I have already observed that the American statesmen of the present
day are very inferior to those who stood at the head of affairs fifty
years ago. This is as much a consequence of the circumstances, as
of the laws of the coMnivy. When America was struggling in the high
cause of independence to throw off ths yoke of another country, and
wheiii it was about to usher a new nation into the world, the spirits of
its inhabitants were roused to the height which their great efforts re»
quired. In this general excitement, the most distinguished men were
ready to forestall the wants of the community, and the people clung to
them for support, and placed them at its head. But events- of this




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magnitude are rare ; and it is from an inspeotion of the ordinary course
of affairs that our judgment must be formed.
If passing occurrences sometimes act as checks upon the passions
Yof democracy, the intelligence and the manners of the community ex-
ercise an influence which is not less powerful, and far more perma-
nent. This is extremely perceptible in the United States.
In New England th« education and the liberties of the communities
were engendered by the moral and religieottefaiciples of their founders.
Where society has acquired a sufficient ^N0^ of itability to enable
it to hold certain maxims and to retaJB 'vfpi liftbi||ifc ilfci lower orders
are accustomed to respect intellectual luperiorily, ttfd.to rabmit to it
without complaint, although they set at noughft' ill those privileges
which wealth and birth have introduced among mankind. The demo-
cracy in New "England consequently makes a more judicious choice
than it does elsewhere.
