262 HILLS AND LAKES, 



to be a hundred States, and spread out to any extent 

 without fallin' to pieces. You see, Squire, the States, 

 though no great things, considered separately, are in- 

 dependent governments, makin' their own laws, and 

 choosin' their own officers, each acting for itself, so far 

 as its own affairs are concerned, without askin', or 

 consultin' any power on airth. But when anything 

 turns up from abroad, they all go together. The gen 

 eral government, backed by the concentrated strength 

 of all the States actin' together as one, is a mighty 

 power, and will be mightier still, as every new State 

 comes into the Union, and outsiders will think twice 

 before they cross its trail. This gives the States a se- 

 curity, and protection from other nations, that they 

 couldn't enjoy out of the Union. 



" Suppose Mexico should become a portion of thi? 

 government, and with her half dozen States, run uj- 

 the stars and stripes, what would she lose by it, and 

 what could she find to complain of? Each one of 

 them States, would make its own laws, choose its own 

 governors and judges, and all other officers, and send 

 its own members to Congress. Bach would be just as 

 independent as York State is. The general government 

 couldn't and it wouldn't interfere with it, for such inter- 



