WhatIhavehithertosaidappliestoallnations，buttheremarkIamnowabouttomakeispeculiartotheAmericansandtodemocraticpeoples。Ihavealreadyobservedthatindemocraciesthemembersofthelegalprofessionandthemagistratesconstitutetheonlyaristocraticbodywhichcanchecktheirregularitiesofthepeople。Thisaristocracyisinvestedwithnophysicalpower，butitexercisesitsconservativeinfluenceuponthemindsofmen，andthemostabundantsourceofitsauthorityistheinstitutionoftheciviljury。Incriminalcauses，whensocietyisarmedagainstasingleindividual，thejuryisapttolookuponthejudgeasthepassiveinstrumentofsocialpower，andtomistrusthisadvice。Moreover，criminalcausesareentirelyfoundedupontheevidenceoffactswhichcommonsensecanreadilyappreciate;uponthisgroundthejudgeandthejuryareequal。Such，however，isnotthecaseincivilcauses;thenthejudgeappearsasadisinterestedarbiterbetweentheconflictingpassionsoftheparties。Thejurorslookuptohimwithconfidenceandlistentohimwithrespect，forinthisinstancetheirintelligenceiscompletelyunderthecontrolofhislearning。Itisthejudgewhosumsupthevariousargumentswithwhichtheirmemoryhasbeenweariedout，andwhoguidesthemthroughthedeviouscourseoftheproceedings;hepointstheirattentiontotheexactquestionoffactwhichtheyarecalledupontosolve，andheputstheanswertothequestionoflawintotheirmouths。Hisinfluenceupontheirverdictisalmostunlimited。
IfIamcalledupontoexplainwhyIambutlittlemovedbytheargumentsderivedfromtheignoranceofjurorsincivilcauses，Ireply，thatintheseproceedings，wheneverthequestiontobesolvedisnotamerequestionoffact，thejuryhasonlythesemblanceofajudicialbody。Thejurysanctionsthedecisionofthejudge，theybytheauthorityofsocietywhichtheyrepresent，andhebythatofreasonandoflaw。*h[Footnoteh:SeeAppendix，R。]
InEnglandandinAmericathejudgesexerciseaninfluenceuponcriminaltrialswhichtheFrenchjudgeshaveneverpossessed。Thereasonofthisdifferencemayeasilybediscovered;theEnglishandAmericanmagistratesestablishtheirauthorityincivilcauses，andonlytransferitafterwardstotribunalsofanotherkind，wherethatauthoritywasnotacquired。
Insomecases（andtheyarefrequentlythemostimportantones）
theAmericanjudgeshavetherightofdecidingcausesalone。*iUpontheseoccasionstheyareaccidentallyplacedinthepositionwhichtheFrenchjudgeshabituallyoccupy，buttheyareinvestedwithfarmorepowerthanthelatter;theyarestillsurroundedbythereminiscenceofthejury，andtheirjudgmenthasalmostasmuchauthorityasthevoiceofthecommunityatlarge，representedbythatinstitution。Theirinfluenceextendsbeyondthelimitsofthecourts;intherecreationsofprivatelifeaswellasintheturmoilofpublicbusiness，abroadandinthelegislativeassemblies，theAmericanjudgeisconstantlysurroundedbymenwhoareaccustomedtoregardhisintelligenceassuperiortotheirown，andafterhavingexercisedhispowerinthedecisionofcauses，hecontinuestoinfluencethehabitsofthoughtandthecharactersoftheindividualswhotookapartinhisjudgment。
[Footnotei:TheFederaljudgesdecideupontheirownauthorityalmostallthequestionsmostimportanttothecountry。]
Thejury，then，whichseemstorestricttherightsofmagistracy，doesinrealityconsolidateitspower，andinnocountryarethejudgessopowerfulasthere，wherethepeoplepartakestheirprivileges。ItismoreespeciallybymeansofthejuryincivilcausesthattheAmericanmagistratesimbueallclassesofsocietywiththespiritoftheirprofession。Thusthejury，whichisthemostenergeticmeansofmakingthepeoplerule，isalsothemostefficaciousmeansofteachingittorulewell。
ChapterXVII:PrincipalCausesMaintainingTheDemocraticRepublic—PartI
PrincipalCausesWhichTendToMaintainTheDemocraticRepublicInTheUnitedStatesAdemocraticrepublicsubsistsintheUnitedStates，andtheprincipalobjectofthisbookhasbeentoaccountforthefactofitsexistence。SeveralofthecauseswhichcontributetomaintaintheinstitutionsofAmericahavebeeninvoluntarilypassedbyoronlyhintedatasIwasbornealongbymysubject。OthersIhavebeenunabletodiscuss，andthoseonwhichIhavedweltmostare，asitwere，buriedinthedetailsoftheformerpartsofthiswork。Ithink，therefore，thatbeforeIproceedtospeakofthefuture，Icannotdobetterthancollectwithinasmallcompassthereasonswhichbestexplainthepresent。InthisretrospectivechapterIshallbesuccinct，forIshalltakecaretoremindthereaderverysummarilyofwhathealreadyknows;andIshallonlyselectthemostprominentofthosefactswhichI
havenotyetpointedout。
AllthecauseswhichcontributetothemaintenanceofthedemocraticrepublicintheUnitedStatesarereducibletothreeheads:—
I。ThepeculiarandaccidentalsituationinwhichProvidencehasplacedtheAmericans。
II。Thelaws。
III。Themannersandcustomsofthepeople。
AccidentalOrProvidentialCausesWhichContributeToTheMaintenanceOfTheDemocraticRepublicInTheUnitedStatesTheUnionhasnoneighbors—Nometropolis—TheAmericanshavehadthechancesofbirthintheirfavor—Americaanemptycountry—HowthiscircumstancecontributespowerfullytothemaintenanceofthedemocraticrepublicinAmerica—HowtheAmericanwildsarepeopled—AvidityoftheAnglo—AmericansintakingpossessionofthesolitudesoftheNewWorld—InfluenceofphysicalprosperityuponthepoliticalopinionsoftheAmericans。
Athousandcircumstances，independentofthewillofman，concurtofacilitatethemaintenanceofademocraticrepublicintheUnitedStates。Someofthesepeculiaritiesareknown，theothersmayeasilybepointedout;butIshallconfinemyselftothemostprominentamongstthem。
TheAmericanshavenoneighbors，andconsequentlytheyhavenogreatwars，orfinancialcrises，orinroads，orconquesttodread;theyrequireneithergreattaxes，norgreatarmies，norgreatgenerals;andtheyhavenothingtofearfromascourgewhichismoreformidabletorepublicsthanalltheseevilscombined，namely，militaryglory。Itisimpossibletodenytheinconceivableinfluencewhichmilitarygloryexercisesuponthespiritofanation。GeneralJackson，whomtheAmericanshavetwiceelectedtotheheadoftheirGovernment，isamanofaviolenttemperandmediocretalents;noonecircumstanceinthewholecourseofhiscareereverprovedthatheisqualifiedtogovernafreepeople，andindeedthemajorityoftheenlightenedclassesoftheUnionhasalwaysbeenopposedtohim。ButhewasraisedtothePresidency，andhasbeenmaintainedinthatloftystation，solelybytherecollectionofavictorywhichhegainedtwentyyearsagounderthewallsofNewOrleans，avictorywhichwas，however，averyordinaryachievement，andwhichcouldonlyberememberedinacountrywherebattlesarerare。Nowthepeoplewhichisthuscarriedawaybytheillusionsofgloryisunquestionablythemostcoldandcalculating，themostunmilitary（ifImayusetheexpression），andthemostprosaicofallthepeoplesoftheearth。
Americahasnogreatcapital*acity，whoseinfluenceisdirectlyorindirectlyfeltoverthewholeextentofthecountry，whichIholdtobeoneofthefirstcausesofthemaintenanceofrepublicaninstitutionsintheUnitedStates。Incitiesmencannotbepreventedfromconcertingtogether，andfromawakeningamutualexcitementwhichpromptssuddenandpassionateresolutions。Citiesmaybelookeduponaslargeassemblies，ofwhichalltheinhabitantsaremembers;theirpopulaceexercisesaprodigiousinfluenceuponthemagistrates，andfrequentlyexecutesitsownwisheswithouttheirintervention。
[Footnotea:TheUnitedStateshavenometropolis，buttheyalreadycontainseveralverylargecities。Philadelphiareckoned161，000inhabitantsandNewYork202，000intheyear1830。ThelowerorderswhichinhabitthesecitiesconstitutearabbleevenmoreformidablethanthepopulaceofEuropeantowns。Theyconsistoffreedblacksinthefirstplace，whoarecondemnedbythelawsandbypublicopiniontoahereditarystateofmiseryanddegradation。TheyalsocontainamultitudeofEuropeanswhohavebeendriventotheshoresoftheNewWorldbytheirmisfortunesortheirmisconduct;andthesemeninoculatetheUnitedStateswithallourvices，withoutbringingwiththemanyofthoseinterestswhichcounteracttheirbanefulinfluence。Asinhabitantsofacountrywheretheyhavenocivilrights，theyarereadytoturnallthepassionswhichagitatethecommunitytotheirownadvantage;thus，withinthelastfewmonthsseriousriotshavebrokenoutinPhiladelphiaandinNewYork。
Disturbancesofthiskindareunknownintherestofthecountry，whichisnowisealarmedbythem，becausethepopulationofthecitieshashithertoexercisedneitherpowernorinfluenceovertheruraldistricts。Nevertheless，IlookuponthesizeofcertainAmericancities，andespeciallyonthenatureoftheirpopulation，asarealdangerwhichthreatensthefuturesecurityofthedemocraticrepublicsoftheNewWorld;andIventuretopredictthattheywillperishfromthiscircumstanceunlessthegovernmentsucceedsincreatinganarmedforce，which，whilstitremainsunderthecontrolofthemajorityofthenation，willbeindependentofthetownpopulation，andabletorepressitsexcesses。
[ThepopulationofthecityofNewYorkhadrisen，in1870，to942，292，andthatofPhiladelphiato674，022。Brooklyn，whichmaybesaidtoformpartofNewYorkcity，hasapopulationof396，099，inadditiontothatofNewYork。ThefrequentdisturbancesinthegreatcitiesofAmerica，andtheexcessivecorruptionoftheirlocalgovernments—overwhichthereisnoeffectualcontrol—areamongstthegreatestevilsanddangersofthecountry。]]
Tosubjecttheprovincestothemetropolisisthereforenotonlytoplacethedestinyoftheempireinthehandsofaportionofthecommunity，whichmaybereprobatedasunjust，buttoplaceitinthehandsofapopulaceactingunderitsownimpulses，whichmustbeavoidedasdangerous。Thepreponderanceofcapitalcitiesisthereforeaseriousblowupontherepresentativesystem，anditexposesmodernrepublicstothesamedefectastherepublicsofantiquity，whichallperishedfromnothavingbeenacquaintedwiththatformofgovernment。
Itwouldbeeasyformetoadduceagreatnumberofsecondarycauseswhichhavecontributedtoestablish，andwhichconcurtomaintain，thedemocraticrepublicoftheUnitedStates。
ButIdiscerntwoprincipalcircumstancesamongstthesefavorableelements，whichIhastentopointout。IhavealreadyobservedthattheoriginoftheAmericansettlementsmaybelookeduponasthefirstandmostefficaciouscausetowhichthepresentprosperityoftheUnitedStatesmaybeattributed。TheAmericanshadthechancesofbirthintheirfavor，andtheirforefathersimportedthatequalityofconditionsintothecountrywhencethedemocraticrepublichasverynaturallytakenitsrise。Norwasthisalltheydid;forbesidesthisrepublicanconditionofsociety，theearlysettlerbequeathedtotheirdescendantsthosecustoms，manners，andopinionswhichcontributemosttothesuccessofarepublicanformofgovernment。WhenIreflectupontheconsequencesofthisprimarycircumstance，methinksIseethedestinyofAmericaembodiedinthefirstPuritanwholandedonthoseshores，justasthehumanracewasrepresentedbythefirstman。
ThechiefcircumstancewhichhasfavoredtheestablishmentandthemaintenanceofademocraticrepublicintheUnitedStatesisthenatureoftheterritorywhichtheAmericaninhabit。Theirancestorsgavethemtheloveofequalityandoffreedom，butGodhimselfgavethemthemeansofremainingequalandfree，byplacingthemuponaboundlesscontinent，whichisopentotheirexertions。Generalprosperityisfavorabletothestabilityofallgovernments，butmoreparticularlyofademocraticconstitution，whichdependsuponthedispositionsofthemajority，andmoreparticularlyofthatportionofthecommunitywhichismostexposedtofeelthepressureofwant。Whenthepeoplerules，itmustberenderedhappy，oritwilloverturntheState，andmiseryisapttostimulateittothoseexcessestowhichambitionrouseskings。Thephysicalcauses，independentofthelaws，whichcontributetopromotegeneralprosperity，aremorenumerousinAmericathantheyhaveeverbeeninanyothercountryintheworld，atanyotherperiodofhistory。IntheUnitedStatesnotonlyislegislationdemocratic，butnatureherselffavorsthecauseofthepeople。
InwhatpartofhumantraditioncanbefoundanythingatallsimilartothatwhichisoccurringunderoureyesinNorthAmerica？Thecelebratedcommunitiesofantiquitywereallfoundedinthemidstofhostilenations，whichtheywereobligedtosubjugatebeforetheycouldflourishintheirplace。Eventhemodernshavefound，insomepartsofSouthAmerica，vastregionsinhabitedbyapeopleofinferiorcivilization，butwhichoccupiedandcultivatedthesoil。Tofoundtheirnewstatesitwasnecessarytoextirpateortosubdueanumerouspopulation，untilcivilizationhasbeenmadetoblushfortheirsuccess。ButNorthAmericawasonlyinhabitedbywanderingtribes，whotooknothoughtofthenaturalrichesofthesoil，andthatvastcountrywasstill，properlyspeaking，anemptycontinent，adesertlandawaitingitsinhabitants。
EverythingisextraordinaryinAmerica，thesocialconditionoftheinhabitants，aswellasthelaws;butthesoiluponwhichtheseinstitutionsarefoundedismoreextraordinarythanalltherest。WhenmanwasfirstplacedupontheearthbytheCreator，theearthwasinexhaustibleinitsyouth，butmanwasweakandignorant;andwhenhehadlearnedtoexplorethetreasureswhichitcontained，hostsofhisfellowcreaturescovereditssurface，andhewasobligedtoearnanasylumforreposeandforfreedombythesword。AtthatsameperiodNorthAmericawasdiscovered，asifithadbeenkeptinreservebytheDeity，andhadjustrisenfrombeneaththewatersofthedeluge。
Thatcontinentstillpresents，asitdidintheprimevaltime，riverswhichrisefromnever—failingsources，greenandmoistsolitudes，andfieldswhichtheploughshareofthehusbandmanhasneverturned。Inthisstateitisofferedtoman，notinthebarbarousandisolatedconditionoftheearlyages，buttoabeingwhoisalreadyinpossessionofthemostpotentsecretsofthenaturalworld，whoisunitedtohisfellow—men，andinstructedbytheexperienceoffiftycenturies。AtthisverytimethirteenmillionsofcivilizedEuropeansarepeaceablyspreadingoverthosefertileplains，withwhoseresourcesandwhoseextenttheyarenotyetthemselvesaccuratelyacquainted。
Threeorfourthousandsoldiersdrivethewanderingracesoftheaboriginesbeforethem;thesearefollowedbythepioneers，whopiercethewoods，scareoffthebeastsofprey，explorethecoursesoftheinlandstreams，andmakereadythetriumphalprocessionofcivilizationacrossthewaste。
ThefavorableinfluenceofthetemporalprosperityofAmericaupontheinstitutionsofthatcountryhasbeensooftendescribedbyothers，andadvertedtobymyself，thatIshallnotenlargeuponitbeyondtheadditionofafewfacts。AnerroneousnotionisgenerallyentertainedthatthedesertsofAmericaarepeopledbyEuropeanemigrants，whoannuallydisembarkuponthecoastsoftheNewWorld，whilsttheAmericanpopulationincreasesandmultipliesuponthesoilwhichitsforefatherstilled。TheEuropeansettler，however，usuallyarrivesintheUnitedStateswithoutfriends，andsometimeswithoutresources;inordertosubsistheisobligedtoworkforhire，andherarelyproceedsbeyondthatbeltofindustriouspopulationwhichadjoinstheocean。Thedesertcannotbeexploredwithoutcapitalorcredit;
andthebodymustbeaccustomedtotherigorsofanewclimatebeforeitcanbeexposedtothechancesofforestlife。ItistheAmericansthemselveswhodailyquitthespotswhichgavethembirthtoacquireextensivedomainsinaremotecountry。ThustheEuropeanleaveshiscottageforthetrans—Atlanticshores;andtheAmerican，whoisbornonthatverycoast，plungesinhisturnintothewildsofCentralAmerica。Thisdoubleemigrationisincessant;itbeginsintheremotestpartsofEurope，itcrossestheAtlanticOcean，anditadvancesoverthesolitudesoftheNewWorld。Millionsofmenaremarchingatoncetowardsthesamehorizon;theirlanguage，theirreligion，theirmannersdiffer，theirobjectisthesame。ThegiftsoffortunearepromisedintheWest，andtotheWesttheybendtheircourse。*b[Footnoteb:[ThenumberofforeignimmigrantsintotheUnitedStatesinthelastfiftyyears（from1820to1871）isstatedtobe7，556，007。Ofthese，4，104，553spokeEnglish—thatis，theycamefromGreatBritain，Ireland，ortheBritishcolonies;
2，643，069camefromGermanyornorthernEurope;andabouthalfamillionfromthesouthofEurope。]]
Noeventcanbecomparedwiththiscontinuousremovalofthehumanrace，exceptperhapsthoseirruptionswhichprecededthefalloftheRomanEmpire。Then，aswellasnow，generationsofmenwereimpelledforwardsinthesamedirectiontomeetandstruggleonthesamespot;butthedesignsofProvidencewerenotthesame;then，everynewcomerwastheharbingerofdestructionandofdeath;now，everyadventurerbringswithhimtheelementsofprosperityandoflife。ThefuturestillconcealsfromustheulteriorconsequencesofthisemigrationoftheAmericanstowardstheWest;butwecanreadilyapprehenditsmoreimmediateresults。AsaportionoftheinhabitantsannuallyleavetheStatesinwhichtheywereborn，thepopulationoftheseStatesincreasesveryslowly，althoughtheyhavelongbeenestablished:
thusinConnecticut，whichonlycontainsfifty—nineinhabitantstothesquaremile，thepopulationhasnotincreasedbymorethanone—quarterinfortyyears，whilstthatofEnglandhasbeenaugmentedbyone—thirdinthelapseofthesameperiod。TheEuropeanemigrantalwayslands，therefore，inacountrywhichisbuthalffull，andwherehandsareinrequest:hebecomesaworkmanineasycircumstances;hissongoestoseekhisfortuneinunpeopledregions，andhebecomesarichlandowner。Theformeramassesthecapitalwhichthelatterinvests，andthestrangeraswellasthenativeisunacquaintedwithwant。
ThelawsoftheUnitedStatesareextremelyfavorabletothedivisionofproperty;butacausewhichismorepowerfulthanthelawspreventspropertyfrombeingdividedtoexcess。*cThisisveryperceptibleintheStateswhicharebeginningtobethicklypeopled;MassachusettsisthemostpopulouspartoftheUnion，butitcontainsonlyeightyinhabitantstothesquaremile，whichismustlessthaninFrance，where162arereckonedtothesameextentofcountry。ButinMassachusettsestatesareveryrarelydivided;theeldestsontakestheland，andtheothersgotoseektheirfortuneinthedesert。Thelawhasabolishedtherightsofprimogeniture，butcircumstanceshaveconcurredtore—establishitunderaformofwhichnonecancomplain，andbywhichnojustrightsareimpaired。
[Footnotec:InNewEnglandtheestatesareexceedinglysmall，buttheyarerarelysubjectedtofurtherdivision。]
AsinglefactwillsufficetoshowtheprodigiousnumberofindividualswholeaveNewEngland，inthismanner，tosettlethemselvesinthewilds。Wewereassuredin1830thatthirty—sixofthemembersofCongresswereborninthelittleStateofConnecticut。ThepopulationofConnecticut，whichconstitutesonlyoneforty—thirdpartofthatoftheUnitedStates，thusfurnishedone—eighthofthewholebodyofrepresentatives。TheStatesofConnecticut，however，onlysendsfivedelegatestoCongress;andthethirty—oneotherssitforthenewWesternStates。Ifthesethirty—oneindividualshadremainedinConnecticut，itisprobablethatinsteadofbecomingrichlandownerstheywouldhaveremainedhumblelaborers，thattheywouldhavelivedinobscuritywithoutbeingabletoriseintopubliclife，andthat，farfrombecomingusefulmembersofthelegislature，theymighthavebeenunrulycitizens。
ThesereflectionsdonotescapetheobservationoftheAmericansanymorethanofourselves。"Itcannotbedoubted，"
saysChancellorKentinhis"TreatiseonAmericanLaw，""thatthedivisionoflandedestatesmustproducegreatevilswhenitiscarriedtosuchexcessasthateachparceloflandisinsufficienttosupportafamily;butthesedisadvantageshaveneverbeenfeltintheUnitedStates，andmanygenerationsmustelapsebeforetheycanbefelt。Theextentofourinhabitedterritory，theabundanceofadjacentland，andthecontinualstreamofemigrationflowingfromtheshoresoftheAtlantictowardstheinteriorofthecountry，sufficeasyet，andwilllongsuffice，topreventtheparcellingoutofestates。"
ItisdifficulttodescribetherapacitywithwhichtheAmericanrushesforwardtosecuretheimmensebootywhichfortuneprofferstohim。InthepursuithefearlesslybravesthearrowoftheIndianandthedistempersoftheforest;heisunimpressedbythesilenceofthewoods;theapproachofbeastsofpreydoesnotdisturbhim;forheisgoadedonwardsbyapassionmoreintensethantheloveoflife。Beforehimliesaboundlesscontinent，andheurgesonwardsasiftimepressed，andhewasafraidoffindingnoroomforhisexertions。IhavespokenoftheemigrationfromtheolderStates，buthowshallIdescribethatwhichtakesplacefromthemorerecentones？FiftyyearshavescarcelyelapsedsincethatofOhiowasfounded;thegreaterpartofitsinhabitantswerenotbornwithinitsconfines;itscapitalhasonlybeenbuiltthirtyyears，anditsterritoryisstillcoveredbyanimmenseextentofuncultivatedfields;
neverthelessthepopulationofOhioisalreadyproceedingwestward，andmostofthesettlerswhodescendtothefertilesavannahsofIllinoisarecitizensofOhio。Thesemenlefttheirfirstcountrytoimprovetheircondition;theyquittheirresting—placetoameliorateitstillmore;fortuneawaitsthemeverywhere，buthappinesstheycannotattain。Thedesireofprosperityisbecomeanardentandrestlesspassionintheirmindswhichgrowsbywhatitgains。Theyearlybrokethetieswhichboundthemtotheirnatalearth，andtheyhavecontractednofreshonesontheirway。Emigrationwasatfirstnecessarytothemasameansofsubsistence;anditsoonbecomesasortofgameofchance，whichtheypursuefortheemotionsitexcitesasmuchasforthegainitprocures。
Sometimestheprogressofmanissorapidthatthedesertreappearsbehindhim。Thewoodsstooptogivehimapassage，andspringupagainwhenhehaspassed。ItisnotuncommonincrossingthenewStatesoftheWesttomeetwithdeserteddwellingsinthemidstofthewilds;thetravellerfrequentlydiscoversthevestigesofaloghouseinthemostsolitaryretreats，whichbearwitnesstothepower，andnolesstotheinconstancyofman。Intheseabandonedfields，andovertheseruinsofaday，theprimevalforestsoonscattersafreshvegetation，thebeastsresumethehauntswhichwereoncetheirown，andNaturecoversthetracesofman’spathwithbranchesandwithflowers，whichobliteratehisevanescenttrack。
Irememberthat，incrossingoneofthewoodlanddistrictswhichstillcovertheStateofNewYork，Ireachedtheshoresofalakeembosomedinforestscoevalwiththeworld。Asmallisland，coveredwithwoodswhosethickfoliageconcealeditsbanks，rosefromthecentreofthewaters。Upontheshoresofthelakenoobjectattestedthepresenceofmanexceptacolumnofsmokewhichmightbeseenonthehorizonrisingfromthetopsofthetreestotheclouds，andseemingtohangfromheavenratherthantobemountingtothesky。AnIndianshallopwashauleduponthesand，whichtemptedmetovisittheisletthathadfirstattractedmyattention，andinafewminutesIsetfootuponitsbanks。ThewholeislandformedoneofthosedelicioussolitudesoftheNewWorldwhichalmostleadcivilizedmantoregretthehauntsofthesavage。Aluxuriantvegetationborewitnesstotheincomparablefruitfulnessofthesoil。ThedeepsilencewhichiscommontothewildsofNorthAmericawasonlybrokenbythehoarsecooingofthewood—pigeon，andthetappingofthewoodpeckeruponthebarkoftrees。Iwasfarfromsupposingthatthisspothadeverbeeninhabited，socompletelydidNatureseemtobelefttoherowncaprices;butwhenI
reachedthecentreoftheisleIthoughtthatIdiscoveredsometracesofman。Ithenproceededtoexaminethesurroundingobjectswithcare，andIsoonperceivedthataEuropeanhadundoubtedlybeenledtoseekarefugeinthisretreat。Yetwhatchangeshadtakenplaceinthesceneofhislabors！Thelogswhichhehadhastilyhewntobuildhimselfashedhadsproutedafresh;theverypropswereintertwinedwithlivingverdure，andhiscabinwastransformedintoabower。Inthemidstoftheseshrubsafewstonesweretobeseen，blackenedwithfireandsprinkledwiththinashes;herethehearthhadnodoubtbeen，andthechimneyinfallinghadcovereditwithrubbish。IstoodforsometimeinsilentadmirationoftheexuberanceofNatureandthelittlenessofman:andwhenIwasobligedtoleavethatenchantingsolitude，Iexclaimedwithmelancholy，"Areruins，then，alreadyhere？"
InEuropewearewonttolookuponarestlessdisposition，anunboundeddesireofriches，andanexcessiveloveofindependence，aspropensitiesveryformidabletosociety。YetthesearetheveryelementswhichensurealongandpeacefuldurationtotherepublicsofAmerica。Withouttheseunquietpassionsthepopulationwouldcollectincertainspots，andwouldsoonbesubjecttowantslikethoseoftheOldWorld，whichitisdifficulttosatisfy;forsuchisthepresentgoodfortuneoftheNewWorld，thatthevicesofitsinhabitantsarescarcelylessfavorabletosocietythantheirvirtues。Thesecircumstancesexerciseagreatinfluenceontheestimationinwhichhumanactionsareheldinthetwohemispheres。TheAmericansfrequentlytermwhatweshouldcallcupidityalaudableindustry;
andtheyblameasfaint—heartednesswhatweconsidertobethevirtueofmoderatedesires。
InFrance，simpletastes，orderlymanners，domesticaffections，andtheattachmentswhichmenfeeltotheplaceoftheirbirth，arelookeduponasgreatguaranteesofthetranquillityandhappinessoftheState。ButinAmericanothingseemstobemoreprejudicialtosocietythanthesevirtues。TheFrenchCanadians，whohavefaithfullypreservedthetraditionsoftheirpristinemanners，arealreadyembarrassedforroomupontheirsmallterritory;andthislittlecommunity，whichhassorecentlybeguntoexist，willshortlybeapreytothecalamitiesincidenttooldnations。InCanada，themostenlightened，patriotic，andhumaneinhabitantsmakeextraordinaryeffortstorenderthepeopledissatisfiedwiththosesimpleenjoymentswhichstillcontentit。There，theseductionsofwealtharevauntedwithasmuchzealasthecharmsofanhonestbutlimitedincomeintheOldWorld，andmoreexertionsaremadetoexcitethepassionsofthecitizenstherethantocalmthemelsewhere。Ifwelistentotheireulogies，weshallhearthatnothingismorepraiseworthythantoexchangethepureandhomelypleasureswhicheventhepoormantastesinhisowncountryforthedulldelightsofprosperityunderaforeignsky;toleavethepatrimonialhearthandtheturfbeneathwhichhisforefatherssleep;inshort，toabandonthelivingandthedeadinquestoffortune。
AtthepresenttimeAmericapresentsafieldforhumaneffortfarmoreextensivethananysumoflaborwhichcanbeappliedtoworkit。InAmericatoomuchknowledgecannotbediffused;forallknowledge，whilstitmayservehimwhopossessesit，turnsalsototheadvantageofthosewhoarewithoutit。Newwantsarenottobefeared，sincetheycanbesatisfiedwithoutdifficulty;thegrowthofhumanpassionsneednotbedreaded，sinceallpassionsmayfindaneasyandalegitimateobject;norcanmenbeputinpossessionoftoomuchfreedom，sincetheyarescarcelyevertemptedtomisusetheirliberties。
TheAmericanrepublicsofthepresentdayarelikecompaniesofadventurersformedtoexploreincommonthewastelandsoftheNewWorld，andbusiedinaflourishingtrade。ThepassionswhichagitatetheAmericansmostdeeplyarenottheirpoliticalbuttheircommercialpassions;or，tospeakmorecorrectly，theyintroducethehabitstheycontractinbusinessintotheirpoliticallife。Theyloveorder，withoutwhichaffairsdonotprosper;andtheysetanespecialvalueuponaregularconduct，whichisthefoundationofasolidbusiness;theypreferthegoodsensewhichamasseslargefortunestothatenterprisingspiritwhichfrequentlydissipatesthem;generalideasalarmtheirminds，whichareaccustomedtopositivecalculations，andtheyholdpracticeinmorehonorthantheory。
ItisinAmericathatonelearnstounderstandtheinfluencewhichphysicalprosperityexercisesoverpoliticalactions，andevenoveropinionswhichoughttoacknowledgenoswaybutthatofreason;anditismoreespeciallyamongststrangersthatthistruthisperceptible。MostoftheEuropeanemigrantstotheNewWorldcarrywiththemthatwildloveofindependenceandofchangewhichourcalamitiesaresoapttoengender。IsometimesmetwithEuropeansintheUnitedStateswhohadbeenobligedtoleavetheirowncountryonaccountoftheirpoliticalopinions。
Theyallastonishedmebythelanguagetheyheld，butoneofthemsurprisedmemorethanalltherest。AsIwascrossingoneofthemostremotedistrictsofPennsylvaniaIwasbenighted，andobligedtobegforhospitalityatthegateofawealthyplanter，whowasaFrenchmanbybirth。Hebademesitdownbesidehisfire，andwebegantotalkwiththatfreedomwhichbefitspersonswhomeetinthebackwoods，twothousandleaguesfromtheirnativecountry。Iwasawarethatmyhosthadbeenagreatlevellerandanardentdemagoguefortyyearsago，andthathisnamewasnotunknowntofame。Iwas，therefore，notalittlesurprisedtohearhimdiscusstherightsofpropertyasaneconomistoralandownermighthavedone:hespokeofthenecessarygradationswhichfortuneestablishesamongmen，ofobediencetoestablishedlaws，oftheinfluenceofgoodmoralsincommonwealths，andofthesupportwhichreligiousopinionsgivetoorderandtofreedom;heevenwenttofarastoquoteanevangelicalauthorityincorroborationofoneofhispoliticaltenets。
Ilistened，andmarvelledatthefeeblenessofhumanreason。
Apropositionistrueorfalse，butnoartcanproveittobeoneortheother，inthemidstoftheuncertaintiesofscienceandtheconflictinglessonsofexperience，untilanewincidentdispersesthecloudsofdoubt;Iwaspoor，Ibecomerich，andI
amnottoexpectthatprosperitywillactuponmyconduct，andleavemyjudgmentfree;myopinionschangewithmyfortune，andthehappycircumstanceswhichIturntomyadvantagefurnishmewiththatdecisiveargumentwhichwasbeforewanting。TheinfluenceofprosperityactsstillmorefreelyupontheAmericanthanuponstrangers。TheAmericanhasalwaysseentheconnectionofpublicorderandpublicprosperity，intimatelyunitedastheyare，goonbeforehiseyes;hedoesnotconceivethatonecansubsistwithouttheother;hehasthereforenothingtoforget;
norhashe，likesomanyEuropeans，tounlearnthelessonsofhisearlyeducation。
ChapterXVII:PrincipalCausesMaintainingTheDemocraticRepublic—PartII
InfluenceOfTheLawsUponTheMaintenanceOfTheDemocraticRepublicInTheUnitedStatesThreeprincipalcausesofthemaintenanceofthedemocraticrepublic—FederalConstitutions—Municipalinstitutions—
Judicialpower。
TheprincipalaimofthisbookhasbeentomakeknownthelawsoftheUnitedStates;ifthispurposehasbeenaccomplished，thereaderisalreadyenabledtojudgeforhimselfwhicharethelawsthatreallytendtomaintainthedemocraticrepublic，andwhichendangeritsexistence。IfIhavenotsucceededinexplainingthisinthewholecourseofmywork，Icannothopetodosowithinthelimitsofasinglechapter。ItisnotmyintentiontoretracethepathIhavealreadypursued，andaveryfewlineswillsufficetorecapitulatewhatIhavepreviouslyexplained。
ThreecircumstancesseemtometocontributemostpowerfullytothemaintenanceofthedemocraticrepublicintheUnitedStates。
ThefirstisthatFederalformofGovernmentwhichtheAmericanshaveadopted，andwhichenablestheUniontocombinethepowerofagreatempirewiththesecurityofasmallState。
Thesecondconsistsinthosemunicipalinstitutionswhichlimitthedespotismofthemajority，andatthesametimeimpartatasteforfreedomandaknowledgeoftheartofbeingfreetothepeople。
Thethirdistobemetwithintheconstitutionofthejudicialpower。Ihaveshowninwhatmannerthecourtsofjusticeservetorepresstheexcessesofdemocracy，andhowtheycheckanddirecttheimpulsesofthemajoritywithoutstoppingitsactivity。