CHAP. XL] ELECTION. 143 



against territorial aggrandizement, whether in the north or south, 

 and against war. They are in a minority it is true : but each 

 state in the Union has such a separate and independent position, 

 that, like a distinct nation, it can continue to cherish its own 

 principles and institutions, and set an example to the rest, which 

 they may in time learn to imitate. The Whigs were originally 

 in favor of more centralization, or of giving increased power to 

 the federal executive, while the democratic party did all they 

 could to weaken the central power, and successfully contended for 

 the sovereign rights and privileges of each member of the confed 

 eration. In so doing they have perhaps inadvertently, and with 

 out seeing the bearing of their policy, guarded the older and more 

 advanced commonwealths from being too much controlled and 

 kept down by the ascendency of newer and ruder states. 



A few days later, I went to see the electors give their votes. 

 Perfect order and good-humor prevailed, although the contest 

 was a keen one. As I approached the poll, the agents of differ 

 ent committees, supposing that I might be an elector, put into 

 my hands printed lists, containing the names of all the candidates 

 for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant-governor, five senators, 

 and thirty-five representatives. Every registered voter is entitled 

 to put one of these &quot; tickets&quot; into the balloting box. The real 

 struggle was between the Whigs and Democrats, the former of 

 whom carried the day ; but, besides their tickets, two others were 

 presented to me, one called the Native American, and the other 

 the Working Man s ticket. The latter had for its emblem a 

 naked arm, wielding a hammer, and for its motto, &quot; The strong 

 right arm of labor.&quot; The five senators proposed in this list, 

 consisted of two printers, a carpenter, a blacksmith, and a sur 

 veyor, and among the representatives were four shoemakers, one 

 tailor, eight carpenters, four printers, an engineer, &c. 



I heard Americans regret, that besides caucuses there are no 

 public meetings here where matters are debated by persons of 

 opposite parties and opinions, such as are sometimes held in En 

 gland. I was surprised to hear that such experiments were of 

 rare occurrence in a country where men opposed in politics 

 frequently argue with so much good temper, and where, in so 



