democracy in america-1-第18章

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erintends　it。　　In　France　the　State…　collector　receives　the　local　imposts；　in　America　the　town…collector　receives　the　taxes　of　the　State。　　Thus　the　French　Government　lends　its　agents　to　the　commune；　in　America　the　township　is　the　agent　of　the　Government。　　This　fact　alone　shows　the　extent　of　the　differences　which　exist　between　the　two　nations。

Public　Spirit　Of　The　Townships　Of　New　England

How　the　township　of　New　England　wins　the　affections　of　its　inhabitants　…Difficulty　of　creating　local　public　spirit　in　Europe　…　　The　rights　and　duties　of　the　American　township　favorable　to　it　…　Characteristics　of　home　in　the　United　States　…　Manifestations　of　public　spirit　in　New　England　…　Its　happy　effects。

In　America；　not　only　do　municipal　bodies　exist；　but　they　are　kept　alive　and　supported　by　public　spirit。　　The　township　of　New　England　possesses　two　advantages　which　infallibly　secure　the　attentive　interest　of　mankind；　namely；　independence　and　authority。　　Its　sphere　is　indeed　small　and　limited；　but　within　that　sphere　its　action　is　unrestrained；　and　its　independence　gives　to　it　a　real　importance　which　its　extent　and　population　may　not　always　ensure。　

It　is　to　be　remembered　that　the　affections　of　men　generally　lie　on　the　side　of　authority。　　Patriotism　is　not　durable　in　a　conquered　nation。　　The　New　Englander　is　attached　to　his　township；　not　only　because　he　was　born　in　it；　but　because　it　constitutes　a　social　body　of　which　he　is　a　member；　and　whose　government　claims　and　deserves　the　exercise　of　his　sagacity。　　In　Europe　the　absence　of　local　public　spirit　is　a　frequent　subject　of　regret　to　those　who　are　in　power；　everyone　agrees　that　there　is　no　surer　guarantee　of　order　and　tranquility；　and　yet　nothing　is　more　difficult　to　create。　　If　the　municipal　bodies　were　made　powerful　and　independent；　the　authorities　of　the　nation　might　be　disunited　and　the　peace　of　the　country　endangered。　　Yet；　without　power　and　independence；　a　town　may　contain　good　subjects；　but　it　can　have　no　active　citizens。　　Another　important　fact　is　that　the　township　of　New　England　is　so　constituted　as　to　excite　the　warmest　of　human　affections；　without　arousing　the　ambitious　passions　of　the　heart　of　man。　　The　officers　of　the　country　are　not　elected；　and　their　authority　is　very　limited。　　Even　the　State　is　only　a　second…rate　community；　whose　tranquil　and　obscure　administration　offers　no　inducement　sufficient　to　draw　men　away　from　the　circle　of　their　interests　into　the　turmoil　of　public　affairs。　　The　federal　government　confers　power　and　honor　on　the　men　who　conduct　it；　but　these　individuals　can　never　be　very　numerous。　The　high　station　of　the　Presidency　can　only　be　reached　at　an　advanced　period　of　life；　and　the　other　federal　functionaries　are　generally　men　who　have　been　favored　by　fortune；　or　distinguished　in　some　other　career。　Such　cannot　be　the　permanent　aim　of　the　ambitious。　　But　the　township　serves　as　a　centre　for　the　desire　of　public　esteem；　the　want　of　exciting　interests；　and　the　taste　for　authority　and　popularity；　in　the　midst　of　the　ordinary　relations　of　life；　and　the　passions　which　commonly　embroil　society　change　their　character　when　they　find　a　vent　so　near　the　domestic　hearth　and　the　family　circle。

In　the　American　States　power　has　been　disseminated　with　admirable　skill　for　the　purpose　of　interesting　the　greatest　possible　number　of　persons　in　the　common　weal。　　Independently　of　the　electors　who　are　from　time　to　time　called　into　action；　the　body　politic　is　divided　into　innumerable　functionaries　and　officers；　who　all；　in　their　several　spheres；　represent　the　same　powerful　whole　in　whose　name　they　act。　　The　local　administration　thus　affords　an　unfailing　source　of　profit　and　interest　to　a　vast　number　of　individuals。

The　American　system；　which　divides　the　local　authority　among　so　many　citizens；　does　not　scruple　to　multiply　the　functions　of　the　town　officers。　For　in　the　United　States　it　is　believed；　and　with　truth；　that　patriotism　is　a　kind　of　devotion　which　is　strengthened　by　ritual　observance。　　In　this　manner　the　activity　of　the　township　is　continually　perceptible；　it　is　daily　manifested　in　the　fulfilment　of　a　duty　or　the　exercise　of　a　right；　and　a　constant　though　gentle　motion　is　thus　kept　up　in　society　which　animates　without　disturbing　it。

The　American　attaches　himself　to　his　home　as　the　mountaineer　clings　to　his　hills；　because　the　characteristic　features　of　his　country　are　there　more　distinctly　marked　than　elsewhere。　　The　existence　of　the　townships　of　New　England　is　in　general　a　happy　one。　　Their　government　is　suited　to　their　tastes；　and　chosen　by　themselves。　　In　the　midst　of　the　profound　peace　and　general　comfort　which　reign　in　America　the　commotions　of　municipal　discord　are　unfrequent。　　The　conduct　of　local　business　is　easy。　　The　political　education　of　the　people　has　long　been　complete；　say　rather　that　it　was　complete　when　the　people　first　set　foot　upon　the　soil。　　In　New　England　no　tradition　exists　of　a　distinction　of　ranks；　no　portion　of　the　community　is　tempted　to　oppress　the　remainder；　and　the　abuses　which　may　injure　isolated　individuals　are　forgotten　in　the　general　contentment　which　prevails。　　If　the　government　is　defective　（and　it　would　no　doubt　be　easy　to　point　out　its　deficiencies）；　the　fact　that　it　really　emanates　from　those　it　governs；　and　that　it　acts；　either　ill　or　well；　casts　the　protecting　spell　of　a　parental　pride　over　its　faults。　　No　term　of　comparison　disturbs　the　satisfaction　of　the　citizen：　England　formerly　governed　the　mass　of　the　colonies；　but　the　people　was　always　sovereign　in　the　township　where　its　rule　is　not　only　an　ancient　but　a　primitive　state。　

The　native　of　New　England　is　attached　to　his　township　because　it　is　independent　and　free：　his　co…operation　in　its　affairs　ensures　his　attachment　to　its　interest；　the　well…being　it　affords　him　secures　his　affection；　and　its　welfare　is　the　aim　of　his　ambition　and　of　his　future　exertions：　he　takes　a　part　in　every　occurrence　in　the　place；　he　practises　the　art　of　government　in　the　small　sphere　within　his　reach；　he　accustoms　himself　to　those　forms　which　can　alone　ensure　the　steady　progress　of　liberty；　he　imbibes　their　spirit；　he　acquires　a　taste　for　order；　comprehends　the　union　or　the　balance　of　powers；　and　collects　clear　practical　notions　on　the　nature　of　his　duties　and　the　extent　of　his　rights。

The　Counties　Of　New　England

The　division　of　the　countries　in　America　has　considerable　analogy　with　that　of　the　arrondissements　of　France。　　The　limits　of　the　counties　are　arbitrarily　laid　down；　and　the　various　districts　which　they　contain　have　no　necessary　connection；　no　common　tradition　or　natural　sympathy；　their　object　is　simply　to　facilitate　the　administration　of　justice。

The　extent　of　the　township　was　too　small　to　contain　a　system　of　judicial　institutions；　each　county　has；　however；　a　court　of　justice；　*f　a　sheriff　to　execute　its　decrees；　and　a　prison　for　criminals。　　There　are　certain　wants　which　are　felt　alike　by　all　the　townships　of　a　county；　it　is　therefore　natural　that　they　should　be　satisfied　by　a　central　authority。　　In　the　State　of　Massachusetts　this　authority　is　vested　in　the　hands　of　several　magistrates；　who　are　appointed　by　the　Governor　of　the　State；　with　the　advice　*g　of　his　council。　*h　The　officers　of　the　county　have　only　a　limited　and　occasional　authority；　which　is　applicable　to　certain　predetermined　cases。　The　State　and　the　townships　possess　all　the　power　requisite　to　conduct　public　business。　　The　budget　of　the　county　is　drawn　up　by　its　officers；　and　is　voted　by　the　legislature；　but　there　is　no　assembly　which　directly　or　indirectly　represents　the　county。　　It　has；　therefore；　properly　speaking；　no　political　existence。　

＇Footnote　f：　See　the　Act　of　February　14；　1821；　Laws　of　Massachusetts；　vol。　i。　p。　551。＇

＇Footnote　g：　See　the　Act　of　February　20；　1819；　Laws　of　Massachusetts；　vol。　ii。　p。　494。＇

＇Footnote　h：　The　council　of　the　Governor　is　an　elective　body。＇　　A　twofold　tendency　may　be　discerned　in　the　American　constitutions；　which　impels　the　legislator　to　centralize　the　legislative　and　to　disperse　the　executive　power。　　The　township　of　New　England　has　in　itself　an　indestructible　element　of　independence；　and　this　distinct　existence　could　only　be　fictitiously　introduced　into　the　county；　where　its　utility　has　not　been　felt。　But　all　the　townships　united　have　but　one　representation；　which　is　the　State；　the　centre　of　the　national　authority：　beyond　the　action　of　the　township　and　that　of　the　nation；　nothing　can　be　said　to　exist　but　the　influence　of　individual　exertion。

Administration　In　New　England

Administration　not　perceived　in　America　…　Why？　…　The　Europeans　believe　that　liberty　is　promoted　by　depriving　the　social　authority　of　some　of　its　rights；　the　Americans；　by　dividing　its　exercise　…　Almost　all　the　administration　confined　to　the　township；　and　divided　amongst　the　town…officers　…　No　trace　of　an　administrative　body　to　be　perceived；　either　in　the　township　or　above　it　…The　reason　of　this　…　How　it　happens　that　the　administration　of　the　State　is　uniform　…　Who　is　empowered　to　enforce　the　obedience　of　the　township　and　the　county　to　the　law　…　The　introduction　of　judicial　power　into　the　administration　…　Consequence　of　the　extension　of　the　elective　principle　to　all　functionaries　…　The　Justice　of　the　Peace　in　New　England　…　By　whom　appointed　…　County　officer：　ensures　the　administration　of　the　townships　…　Court　of　Sessions　…　Its　action　…　Right　of　inspection　and　indictment　disseminated　like　the　other　administrative　functions　…　Informers　encouraged　by　the　division　of　fines。

Nothing　is　more　striking　to　an　European　traveller　in　the　United　States　than　the　absence　of　what　we　term　the　Government；　or　the　Administration。　Written　laws　exist　in　America；　and　one　sees　that　they　are　daily　executed；　but　although　everything　is　in　motion；　the　hand　which　gives　the　impulse　to　the　social　machine　can　nowhere　be　discovered。　　Nevertheless；　as　all　peoples　are　obliged　to　have　recourse　to　certain　grammatical　forms；　which　are　the　foundation　of　human　language；　in　order　to　express　their　thoughts；　so　all　communities　are　obliged　to　secure　their　existence　by　submitting　to　a　certain　dose　of　authority；　without　which　they　fall　a　prey　to　anarchy。　　This　authority　may　be　distributed　in　several　ways；　but　it　must　always　exist　somewhere。

There　are　two　methods　of　diminishing　the　force　of　authority　in　a　nation：　The　first　is　to　weaken　the　supreme　power　in　its　very　principle；　by　forbidding　or　preventing　society　from　acting　in　its　own　defence　under　certain　circumstances。　　To　weaken　authority　in　this　manner　is　what　is　generally　termed　in　Europe　to　lay　the　foundations　of　freedom。　　The　second　manner　of　diminishing　the　influence　of　authority　does　not　consist　in　stripping　society　of　any　of　its　rights；　nor　in　paralyzing　its　efforts；　but　in　distributing　the　exercise　of　its　privileges　in　various　hands；　and　in　multiplying　functionaries；　to　each　of　whom　the　degree　of　power　necessary　for　him　to　perform　his　duty　is　entrusted。　　There　may　be　nations　whom　this　distribution　of　social　powers　might　lead　to　anarchy；　but　in　itself　it　is　not　anarchical。　The　action　of　authority　is　indeed　thus　rendered　less　irresistible　and　less　perilous；　but　it　is　not　totally　suppressed。

The　revolution　of　the　United　States　was　the　result　of　a　mature　and　dignified　taste　for　freedom；　and　not