMr。

Lincoln\'sleadingminister，and，asSecretaryofWar，hadpracticallythemanagementofthearmyandoftheinternalpolice。

IhavespokenhereofMr。Sewardbyname，andinmyprecedingparagraphsIhavealludedwithsomeasperitytothedishonestyofcertainmenwhohadobtainedpoliticalpowerunderMr。Lincoln，anduseditfortheirowndishonestpurposes。ItrustthatImaynotbeunderstoodasbringinganysuchchargesagainstMr。Seward。ThatsuchdishonestyhasbeenfrightfullyprevalentallmenknowwhoknewanythingofWashingtonduringtheyear1861。InaformerchapterI

havealludedtothismoreatlength，statingcircumstances，andinsomecasesgivingthenamesofthepersonschargedwithoffenses。

WheneverIhavedoneso，IhavebasedmystatementsontheVanWyckreport，andtheevidencethereingiven。ThisisthepublishedreportofacommitteeappointedbythehouseofRepresentatives；andasithasbeenbeforetheworldforsomemonthswithoutrefutation，IthinkthatIhavearighttopresumeittobetrue。*OnnolessauthoritythanthiswouldIconsidermyselfjustifiedinbringinganysuchcharge。OfMr。Seward\'sincompetencyIhaveheardverymuchamongAmericanpoliticians；muchalsoofhisambition。WithworseoffensesthantheseIhavenotheardhimcharged。

*IoughtperhapstostatethatGeneralFremonthaspublishedananswertothechargespreferredagainsthim。Thatanswerreferschieflytomattersofmilitarycapacityorincapacity，astowhichI

haveexpressednoopinion。GeneralFremontdoesalludetotheaccusationsmadeagainsthimregardingthebuildingoftheforts；

butindoingsoheseemtomerathertoadmitthantodenytheactsasstatedbythecommittee。

AttheperiodofwhichIamwriting，February，1862，thelonglistofmilitarysuccesseswhichattendedtheNorthernarmythroughthelatewinterandearlyspringhadcommenced。Forthenry，ontheTennesseeRiver，hadfirstbeentaken，andafterthat，FortDonelson，ontheCumberlandRiver，alsointheState，Tennessee。

PricehadbeendrivenoutofMissouriintoArkansasbyGeneralCurtis，actingunderGeneralHalleck\'sorders。ThechiefbodyoftheConfederatearmyintheWesthadabandonedthefortifiedpositionwhichtheyhadlongheldatBowlingGreen，inthesouthwesterndistrictofKentucky。RoanokeIsland，onthecoastofNorthCarolina，hadbeentakenbyGeneralBurnside\'sexpedition，andabeliefhadbeguntomanifestitselfinWashingtonthatthearmyofthePotomacwasreallyabouttoadvance。ItisimpossibletoexplaininwhatwaytherenewedconfidenceoftheNorthernpartyshoweditself，orhowonelearnedthatthehopesofthesecessionistswerewaxingdim；butitwasso；andevenastrangerbecameawareofthegeneralfeelingasclearlyasthoughitwereadefinedandestablishedfact。Intheearlypartofthewinter，whenIreachedWashington，thefeelingranalltheotherway。Northernmendidnotsaythattheyweredespondent；theydidnotwithspokenwordsexpressdiffidenceastotheirsuccess；buttheirlooksbetrayeddiffidence，andthemoderationoftheirself-assurancealmostamountedtodespondency。Inthecapitalthepartieswereverymuchdivided。Theoldinhabitantswereeithersecessionistsorinfluencedby“secessionproclivities，“asthewordwent；butthemenofthegovernmentandofthetwoHousesofCongresswere，withafewexceptions，ofcourseNorthern。Itshouldbeunderstoodthatthesepartieswereatvariancewitheachotheronalmosteverypointastowhichmencandisagree。InourcivilwaritmaybepresumedthatallEnglishmenwereatanyrateanxiousforEngland。Theydesiredandfoughtfordifferentmodesofgovernment；buteachpartywasequallyEnglishinitsambition。IntheStatesthereisthehatredofadifferentnationalityaddedtotherancorofdifferentpolitics。TheSouthernersdesiretobeapeopleofthemselves——todividethemselvesbyeverypossiblemarkofdivisionfromNewEngland；tobeaslittleakintoNewYorkastheyaretoLondon，or，ifpossible，lessso。Theirhabits，theysay，aredifferent；theireducation，theirbeliefs，theirpropensities，theirveryvirtuesandvicesarenottheeducation，orthebeliefs，orthepropensities，orthevirtuesandvicesoftheNorth。ThebondthattiesthemtotheNorthistothemaMezentianmarriage，andtheyhatetheirNorthernspouseswithaMezentianhatred。TheywouldbeanythingsoonerthancitizensoftheUnitedStates。TheyseetowhatMexicohascome，andtherepublicsofCentralAmerica；buttheprospectofeventhatdegradationislessbittertothemthanashareinthegloryofthestarsandstripes。Better，withthem，toreigninhellthanserveinheaven！Itisnotonlyinpoliticsthattheywillbebeaten，iftheybebeaten，asonepartywithusmaybebeatenbyanother；buttheywillbebeatenasweshouldbebeatenifFranceannexedus，anddirectedthatweshouldliveunderFrenchrule。LetanEnglishmandigestandrealizethatidea，andhewillcomprehendthefeelingsofaSoutherngentlemanashecontemplatestheprobabilitythathisStatewillbebroughtbackintotheUnion。AndtheNorthernfeelingisasstrong。TheNorthernmanhasfoundedhisnationalambitionontheterritorialgreatnessofhisnation。Hehaspantedfornewlands，andforstillextendedboundaries。TheWesternWorldhasopenedherarmstohim，andhasseemedtowelcomehimasheronlylord。BritishAmericahastemptedhimtowardthenorth，andMexicohasbeenasapreytohimonthesouth。Hehasmademapsofhisempire，includingallthecontinent，andhaspreachedtheMonroedoctrineasthoughithadbeendecreedbythegods。Hehastoldtheworldofhisincreasingmillions，andhasneveryetknownhisstoretodiminish。Hehaspawedinthevalley，andrejoicedinhisstrength。Hehassaidamongthetrumpets，ha！ha！Hehasboastedaloudinhispride，andcalledonallmentolookathisglory。Andnowshallhebedividedandshorn？Shallhebehemmedinfromhisocean，andshutofffromhisrivers？Shallhehaveahookrunintohisnostrils，andathorndrivenintohisjaw？Shallmensaythathisdayisover，whenhehashardlyyettastedthefullcupofhissuccess？Hashisyounglifebeenadream，andnotatruth？Shallheneverreachthatgiantmanhoodwhichthegrowthofhisboyishyearshaspromisedhim？IftheSouthgoesfromhim，hewillbedivided，shorn，andhemmedin。Thehookwillhavepiercedhisnose，andthethornwillfesterinhisjaw。Menwilltaunthimwithhisformerboastings，andhewillawaketofindhimselfbutamortalamongmortals。

Suchisthelightinwhichthestruggleisregardedbythetwoparties，andsuchthehopesandfeelingswhichhavebeenengendered。

ItmaythereforebesurmisedwithwhatamountofneighborlylovesecessionistsandNorthernneighborsregardedeachotherinsuchtownsasBaltimoreandWashington。Ofcoursetherewashatredofthedeepestdye；ofcoursethereweremutteredcurses，orcurseswhichsometimeswerenotsimplymuttered。Ofcoursetherewaswretchedness，heart-burnings，andfearfuldivisionsinfamilies。

That，perhaps，wastheworstofall。Thedaughter\'shusbandwouldbeintheNorthernranks，whilethesonwasfightingintheSouth；

ortwosonswouldholdequalrankinthetwoarmies，sometimessendingtoeachotherfrightfulthreatsofpersonalvengeance。Oldfriendswouldmeeteachotherinthestreet，passingwithoutspeaking；or，worsestill，wouldutterwordsofinsultforwhichpaymentistobedemandedwhenaSoutherngentlemanmayagainbeallowedtoquarrelinhisowndefense。

Andyetsocietywenton。Womenstillsmiled，andmenwerehappytowhomsuchsmilesweregiven。Cakesandaleweregoing，andgingerwasstillhotinthemouth。Whenmanyweretogethernowordsofunhappinesswereheard。Itwasatthosesmallmeetingsoftwoorthreethatwomenwouldweepinsteadofsmiling，andthatmenwouldruntheirhandsthroughtheirhairandsitinsilence，thinkingoftheirruinedhopesanddividedchildren。

IhavespokenofSouthernhopesandNorthernfears，andhaveendeavoredtoexplainthefeelingsofeachparty。FormyselfI

thinkthattheSouthernershavebeenwrongintheirhopes，andthatthoseoftheNorthhavebeenwrongintheirfears。Itisnotbettertoruleinhellthanserveinheaven。OfcourseaSoutherngentlemanwillnotadmitthepremiseswhichareherebymetakenforgranted。ThehelltowhichIalludeis，thesadpositionofalowanddebasednation。Such，Ithink，willbethefateoftheGulfStates，iftheysucceedinobtainingsecession——ofalowanddebasednation，or，worsestill，ofmanylowanddebasednations。Theywillhavelosttheircottonmonopolybythecompetitioncreatedduringtheperiodofthewar，andwillhavenomaterialofgreatnessonwhicheithertofoundthemselvesortoflourish。ThattheyhadmuchtobearwhenlinkedwiththeNorth，muchtoendureonaccountofthatslaveryfromwhichitwasallbutimpossiblethattheyshoulddisentanglethemselves，mayprobablybetrue。Butsohaveallpoliticalpartiesamongallfreenationsmuchtobearfrompoliticalopponents，andyetotherfreenationsdonotgotopieces。HaditbeenpossiblethattheslaveownersandslavepropertiesshouldhavebeenscatteredinpartsthroughalltheStatesandnotcongregatedintheSouth，theslavepartywouldhavemaintaineditselfasotherpartiesdo；butinsuchcase，asamatterofcourse，itwouldnothavethoughtofsecession。Ithasbeentheclosevicinityofslaveownerstoeachother，thefactthattheirlandshavebeencoterminous，thattheirswasespeciallyacottondistrict，whichhastemptedthemtosecession。Theyhavebeentemptedtosecession，andwill，asIthink，stillachieveitinthoseGulfStates，muchtotheirmisfortune。

AndthefearsoftheNorthare，Ithink，equallywrong。ThattheywillbedeceivedastothatMonroedoctrineisnodoubtmorethanprobable。Thatambitionforanentirecontinentunderonerulewillnot，Ishouldsay，begratified。Butnotonthataccountneedthenationbelessgreat，oritscivilizationlessextensive。Thathookinitsnoseandthatthorninitsjawwill，afterall，bebutahookoftheimaginationandanidealthorn。Donotallgreatmensuffersucheretheirgreatnessbeestablishedandacknowledged？ThereisscopeenoughforallthatmanhoodcandobetweentheAtlanticandthePacific，eventhoughthosehot，swampycottonfieldsbetakenaway；eventhoughthesnowsoftheBritishprovincesbedeniedtothem。Andasforthoseriversandthatsea-board，theAmericansoftheNorthwillhavelostmuchoftheiroldenergyandusualforceofwillifanySouthernconfederacybeallowedtodenytheirrightofwayortostoptheircommercialenterprises。IbelievethattheSouthwillbebadlyoffwithouttheNorth；butIfeelcertainthattheNorthwillnevermisstheSouthwhenoncethewoundstoherpridehavebeenclosed。

FromWashingtonIjourneyedbacktoBostonthroughthecitieswhichIhadvisitedincomingthither，andstayedagainonmyroute，forafewdays，atBaltimore，atPhiladelphia，andatNewYork。AteachtowntherewerethosewhomInowregardedalmostasoldfriends，andasthetimeofmydeparturedrewnearIfeltasorrowthatIwasnottobeallowedtostaylonger。Asthegeneralresultofmysojourninthecountry，ImustdeclarethatIwasalwayshappyandcomfortableintheEasterncities，andgenerallyunhappyanduncomfortableintheWest。IhadpreviouslybeeninclinedtothinkthatIshouldliketheroughnessoftheWest，andthatintheEastI

shouldencounteranarrogancewhichwouldhavekeptmealwaysonthevergeofhotwater；butinboththesesurmisesIfoundmyselftohavebeenwrong。AndIthinkthatmostEnglishtravelerswouldcometothesameconclusion。TheWesternpeopledonotmeantobeharshoruncivil，buttheydonotmakethemselvespleasant。InalltheEasterncities——IspeakoftheEasterncitiesnorthofWashington——asocietymaybefoundwhichmustbeesteemedasagreeablebyEnglishmenwholikeclever，genialmen，andwholoveclever，prettywomen。

IwasforcedtopasstwiceagainovertheroadbetweenNewYorkandBoston，asthepacketbywhichIintendedtoleaveAmericawasfixedtosailfromtheformerport。Ihadpromisedmyself，andhadpromisedothers，thatIwouldspendinBostonthelastweekofmysojournintheStates，andthiswasapromisewhichIwasbynomeansinclinedtobreak。Iftherebeagratificationinthisworldwhichhasnoalloy，itisthatofgoingtoanassuredwelcome。Thebeliefthatarmsandheartsareopentoreceiveone——andthearmsandheartsofwomen，too，asfarastheyallowthemselvestoopenthem——isthesaltoftheearth，thesoleremedyagainstsea-

sickness，theonlycureforthetediumofrailways，theonepreservativeamidallthemiseriesandfatigueoftravail。Thesemattersareprivate，andshouldhardlybetoldofinabook；butinwritingoftheStates，IshouldnotdojusticetomyownconvictionsofthecountryifIdidnotsayhowpleasantlysocialintercoursetherewillripenintofriendship，andhowfulloflovethatfriendshipmaybecome。IbecameenamoredofBostonatlast。BeaconStreetwasverypleasanttome，andtheviewoverBostonCommonwasdeartomyeyes。EventheStateHouse，withitsgreatyellow-

painteddome，becamesightly，andthesunsetoverthewesternwatersthatencompassthecitybeatsallothersunsetsthatIhaveseen。

DuringmylastweektheretheworldofBostonwasmovingitselfonsleighs。Therewasnotawheeltobeseeninthetown。Theomnibusesandpubliccarriageshadbeendismountedfromtheiraxlesandputthemselvesuponsnow-runners，andtheprivateworldhadtakenoutitswintercarriages，andwrappeditselfupinbuffalorobes。Mennowspokeofthecomingthawasofamisfortunewhichmustcome，butwhichakindProvidencemightperhapspostpone——asweall，inshort，speakofdeath。Inthemorningthesnowwouldhavebeenhardenedbythenight\'sfrost，andmenwouldlookhappyandcontented。Byanhourafternoonthestreetswouldbeallwetandthegroundwouldbeslushy，andmenwouldlookgloomyandspeakofspeedydissolution。Therewerethosewhowouldalwaysprophesythatthenextdaywouldseethesnowconvertedintoonedull，dingyriver。SuchIregardedasseersoftribulation，andendeavoredwithallmymindtodisbelievetheirinterpretationsofthesigns。Thatsleighingwasexcellentfun。FormyselfImustownthatIhardlysawthebestofitatBoston，forthecomingoftheendwasalreadyathandwhenIarrivedthere，andthefreshbeautyofthehardsnowwasgone。Moreover，whenIessayedtoshowmyprowesswithapairofhorsesontheestablishedcourseforsuchequipage，thebeastsranaway，knowingthatIwasnotpracticedintheuseofsnowchariots，andbroughtmetogriefandshame。Therewasaladywithmeinthesleigh，whom，forawhile，IfeltthatIwasdoomedtoconsigntoasnowygrave——whomIwouldwillinglyhaveoverturnedintoadriftofsnow，soastoavoidworseconsequences，hadIonlyknownhowtodoso。ButProvidence，eventhoughwithoutcurbsandassistedonlybysimplesnaffles，didatlastprevail，andIbroughtthesleighhorses，andladyalivebacktoBoston，whetherwithorwithoutpermanentinjuryIhaveneveryetascertained。

Atlastthedayoftribulationcame，andthesnowwaspickedupandcartedoutofBoston。Gangsofmen，standingshouldertoshoulder，wereatworkalongthechiefstreets，picking，shoveling，anddisposingofthedirtyblocks。Eventhenthesnowseemedtobenearlyafootthick；butitwasdirty，rough，halfmeltedinsomeplaces，thoughhardasstoneinothers。Thelaborandcostofcleansingthecityinthiswaymustbeverygreat。ThepeoplewereatitasIleft，andIfeltthatthedayoftribulationhadintruthcome。

Farewelltothee，thouWesternAthens！WhenIhaveforgottenthee，myrighthandshallhaveforgottenitscunning，andmyheartforgottenitspulses。LetuslookatthelistofnameswithwhichBostonhashonoreditselfinourdays，andthenaskwhatothertownofthesamesizehasdonemore。Prescott，Bancroft，Motley，Longfellow，Lowell，Emerson，Dana，Agassiz，Holmes，Hawthorne！WhoisthereamongusinEnglandwhohasnotbeenthebetterforthesemen？Whodoesnotowetosomeofthemadebtofgratitude？Inwhoseearsisnottheirnamesfamiliar？Itisabrightgalaxy，andfarextended，forsosmallacity。Whatcityhasdonebetterthanthis？Allthesemen，saveone，arenowaliveandinthefullpossessionoftheirpowers。Whatothertownofthesamesizehasdoneaswellinthesameshortspaceoftime？ItmaybethatthisistheAugustaneraofBoston——itsElizabethantime。Ifso，Iamthankfulthatmystepshavewanderedthitheratsuchaperiod。

WhileIwasatBostonIhadthesadprivilegeofattendingthefuneralofPresidentFelton，theheadofHarvardCollege。AfewmonthsbeforeIhadseenhimastrongman，apparentlyinperfecthealthandintheprideoflife。WhenIreachedBostonIheardofhisdeath。Healsowasanaccomplishedscholar，andasaGrecianhasleftfewbehindhimwhowerehisequals。Athisinstallationaspresident，fourex-presidentsofHarvardCollegeassisted。WhethertheywereallpresentathisfuneralIdonotknow，butIdoknowthattheywereallstillliving。TheseareMr。Quincy，whoisnowoverninety；Mr。Sparks；Mr。Everett，thewell-knownorator；andMr。

Walker。TheyallresideinBostonoritsneighborhood，andwillprobablyallassistattheinstallationofanotherpresident。

CHAPTERIX。

THECONSTITUTIONOFTHEUNITEDSTATES。

Itis，Ipresume，universallyknownthatthecitizensoftheWesternAmericancoloniesofGreatBritainwhichrevolted，declaredthemselvestobefreefromBritishdominionbyanactwhichtheycalledtheDeclarationofIndependence。Thiswasdoneonthe4thofJuly，1776，andwassignedbydelegatesfromthethirteencolonies，orStatesastheythencalledthemselves。ThesedelegatesinthisdocumentdeclarethemselvestobetherepresentativesoftheUnitedStatesofAmericaingeneralCongressassembled。Theopeningandcloseofthisdeclarationhaveinthemmuchthatisgrandandstriking；thegreaterpartofit，however，isgivenuptoenumerating，inparagraphafterparagraph，thesinscommittedbyGeorgeIII。againstthecolonies。PoorGeorgeIII。！Thereisnoonenowtosayagoodwordforhim；butofallthosewhohavespokenillofhim，thisdeclarationistheloudestinitscensure。

Inthefollowingyear，onthe15thofNovember，1777，weredrawnuptheArticlesofConfederationbetweentheStates，bywhichitwasthenintendedthatasufficientbondandcompactshouldbemadefortheirfuturejointexistenceandpreservation。AreferencetothisdocumentwillshowhowslightwasthethenintendedbondofunionbetweentheStates。ThesecondarticledeclaresthateachStateretainsitssovereignty，freedom，andindependence。Thethirdarticleavowsthat“thesaidStatesherebyseverallyenterintoafirmleagueoffriendshipwitheachotherfortheircommondefense，thesecurityoftheirliberties，andtheirmutualandgeneralwelfare，bindingthemselvestoassisteachotheragainstallforceofferedto，orattacksmadeupon，them，oranyofthem，onaccountofreligion，sovereignty，trade，oranyotherpretextwhatever。“

Andthethirdarticle，“thebettertosecureandperpetuatemutualfriendship，“declaresthatthefreecitizensofoneStateshallbefreecitizensofanother。Fromthisitis，Ithink，manifestthatnoideaofoneunitednationhadatthattimebeenreceivedandadoptedbythecitizensoftheStates。ThearticlesthengoontodefinethewayinwhichCongressshallassembleandwhatshallbeitspowers。ThisCongresswastoexercisetheauthorityofanationalgovernmentratherthanperformtheworkofanationalparliament。Itwasintendedtobeexecutiveratherthanlegislative。Itwastoconsistofdelegates，theverynumberofwhichwithincertainlimitswastobelefttotheoptionoftheindividualStates，andtothisCongresswastobeconfidedcertaindutiesandprivileges，whichcouldnotbeperformedorexercisedseparatelybythegovernmentsoftheindividualStates。Onespecialarticle，theeleventh，enjoinsthat“Canada，accedingtotheConfederation，andjoininginthemeasuresoftheUnitedStates，shallbeadmittedintoandentitledtoalltheadvantagesofthisUnion；butnoothercolonyshallbeadmittedintothesameunlesssuchadmissionbeagreedtobynineStates。“ImentionthistoshowhowstrongwastheexpectationatthattimethatCanadaalsowouldrevoltfromEngland。UptothisdayfewAmericanscanunderstandwhyCanadahasdeclinedtojoinherlottothem。

ButthecompactbetweenthedifferentStatesmadebytheArticlesofConfederation，andthemodeofnationalprocedurethereinenjoined，werefoundtobeinefficientforthewantsofapeoplewhotobegreatmustbeunitedinfactaswellasinname。ThetheoryofthemostdemocraticamongtheAmericansofthatdaywasinfavorofself-governmentcarriedtoanextreme。Self-governmentwastheUtopiawhichtheyhaddeterminedtorealize，andtheywereunwillingtodiminishtherealityoftheself-governmentoftheindividualStatesbyanycentralizationofpowerinonehead，orinoneparliament，orinonesetofministersforthenation。Fortenyears，from1777to1787，theattemptwasmade；butthenitwasfoundthatastrongerbondofnationalitywasindispensable，ifanynationalgreatnesswastoberegardedasdesirable。Indeed，allmanneroffailurehadattendedthemodeofnationalactionordainedbytheArticlesofConfederation。IamnotattemptingtowriteahistoryoftheUnitedStates，andwillnotthereforetroublemyreaderswithhistoricdetails，whicharenotofvalueunlessputforwardwithhistoricweight。Thefactofthefailureishoweveradmitted，andthepresentwrittenConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，whichisthesplendidresultofthatfailure，was“DoneinConventionbytheunanimousconsentoftheStatespresent。“*TwelveStateswerepresent——RhodeIslandapparentlyhavinghadnorepresentativeontheoccasion——onthe17thofSeptember，1787，andinthetwelfthyearoftheIndependenceoftheUnitedStates。

*Itmustnot，however，besupposedthatbythis“doinginconvention，“theConstitutionbecameanacceptedfact。ItsimplyamountedtotheadoptionofaproposaloftheConstitution。TheConstitutionitselfwasformallyadoptedbythepeopleinconventionsheldintheirseparateStatecapitals。Itwasagreedtobythepeoplein1788，andcameintooperationin1789。

Icalltheresultsplendid，seeingthatunderthisConstitutionsowrittenanationhasexistedforthree-quartersofacentury，andhasgrowninnumbers，power，andwealthtillithasmadeitselfthepoliticalequaloftheothergreatestnationsoftheearth。AnditcannotbesaidthatithassogrowninspiteoftheConstitution，orbyignoringtheConstitution。Hithertothelawstherelaiddownforthenationalguidancehavebeenfoundadequateforthegreatpurposeassignedtothem，andhavedoneallthatwhichtheframersofthemhopedthattheymighteffect。WeallknowwhathasbeenthefateoftheconstitutionswhichwerewrittenthroughouttheFrenchRevolutionfortheuseofFrance。Weall，hereinEngland，havethesameludicrousconceptionofUtopiantheoriesofgovernmentframedbyphilosophicalindividualswhoimaginethattheyhavelearnedfrombooksaperfectsystemofmanagingnations。ToproducesuchtheoriesisespeciallythepartofaFrenchman；todisbelieveinthemisespeciallythepartofanEnglishman。ButintheStatesasystemofgovernmenthasbeenproduced，underawrittenconstitution，inwhichnoEnglishmancandisbelieve，andwhicheveryFrenchmanmustenvy。Ithasdoneitswork。Thepeoplehavebeenfree，welleducated，andpoliticallygreat。ThoseamonguswhoaremostinclinedatthepresentmomenttodeclarethattheinstitutionsoftheUnitedStateshavefailed，canatanyrateonlydeclarethattheyhavefailedintheirfinality；thattheyhaveshownthemselvestobeinsufficienttocarryonthenationinitsadvancingstridesthroughalltimes。Theycannotdenythatanamountofsuccessandprosperity，muchgreaterthanthenationevenexpectedforitself，hasbeenachievedunderthisConstitutionandinconnectionwithit。

Ifitbeso，theycannotdisbelieveinit。Letthosewhonowsaythatitisinsufficient，considerwhattheirpropheciesregardingitwouldhavebeenhadtheybeencalledontoexpresstheiropinionsconcerningitwhenitwasproposedin1787。Ifthefutureasithassincecomeforthhadthenbeenforetoldforit，wouldnotsuchaprophecyhavebeenaprophecyofsuccess？ThatConstitutionisnowattheperiodofitshardesttrial，andatthismomentonemayhardlydaretospeakofitwithtriumph；butlookingatthenationeveninitspresentposition，IthinkIamjustifiedinsayingthatitsConstitutionisoneinwhichnoEnglishmancandisbelieve。WhenIalsosaythatitisonewhicheveryFrenchmanmustenvy，perhapsI

amimproperlypresumingthatFrenchmencouldnotlookatitwithEnglishmen\'seyes。

WhentheConstitutioncametobewritten，amanhadarisenintheStateswhowaspeculiarlysuitedfortheworkinhand:hewasoneofthosementowhomtheworldowesmuch，andofwhomtheworldingeneralknowsbutlittle。ThiswasAlexanderHamilton，whoaloneonthepartofthegreatStateofNewYorksignedtheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates。TheotherStatessenttwo，three，four，ormoredelegates；NewYorksentHamiltonalone；butinsendinghimNewYorksentmoretotheConstitutionthanalltheotherStatestogether。I

shouldbehardlysayingtoomuchforHamiltonifIweretodeclarethatallthosepartsoftheConstitutionemanatedfromhiminwhichpermanentpoliticalstrengthhasabided。Andyethisnamehasnotbeenspreadabroadwidelyinmen\'smouths。OfJefferson，Franklin，andMadisonwehaveallheard；ourchildrenspeakofthem，andtheyarehouseholdwordsinthenurseryofhistory。OfHamilton，however，itmay，Ibelieve，besaidthathewasgreaterthananyofthose。

WithoutgoingwithminutenessintotheearlycontestsofdemocracyintheUnitedStates，IthinkImaysaythattheresoonarosetwoparties，eachprobablyequallyanxiousinthecauseoffreedom，oneofwhichwasconspicuousforitsFrenchpredilectionsandtheotherforitsEnglishaptitudes。ItwastheperiodoftheFrenchRevolution——thetimewhentheFrenchRevolutionhadinitasyetsomethingofpromiseandhadnotutterlydisgraceditself。TomanyinAmericatheFrenchtheoryofdemocracynotunnaturallyendeareditselfandforemostamongthesewasThomasJefferson。HewasthefatherofthosepoliticiansintheStateswhohavesincetakenthenameofDemocrats，andinaccordancewithwhosetheoryithascometopassthateverythinghasbeenreferredtotheuniversalsuffrageofthepeople。JamesMadison，whosucceededJeffersonasPresident，wasapupilinthisschool，asindeedhavebeenmostofthePresidentsoftheUnitedStates。Attheheadoftheotherparty，fromwhichthroughvariousdenominationshavesprungthosewhonowcallthemselvesRepublicans，wasAlexanderHamilton。IbelieveI

maysaythatallthepoliticalsympathiesofGeorgeWashingtonwerewiththesameschool。Washington，however，wasratheramanoffeelingandofactionthanoftheoreticalpolicyorspeculativeopinion。WhentheConstitutionwaswrittenJeffersonwasinFrance，havingbeensentthitherasministerfromtheUnitedStates，andhethereforewasdebarredfromconcerninghimselfpersonallyinthematter。Hisviews，however，wererepresentedbyMadison；anditisnowgenerallyunderstoodthattheConstitutionasitstandsisthejointworkofMadisonandHamilton。*Thedemocraticbias，ofwhichitnecessarilycontainsmuch，andwithoutwhichitcouldnothaveobtainedtheconsentofthepeople，wasfurnishedbyMadison；buttheconservativeelements，ofwhichitpossessesmuchmorethansuperficialobserversoftheAmericanformofgovernmentarewonttobelieve，camefromHamilton。

*Itshould，perhaps，beexplainedthattheviewsofMadisonwereoriginallynotopposedtothoseofHamilton。Madison，however，graduallyadoptedthepolicyofJefferson——hispolicyratherthanhisphilosophy。

TheverypreambleoftheConstitutionatoncedeclaresthatthepeopleofthedifferentStatesdoherebyjointhemselvestogetherwiththeviewofformingthemselvesintoonenation。“We，thepeopleoftheUnitedStates，inordertoformamoreperfectUnion，establishjustice，insuredomestictranquillity，provideforthecommondefense，promotethegeneralwelfare，andsecuretheblessingsoflibertytoourselvesandourposterity，doordainandestablishthisConstitutionfortheUnitedStatesofAmerica。“Hereagreatstepwasmadetowardcentralization，towardonenationalgovernment，andthebindingtogetheroftheStatesintoonenation。

Butfromthattimedowntothepresentthecontesthasbeengoingon，sometimesopenlyandsometimesonlywithinthemindsofmen，betweenthestillallegedsovereigntyoftheindividualStatesandtheacknowledgedsovereigntyofthecentralCongressandcentralgovernment。ThedisciplesofJefferson，eventhoughtheyhavenotknownthemselvestobehisdisciples，havebeencarryingonthatfightforStaterightswhichhasendedinsecession；andthedisciplesofHamilton，certainlynotknowingthemselvestobehisdisciples，havebeenmakingthatstandforcentralgovernment，andfortheoneacknowledgedrepublic，whichisnowatworkinopposingsecession，andwhich，eventhoughsecessionshouldtosomeextentbeaccomplished，will，wemayhope，nevertheless，andnotthelessonaccountofsuchsecession，conquerandputdownthespiritofdemocracy。

Thepoliticalcontestofpartieswhichisbeingwagednow，andwhichhasbeenwagedthroughoutthehistoryoftheUnitedStates，hasbeenpursuedononesideinsupportofthatideaofanundividednationalityofwhichIhavespoken——ofanationalityinwhichtheinterestsofapartshouldbeesteemedastheinterestsofthewhole；andontheothersideithasbeenpursuedinoppositiontothatidea。Iwillnotheregointotheinterminablequestionofslavery——thoughitisonthatquestionthattheSouthernordemocraticStateshavemostloudlydeclaredtheirownsovereignrightsandtheiraversiontonationalinterference。WereItodosoIshouldfailinmypresentobjectofexplainingthenatureoftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates。ButIprotestagainstanyargumentwhichshallbeusedtoshowthattheConstitutionhasfailedbecauseithasallowedslaverytoproducethepresentdivisionamongtheStates。ImyselfthinkthattheSouthernorGulfStateswillgo。Iwillnotpretendtodrawtheexactlineortosayhowmanyofthemaredoomed；butIbelievethatSouthCarolina，withGeorgiaandperhapsfiveorsixothers，willbeextrudedfromtheUnion。Buttheirveryextrusionwillbeapoliticalsuccess，andwillinfactamounttoavirtualacknowledgmentinthebodyoftheUnionofthetruthofthatsystemforwhichtheconservativeRepublicanpartyhascontended。IftheNorthobtainthepowerofsettlingthatquestionofboundary，theabandonmentofthoseSouthernStateswillbeasuccess，eventhoughtheprivilegeofretainingthembetheverypointforwhichtheNorthisnowinarms。

ThefirstclauseoftheConstitutiondeclaresthatallthelegislativepowersgrantedbytheConstitutionshallbevestedinaCongress，whichshallconsistofaSenateandofaHouseofRepresentatives。TheHouseofRepresentativesistoberechoseneverytwoyears，andshallbeelectedbythepeople，suchpersonsineachStatehavingvotesforthenationalCongressashavevotesforthelegislatureoftheirownStates。If，therefore，SouthCarolinashouldchoose——asshehaschosen——todeclarethattheelectorsofherownlegislatureshallpossessapropertyqualification，theelectorsofmembersofCongressfromSouthCarolinamustalsohavethatqualification。InMassachusettsuniversalsuffragenowprevails，althoughitisnotlongsincealowpropertyqualificationprevailedeveninMassachusetts。ItthereforefollowsthatmembersoftheHouseofRepresentativesinCongressneedbynomeansbeallchosenonthesameprinciple。Asafact，universalsuffrage*andvotebyballot，thatisbyopenvotingpapers，prevailintheStates，buttheydonotsoprevailbyvirtueofanyenactmentoftheConstitution。ThelawsoftheStates，however，requirethatthevotershallhavebeenaresidentintheStateforsomeperiod，andgenerallyeitherdenytherightofvotingtonegroes，orsohamperthatprivilegethatpracticallyitamountstothesamething。

*Perhapsthebetterwordwouldhavebeenmanhoodsuffrage；andeventhatwordshouldbetakenwithcertainrestrictions。Aliens，minors，convicts，andmenwhopaynotaxescannotvote。InsomeStatesnonecanvoteunlesstheycanreadandwrite。Insomethereisapropertyqualification。Inalltherearespecialrestrictionsagainstnegroes。Thereisinnoneanabsolutelyuniversalsuffrage。

ButIkeepthenameasitbestexpressestousinEnglandthesystemoffranchisewhichhaspracticallycometoprevailintheUnitedStates。

TheSenateoftheUnitedStatesiscomposedoftwoSenatorsfromeachState。TheseSenatorsarechosenforsixyears，andareelectedinamannerwhichshowstheconservativetendencyoftheConstitutionwithmoresignificationthanperhapsanyotherrulewhichitcontains。ThisbranchofCongress，which，asIshallpresentlyendeavortoshow，isbyfarthemoreinfluentialofthetwo，isnotinanywayelectedbythepeople。“TheSenateoftheUnitedStatesshallbecomposedoftwoSenatorsfromeachState，CHOSENBYTHELEGISLATURETHEREOF，forsixyears，andeachsenatorshallhaveonevoice。“TheSenatesenttoCongressisthereforeelectedbytheStatelegislatures。EachStatelegislaturehastwoHousesandtheSenatorssentfromthatStatetoCongressareeitherchosenbyvoteofthetwoHousesvotingtogether——whichis，I

believe，themodeadoptedinmostStates，orarevotedforinthetwoHousesseparately——inwhichcases，whendifferentcandidateshavebeennominated，thetwoHousesconferbycommitteesandsettlethematterbetweenthem。TheconservativepurposeoftheConstitutionisheresufficientlyevident。TheintentionhasbeentotaketheelectionoftheSenatorsawayfromthepeople，andtoconfideittothatbodyineachStatewhichmayberegardedascontainingitsbesttrustedcitizens。ItremovestheSenatorsfarawayfromthedemocraticelement，andrendersthemliabletothenecessityofnopopularcanvass。NoramIawarethattheConstitutionhasfailedinkeepingthegroundwhichitintendedtoholdinthismatter。Onsomepointsitsselectedrocksandchosenstandinggroundhaveslippedfrombeneathitsfeet，owingtotheweaknessofwordsindefiningandmakingsolidtheintendedprohibitionsagainstdemocracy。ThewordingoftheConstitutionhasbeenregardedbythepeopleassacred；butthepeoplehasconsidereditselfjustifiedinopposingthespiritaslongasitreveredtheletteroftheConstitution。Andthiswasnatural。FortheletteroftheConstitutioncanbereadbyallmen；butitsspiritcanbeunderstoodcomparativelybutbyfew。AsregardstheelectionoftheSenators，IbelievethatithasbeenfairlymadebythelegislaturesofthedifferentStates。IhavenothearditallegedthatmembersoftheStatelegislatureshavebeenfrequentlyconstrainedbytheoutsidepopularvoicetosendthisorthatmanasSenatortoWashington。ItwasclearlynottheintentionofthosewhowrotetheConstitutionthattheyshouldbesoconstrained。ButtheSenatorsthemselvesinWashingtonhavesubmittedtorestraint。Onsubjectsinwhichthepeoplearedirectlyinterested，theysubmittoinstructionsfromthelegislatureswhichhavesentthemastothesideonwhichtheyshallvote，andjustifythemselvesinvotingagainsttheirconvictionsbythefactthattheyhavereceivedsuchinstructions。Suchapractice，evenwiththemembersofaHousewhichhasbeendirectlyreturnedbypopularelection，is，Ithink，falsetotheintentionofthesystem。Ithasclearlybeenintendedthatconfidenceshouldbeputinthechosencandidateforthetermofhisduty，andthattheelectorsaretobeboundintheexpressionoftheiropinionbyhissagacityandpatriotismforthatterm。A

memberofarepresentativeHousesochosen，whovotesatthebiddingofhisconstituencyinoppositiontohisconvictions，ismanifestlyfalsetohischarge，andmaybepresumedtobethusfalseindeferencetohisownpersonalinterests，andwithaviewtohisownfuturestandingwithhisconstituents。Pledgesbeforeelectionmaybefair，becauseapledgegivenisafterallbuttheanswertoaquestionasked。Avotermayreasonablydesiretoknowacandidate\'sopiniononanymatterofpoliticalinterestbeforehevotesfororagainsthim。Therepresentativewhenreturnedshouldbefreefromthenecessityoffurtherpledges。ButifthisbetruewithaHouseelectedbypopularsuffrage，howmuchmorethantruemustitbewithachambercollectedtogetherastheSenateoftheUnitedStatesiscollected！Nevertheless，itisthefactthatmanySenators，especiallythosewhohavebeensenttotheHouseasDemocrats，doallowtheStatelegislaturestodictatetothemtheirvotes，andthattheydoholdthemselvesabsolvedfromthepersonalresponsibilityoftheirvotesbysuchdictation。Thisisoneplaceinwhichtherockwhichwasthoughttohavebeenfirmhasslippedaway，andthesandsofdemocracyhavemadetheirwaythrough。ButwithreferencetothisitisalwaysinthepoweroftheSenatetorecoveritsownground，andre-establishitsowndignity；tothepeopleinthismatterthewordsoftheConstitutiongivenoauthority，andallthatisnecessaryfortherecoveryoftheoldpracticeisamoreconservativetendencythroughoutthecountrygenerally。Thatthereissuchaconservativetendency，noonecandoubt；thefeariswhetheritmaynotworktooquicklyandgotoofar。

InspeakingoftheseinstructionsgiventoSenatorsatWashington，I

shouldexplainthatsuchinstructionsarenotgivenbyallStates，noraretheyobeyedbyallSenators。Occasionallytheyaremadeintheformofrequests，theword“instruct“beingpurposelylaidaside。RequestsofthesamekindarealsomadetoRepresentatives，who，astheyarenotreturnedbytheStatelegislatures，arenotconsideredtobesubjecttosuchinstructions。Theformusedisasfollows:“weinstructourSenatorsandrequestourrepresentatives，“

etc。etc。

TheSenatorsareelectedforsixyears，butthesameSenatedoesnotsitentirethroughoutthatterm。Thewholechamberisdividedintothreeequalportionsorclasses，andaportiongoesoutattheendofeverysecondyear；sothatathirdoftheSenatecomesinafreshwitheverynewHouseofRepresentatives。TheVice-PresidentoftheUnitedStates，whoiselectedwiththePresident，andwhoisnotaSenatorbyelectionfromanyState，istheex-officioPresidentoftheSenate。ShouldthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesvacatehisseatbydeathorotherwise，theVice-PresidentbecomesPresidentoftheUnitedStates；andinsuchcasetheSenateelectsitsownPresidentprotempore。

InspeakingoftheSenate，ImustpointoutamattertowhichtheConstitutiondoesnotallude，butwhichisofthegravestmomentinthepoliticalfabricofthenation。EachStatesendstwoSenatorstoCongress。Thesetwoaresentaltogetherindependentlyofthepopulationwhichtheyrepresent，orofthenumberofmemberswhichthesameStatesuppliestotheLowerHouse。WhentheConstitutionwasframed，DelawarewastosendonemembertotheHouseofRepresentatives，andPennsylvaniaeight；nevertheless，eachoftheseStatessenttwoSenators。Itwouldseemstrangethatayoungpeople，commencingbusinessasanationonabasisintendedtobedemocratic，shouldconsenttoasystemsodirectlyatvariancewiththetheoryofpopularrepresentation。ItremindsoneoftheolddayswhenYorkshirereturnedtwomembers，andRutlandshiretwoalso。

AndthediscrepancyhasgreatlyincreasedasyoungStateshavebeenaddedtotheUnion，whiletheoldStateshaveincreasedinpopulation。NewYork，withapopulationofabout4，000，000，andwiththirty-threemembersintheHouseofRepresentatives，sendstwoSenatorstoCongress。ThenewStateofOregon，withapopulationof50，000or60，000，andwithonememberintheHouseofRepresentatives，sendsalsotwoSenatorstoCongress。Butthoughitwouldseemthatinsuchadistributionoflegislativepowertheyoungnationwasdeterminedtopreservesomeoftheoldfantastictraditionsofthemothercountrywhichithadjustrepudiated，thefact，Ibelieve，isthatthissystem，apparentlysoopposedtoalldemocratictendencies，wasproducedandspeciallyinsisteduponbydemocracyitself。WherewouldbetheStatesovereigntyandindividualexistenceofRhodeIslandandDelaware，unlesstheycouldmaintain，inatleastoneHouseofCongress，theirStateequalitywiththatofallotherStatesintheUnion？Inthoseearlydays，whentheConstitutionwasbeingframed，therewasnothingtoforcethesmallStatesintoaunionwiththosewhosepopulationspreponderated。EachStatewassovereigninitsmunicipalsystem，havingpreservedtheboundariesoftheoldcolony，togetherwiththelibertiesandlawsgiventoitunderitsoldcolonialcharter。A

unionmightbeandnodoubtwasdesirable；butitwastobeaunionofsovereignStates，eachretainingequalprivilegesinthatunion，andnotafusionofthedifferentpopulationsintoonehomogeneouswhole。NoStatewaswillingtoabandonitsownindividuality，andleastofallwerethesmallStateswillingtodoso。Itwas，therefore，ordainedthattheHouseofRepresentativesshouldrepresentthepeople，andthattheSenateshouldrepresenttheStates。

FromthatdaytothepresenttimethearrangementofwhichIamspeakinghasenabledtheDemocraticorSouthernpartytocontendatagreatadvantagewiththeRepublicansoftheNorth。WhentheConstitutionwasfounded，thesevenNorthernStates——IcallthoseNorthernwhicharenowfree-soilStates，andthoseSoutherninwhichtheinstitutionofslaverynowprevails——wereheldtobeentitledbytheirpopulationtosendthirty-fivememberstotheHouseofRepresentatives，andtheysentfourteenmemberstotheSenate。ThesixSouthernStateswereentitledtothirtymembersintheLowerHouse，andtotwelveSenators。ThustheproportionwasaboutequalfortheNorthandSouth。Butnow——orratherin1860，whensecessioncommenced——theNorthernStates，owingtotheincreaseofpopulationintheNorth，sentonehundredandfiftyRepresentativestoCongress，havingnineteenStates，andthirty-eightSenators；whereastheSouth，withfifteenStatesandthirtySenators，wasentitledbyitspopulationtoonlyninetyRepresentatives，althoughbyaspecialruleinitsfavor，whichIwillpresentlyexplain，itwasinfactallowedagreaternumberofRepresentatives，inproportiontoitspopulation，thantheNorth。Hadanequalbalancebeenpreserved，theSouth，withitsninetyRepresentativesintheLowerHouse，wouldhavebuttwenty-threeSenators，insteadofthirty，intheUpper。*

ButthesenumbersindicatetoustherecoveryofpoliticalinfluenceintheNorth，ratherthantheprideofthepoweroftheSouth；fortheSouth，initspalmydays，hadmuchmoreinitsfavorthanIhaveabovedescribedasitspositionin1860。Kansashadthenjustbecomeafree-soilState，afteraterriblestruggle，andshortlyprevioustothatOregonandMinnesota，alsofreeStates，hadbeenaddedtotheUnion。UptothatdatetheslaveStatessentthirtySenatorstoCongress，andthefreeStatesonlythirty-two。Inadditiontothis，whenTexaswasannexedandconvertedintoaState，aclausewasinsertedintotheactgivingauthorityforthefuturesubdivisionofthatStateintofourdifferentStatesasitspopulationshouldincrease，therebyenablingtheSouthtoaddSenatorstoitsownpartyfromtimetotime，astheNorthernStatesmightincreaseinnumber。

*ItisworthyofnotethatthenewNorthernandWesternStateshavebeenbroughtintotheUnionbynaturalincreaseandthespreadofpopulation。ButthishasnotbeensowiththenewSouthernStates。

LouisianaandFloridawerepurchased，andTexaswas——annexed。

AndhereImustexplain，inorderthatthenatureofthecontestmaybeunderstood，thattheSenatorsfromtheSouthmaintainedthemselveseverinacompactbody，votingtogether，truetoeachother，disciplinedasaparty，understandingthenecessityofyieldinginsmallthingsinorderthattheirgenerallineofpolicymightbemaintained。Buttherewasnosuchsystem，nosuchobservanceofpoliticaltacticsamongtheSenatorsoftheNorth。

Indeed，theyappeartohavehadnogenerallineofpolitics，havingbeendividedamongthemselvesonvariousmatters。ManyhadstrongSoutherntendencies，andmanymorewerewillingtoobtainofficialpowerbythehelpofSouthernvotes。Therewasnobondofunionamongthem，asslaverywasamongtheSenatorsfromtheSouth。Andthus，fromthesecauses，thepoweroftheSenateandthepowerofthegovernmentfellintothehandsoftheSouthernparty。

IamawarethatingoingintothesemattershereIamdepartingsomewhatfromthesubjectofwhichthischapterisintendedtotreat；butIdonotknowthatIcouldexplaininanyshorterwaythemannerinwhichthoserulesoftheConstitutionhaveworkedbywhichthecompositionoftheSenateisfixed。ThatStatebasis，asopposedtoabasisofpopulationintheUpperHouseofCongress，hasbeentheonegreatpoliticalweapon，bothofoffenseanddefense，inthehandsoftheDemocraticparty。AndyetIamnotpreparedtodenythatgreatwisdomwasshownintheframingoftheconstitutionoftheSenate。ItwastheobjectofnoneofthepoliticiansthenatworktocreateacodeofrulesfortheentiregovernanceofasinglenationsuchasisEnglandorFrance。Nor，hadanyAmericanpoliticianofthetimesodesired，wouldhehavehadreasonablehopeofsuccess。AfederalunionofseparatesovereignStateswasthenecessity，asitwasalsothedesire，ofallthosewhowereconcernedintheAmericanpolicyoftheday；andIthinkitwaybeunderstoodandmaintainedthatnosuchfederalunionwouldhavebeenjust，orcouldhavebeenacceptedbythesmallerStates，whichdidnotinsomedirectwayrecognizetheirequalitywiththelargerStates。Itismoreovertobeobserved，thatinthis，asinallmatters，theclaimsoftheminorityweretreatedwithindulgence。

NoordinanceoftheConstitutionismadeinaniggardlyspirit。Itwouldseemasthoughtheywhomettogethertodotheworkhadbeenactuatedbynodesireforselfishpreponderanceorindividualinfluence。Noambitiontobindclosebywordswhichshallbeexactingaswellasexactisapparent。Averybroadpowerofinterpretationislefttothosewhoweretobethefutureinterpretersofthewrittendocument。

Itisdeclaredthat“representationanddirecttaxesshallbeapportionedamongtheseveralStateswhichmaybeincludedwithinthisUnion，accordingtotheirrespectivenumbers，“therebymeaningthatrepresentationandtaxationintheseveralStatesshallbeadjustedaccordingtothepopulation。ThisclauseordainsthatthroughoutalltheStatesacertainamountofpopulationshallreturnamembertotheLowerHouseofCongress——sayonememberto100，000persons，asisIbelieveaboutthepresentproportion——andthatdirecttaxationshallbeleviedaccordingtothenumberofrepresentatives。IfNewYorkreturnthirty-threemembersandKansasone，onNewYorkshallbelevied，forthepurposesoftheUnitedStatesrevenue，thirty-threetimesasmuchdirecttaxationasonKansas。Thismatterofdirecttaxationwasnotthen，norhasitbeensince，matterofmuchmoment。NodirecttaxationhashithertobeenleviedintheUnitedStatesfornationalpurposes。Butthetimehasnowcomewhenthisprovisowillbeaterriblestumbling-

blockintheway。

Butbeforewegointothatmatteroftaxation，ImustexplainhowtheSouthwasagainfavoredwithreferencetoitsrepresentation。

Asamatterofcoursenoslaves，orevennegroes——nomenofcolor——

weretovoteintheSouthernStates。Therefore，onewouldsay，thatincountingupthepeoplewithreferencetothenumberoftherepresentatives，thecoloredpopulationshouldbeignoredaltogether。ButitwasclaimedonbehalfoftheSouththattheirpropertyinslavesshouldberepresented，andincompliancewiththisclaim，althoughnoslavecanvoteorinanywaydemandtheservicesofarepresentative，thecoloredpeoplearereckonedamongthepopulation。Whenthenumbersofthefreepersonsarecounted，tothisnumberisadded“three-fifthsofallotherpersons。“Fiveslavesarethussupposedtorepresentthreewhitepersons。Fromthewording，onewouldbeledtosupposethattherewassomeothercategoryintowhichamanmightbeputbesidesthatoffreeorslave！Butitmaybeobserved，thatonthissubjectofslaverytheframersoftheConstitutionweretender-mouthed。Theyneverspeakofslaveryorofaslave。Itisnecessarythatthesubjectshouldbementioned，andthereforewehearfirstofpersonsotherthanfree，andthenofpersonsboundtolabor！

SuchweretheruleslaiddownfortheformationofCongress，andtheletterofthoseruleshas，Ithink，beenstrictlyobserved。Ihavenotthoughtitnecessarytogivealltheclauses，butIbelieveI

havestatedthosewhichareessentialtoageneralunderstandingofthebasisuponwhichCongressisfounded。

TheConstitutionordainsthatmembersofboththeHousesshallbepaidfortheirtime，butitdoesnotdecreetheamount。“TheSenatorsandRepresentativesshallreceiveacompensationfortheirservices，tobeascertainedbylaw，andpaidoutofthetreasuryoftheUnitedStates。“IntheremarkswhichIhavemadeastothepresentCongressIhavespokenoftheamountnowallowed。Theunderstanding，Ibelieve，isthatthepayshallbeenoughforthemodestsupportofamanwhoissupposedtohaveraisedhimselfabovetheheadsofthecrowd。Muchmaybesaidinfavorofthispaymentoflegislators，butverymuchmayalsobesaidagainstit。TherewasatimewhenourmembersoftheHouseofCommonswereentitledtopaymentfortheirservices，andwhen，atanyrate，someofthemtookthemoney。Itmaybethatwithanewnationsuchanarrangementwasabsolutelynecessary。Menwhomthepeoplecouldtrust，andwhowouldhavebeenabletogiveuptheirtimewithoutpayment，wouldnothaveprobablybeenfoundinanewcommunity。ThechoiceofSenatorsandofRepresentativeswouldhavebeensolimitedthatthelegislativepowerwouldhavefallenintothehandsofafewrichmen。Indeed，itmaybesaidthatsuchpaymentwasabsolutelynecessaryintheearlydaysofthelifeoftheUnion。Butnoone，I

think，willdenythatthetoneofbothHouseswouldberaisedbythegratuitousserviceofthelegislators。ItiswellknownthatpoliticiansfindtheirwayintotheSenateandintothechamberofRepresentativessolelywithaviewtotheloavesandfishes。Theveryword“politician“isfoulandunsavorythroughouttheStates，andmeansratherapoliticalblacklegthanapoliticalpatriot。ItisuselesstoblinkthismatterinspeakingofthepoliticsandpolicyoftheUnitedStates。Thecorruptionofthevenalpoliticiansofthenationstinksaloudinthenostrilsofallmen。