day, become the democracy of the next; and one half of the time they don't know to which they belong, but change sides before they become hearty in either cause. There never, consequently, can grow up in this country that permanent hostility of ranks, which, descending from generation to generation in the same families, acquires incorrigible inveteracy, and additional force, as it is bequeathed from father to son, until at last it comes to an open struggle who shall be master. If the rich succeed, the poor become instruments in forging their own chains; and if the poor prevail in the contest, property changes hands, the rich become victims or exiles, and the state is modified anew, either according to the wildest theories of licentiousness, or some new system of tyranny, which in time produces the same effects over again.

As to the little sectional differences, which occasionally exhibit themselves, they originate rather in the rivalry of mischievous demagogues, than in any ill-will or opposition of interests in the states. They may scold, and threaten, and bully sometimes, but there towers at all times above these petty local impulses, a deep and noble, and universal attachment to the Union, which, whenever properly appealed to, will trample over disaffection. It is a feeling founded on the consciousness that that happiness and glory in which we all equally partake, as it was achieved, so it can only be preserved by UNION.

To me, then, my dear Frank, these dismal prophecies of our speedy dissolution betray not the true

VOL. I-Q

smack of inspiration. They are the warnings of idle fears, or the ebullition of splenetic enemies, who not being able to destroy our present happiness, endeavour to poison the enjoyment, by denunciations of future ills. Let the philosophers of Europe, benighted by distance, or misled by inapplicable examples, continue to predict our disunion, and the loss of freedom,-I, for my part, have no fears for our lasting union, founded on our boundless increase, or the extension of our territory. Were ours a consolidated government, then, indeed, this extension might be the precursor of separation, because the centre of power would become so distant from the circumference, that its authority would not be sufficiently great to insure obedience. It would then be an overgrown monster, the pulsations of whose heart are not felt at the extremities. But it is to be recollected, that the authority for regulating our domestic affairs, settling our domestic differences, protecting our rights, of person and property, is not concentrated in our general government. It resides in the states separately, and their multiplication, therefore, has not the effect of making it in the slightest degree more inconvenient to obtain justice in courts of law, or protection from magistrates. Each state is sovereign, in this respect, over the domestic relations of its citizens, of whom, not one in ten thousand, ever has occasion to appeal to any tribunals, or any powers, but those of the state government. The judges of the United States courts regularly hold their circuit through the states, thus bringing their functions to

every man's door, and it can seldom be necessary to go to the seat of the general government for justice, unless a man chooses to play a last stake for what he imagines to be his rights. I have heard it urged, that the Union will be in danger of a dissolution when the members of congress are obliged to travel half the year, to legislate the other half. But I have a sovereign remedy for this. Only increase their mileage, and my life on it, you hear no complaints of distance.

On these grounds do I firmly trust in the long, happy, and glorious existence of this fair fabric of freedom. I do not fear its continuance, while our people continue to be educated as they are, and preserve that intelligence which was the parent of their liberty, and the loss of which will be the forerunner of its funeral. If there be in the nature of man the sources of inevitable corruption and degeneracy; if this tendency to degenerate is the uniform and eternal characteristic of the productions of his virtues and his intellect, as well as of his hands, I have no more to say. But I do maintain, that there is nothing in our political institutions, our laws, our constitutions, our geographical situation, or the prejudices, passions, and antipathies of the various members of this great confederation, that indicates a less duration, than usually falls to the lot of monarchies. I trust that our republic will continue at least long enough to see the civilized world full of republics, free and happy as herself to be looked up to as the pure and illustrious fountain of civil and

religious liberty; and revered as the venerable patriarch of the whole beauteous tribe of free and independent nations. Then if, at last, she sinks under the denunciation passed on all the works of man, that none of them, however perfect, should be perpetual, it will be ages after you and I are gone, and so distant as to pass the limits of a distinct anticipation.

Luckily for you, it is just clearing up. The cocks begin to crow in anticipation of a golden sunset; the birds to twitter in the little copse just by my window; the vapours are gliding like sheeted ghosts swiftly up the mountain's side; and the ladies are venturing down to the spring again. I have written myself quite dry, so conclude in great haste. Good by.

LETTER XX.

DEAR FRANK,

THE latter part of last week we left the sulphur springs to visit the sweet springs, so called, because they are sour. To avoid going round a distance of nearly forty miles, we made a short cut across the mountains by a bridle path, which led through a singularly wild region. It was a deep glen, winding between two of the most rugged mountains I had yet

seen.

A brook ran brawling through it, full of little cataracts, and skirted by mossy rocks, green with everlasting shades and vapours. The mountain laurel, the most beautiful shrub that ever grew, bloomed along the banks of this romantic stream, which seemed to have worried through the stubborn mountain by the labour of ages. Every thing was broken and rugged; and there was a kind of unsorted disjointed air in the whole mass, which seemed to indicate that the river-gods and the Oreades had had a tiff in these parts at some distant period of time.

However this may be, after winding eight or nine miles through this topsy-turvy glen, without any accident, except Oliver's horse being stung by a yellow-jacket hornet, which made him kick up as if ten spurs were in his ribs, Oliver keeping his saddle manfully, and for once demonstrating himself a YOL. I-Q 2