Instead of facts, I wilt notice to you, that the remark so
of^ made on the difference of opinion between the mem-
bers from the two ends of the continent, appears to me
not only true, but founded on causes which are equally
unpleasant and lasting. To the northwiu-d, we see how
necessary it is to defend property by steady laws. Shays
confirmed our habits and opinions. The men of sense and
property, even a Uttte above the multitude, wish to keep the
government in force enough to govern. We have trade,
money, credit, and industry, which is at once cause and
e^ct of the others.
At the southward, a few gentlemen govern ; the law is
their coat of mail ; it keeps off the weapons of the foreign-
ers, their creditors, and at the same time it governs the
muldtude, secures negroes, &c., which is of double use to
them. It is both government and anarchy, and in each case
is better than any possible change, especially in favor of an
exterior (or federal) govemment'of any strength; for that
would be losing the property, the usufruct of a government,
by the State, which is light to bear and convenient to
manage. Therefore, »id for other causes, the men of
weight in the four southern States (Charleston city except-
ed) were more generally antis, and are now far more turbu-



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IQ4, WORKS OF FISHER AMES.
