90 



half of inhabitants for example's sake only. Yet t am 

 persuaded it is a greater number than the country spo- 

 ken of, considering how much inarable land it contains, 

 can clothe and feed, without a material change in the 

 quality of their diet. But are there no inconveniences 

 to be thrown into the scale against the advantage ex- 

 pected from a multiplication of numbers by the impor- 

 tation of foreigners ? It is for the happiness of those 

 united in society to harmonize as much as possible in mat- 

 ters which they must of necessity transact together. Civil 

 government being the sole object of forming societies^ 

 its administration must be conducted by common con- 

 sent. Every species of government has its specific 

 princi[)les. Ours perhaps are more peculiar than those 

 of any other in the universe. It is a com])osition of the 

 freest principles of the English constitution, with others 

 derived from natural right and natural reason. To 

 these nothing can be more opposed than the maxims of 

 absolute monarchies. Yet, from such, we are to expect 

 the greatest number of emigrants. They will bring 

 with them the principles of the governments they 

 leave, imbibed in their early youth ; or, if able to throw 

 them off, it will be in exchange for an unbounded li- 

 centiousness, passing, as is usual, from one extreme to 

 another. It would be a miracle were they to stop pre- 

 cisely at the point of temperate liberty. These princi- 

 ples, with their language, they will transmit to their 

 children. In ])roportion to their numbers, they will 

 share with us the legislation. They will infuse into it 

 their spirit, warp and bias its directions, and render it a 

 heterogeneous, incoherent, distracted mass. I may ap- 

 peal to experience, during the present contest, for a 

 verification of these conjectures. But, if they be not 

 certain in event, are they not possible, are they not 

 probable ? Is it not safer to wait with patience 27 

 years and three months longer, for the attainment of 

 any degree of pojjulation desired or expected ? May 

 not our government be more homogeneous, more peace- 

 able, more durable? Suppose 20 millions of republican 

 Americans thrown all of a sudden into France, what 



