On the Natural Boundaries of Empires. 1 1 1 



The effect of very small territorial division is unfavorable 

 to the tribes of savages. They fight continually. Civilized 

 nations have some intervals of peace between their combats. 



Another point of view, in which the structure of the earth 

 has an effect on the boundaries of nations, is the nature of 

 the soil, whether fertile or otherwise, &c. ; but the limits of 

 the present essay do not admit of noticing this branch of 

 the subject. 



In the history of nations, we peruse an account of three 

 states, whose political relations have been governed by the 

 maxims of sound philosophy. China, which refuses to make 

 conquests beyond its natural limits. St. Marmo, which, 

 when invited by the chief consul of France, to round the 

 territories of her small republic, refused so tempting an offer. 

 Massachusetts, which surrendered the right of sovereignty to 

 an extensive dominion, when she could no longer exercise 

 power without committing injustice. 



I am not of opinion with that French moralist, who said, 

 "II ne faut jamais songer a la guerre que pour defendre la 

 liberte ;" for all those wars may be considered as necessary, 

 and tending to promote human happiness, which are made 

 for the consolidation of natural empires. Thus those are 

 to be approved which took place for the union of the British 

 isles ; for the consolidation of France ; for the establishment 

 of the kingdom of Spain. 



Also, all those which are undertaken to reduce large em- 

 pires to a natural size, which may however be considered as 

 wars for liberty. 



All others are adverse to the real prosperity of states. 



To some nations, the pomp and magnificence of prepara- 

 tion, and the hope of seizing with violence on the possessions 

 of others, may lead to combat. But far happier are those, 

 who, content with the dominion which Providence has as- 

 signed them, use every effort, consistent with true national 

 honor, to avoid the extremity of war. 



They are saved from the dishonor of conquests over na- 

 tions inferior in strength — from the crime of exercising do- 

 minion over people who wish to be free — from the intoxica- 

 tion and false glitter of victory — from the mortification and 

 the terror of defeat. 



