首页 >出版文学> LETTERS>第81章

第81章

  Amongthatsectionofourcitizenscalledfederalists,therearethreeshadesofopinion。Distinguishingbetweenthe_leaders_
  and_people_whocomposeit,the_leaders_considertheEnglishconstitutionasamodelofperfection,some,withacorrectionofitsvices,others,withallitscorruptionsandabuses。ThislastwasAlexanderHamilton’sopinion,whichothers,aswellasmyself,haveoftenheardhimdeclare,andthatacorrectionofwhatarecalleditsvices,wouldrendertheEnglishanimpracticablegovernment。Thisgovernmenttheywishedtohaveestablishedhere,andonlyacceptedandheldfast,_atfirst_,tothepresentconstitution,asastepping-stonetothefinalestablishmentoftheirfavoritemodel。
  ThispartythereforealwaysclungtoEnglandastheirprototype,andgreatauxiliaryinpromotingandeffectingthischange。AweightyMINORITY,however,ofthese_leaders_,consideringthevoluntaryconversionofourgovernmentintoamonarchyastoodistant,ifnotdesperate,wishtobreakofffromourUnionitseasternfragment,asbeing,intruth,thehot-bedofAmericanmonarchism,withaviewtoacommencementoftheirfavoritegovernment,fromwhencetheotherStatesmaygangrenebydegrees,andthewholebethusbroughtfinallytothedesiredpoint。ForMassachusetts,theprimemoverinthisenterprise,isthelastStateintheUniontomeana_final_
  separation,asbeingofallthemostdependentontheothers。Notraisingbreadforthesustenanceofherowninhabitants,nothavingastickoftimberfortheconstructionofvessels,herprincipaloccupation,noranarticletoexportinthem,wherewouldshebe,excludedfromtheportsoftheotherStates,andthrownintodependenceonEngland,herdirectandnatural,butnowinsidiousrival?AttheheadofthisMINORITYiswhatiscalledtheEssexJuntoofMassachusetts。ButtheMAJORITYofthese_leaders_donotaimatseparation。Inthis,theyadheretotheknownprincipleofGeneralHamilton,never,underanyviews,tobreaktheUnion。
  Anglomany,monarchy,andseparation,then,aretheprinciplesoftheEssexfederalists。Anglomanyandmonarchy,thoseoftheHamiltonians,andAnglomanyalone,thatoftheportionamongthe_people_whocallthemselvesfederalists。Theselastareasgoodrepublicansasthebrethrenwhomtheyoppose,anddifferfromthemonlyintheirdevotiontoEnglandandhatredofFrancewhichtheyhaveimbibedfromtheirleaders。ThemomentthattheseleadersshouldavowedlyproposeaseparationoftheUnion,ortheestablishmentofregalgovernment,theirpopularadherentswouldquitthemtoaman,andjointherepublicanstandard;andthepartisansofthischange,eveninMassachusetts,wouldthusfindthemselvesanarmyofofficerswithoutasoldier。
  Thepartycalledrepublicanissteadilyforthesupportofthepresentconstitution。Theyobtainedatitscommencement,alltheamendmentstoittheydesired。Thesereconciledthemtoitperfectly,andiftheyhaveanyulteriorview,itisonly,perhaps,topopularizeitfurther,byshorteningtheSenatorialterm,anddevisingaprocessfortheresponsibilityofjudges,morepracticalthanthatofimpeachment。TheyesteemthepeopleofEnglandandFranceequally,andequallydetestthegoverningpowersofboth。
  ThisIverilybelieve,afteranintimacyoffortyyearswiththepubliccouncilsandcharacters,isatruestatementofthegroundsonwhichtheyareatpresentdivided,andthatitisnotmerelyanambitionforpower。Anhonestmancanfeelnopleasureintheexerciseofpoweroverhisfellowcitizens。Andconsideringastheonlyofficesofpowerthoseconferredbythepeopledirectly,thatistosay,theexecutiveandlegislativefunctionsoftheGeneralandStategovernments,thecommonrefusaloftheseandmultipliedresignations,areproofssufficientthatpowerisnotalluringtopureminds,andisnot,withthem,theprimaryprincipleofcontest。Thisismybeliefofit;itisthatonwhichIhaveacted;andhaditbeenamerecontestwhoshouldbepermittedtoadministerthegovernmentaccordingtoitsgenuinerepublicanprinciples,therehasneverbeenamomentofmylifeinwhichI
  shouldhaverelinquishedforittheenjoymentsofmyfamily,myfarm,myfriendsandbooks。
  YouexpectedtodiscoverthedifferenceofourpartyprinciplesinGeneralWashington’svaledictory,andmyinauguraladdress。Notatall。GeneralWashingtondidnotharboroneprincipleoffederalism。HewasneitheranAngloman,amonarchist,noraseparatist。Hesincerelywishedthepeopletohaveasmuchself-governmentastheywerecompetenttoexercisethemselves。TheonlypointonwhichheandIeverdifferedinopinion,was,thatI
  hadmoreconfidencethanhehadinthenaturalintegrityanddiscretionofthepeople,andinthesafetyandextenttowhichtheymighttrustthemselveswithacontrolovertheirgovernment。Hehasasseveratedtomeathousandtimeshisdeterminationthattheexistinggovernmentshouldhaveafairtrial,andthatinsupportofithewouldspendthelastdropofhisblood。Hedidthisthemorerepeatedly,becauseheknewGeneralHamilton’spoliticalbias,andmyapprehensionsfromit。Itisamerecalumny,therefore,inthemonarchists,toassociateGeneralWashingtonwiththeirprinciples。
  Butthatmayhavehappenedinthiscasewhichhasbeenoftenseeninordinarycases,that,byoftrepeatinganuntruth,mencometobelieveitthemselves。Itisamereartificeinthispartytobolsterthemselvesuponthereverednameofthatfirstofourworthies。IfIhavedweltlongeronthissubjectthanwasnecessary,itprovestheestimationinwhichIholdyourultimateopinions,andmydesireofplacingthesubjecttrulybeforethem。Insodoing,I
  amcertainIrisknouseofthecommunicationwhichmaydrawmeintocontentionbeforethepublic。Tranquillityisthe_summumbonum_ofaSeptagenaire。
  Toreturntothemeritsofyourwork:Iconsideritassolivelyapictureoftherealstateofourcountry,thatifIcanpossiblyobtainopportunitiesofconveyance,IproposetosendacopytoafriendinFrance,andanothertooneinItaly,who,Iknow,willtranslateandcirculateitasanantidotetothemisrepresentationsofformertravellers。Butwhatevereffectmyprofessionofpoliticalfaithmayhaveonyourgeneralopinion,apartofmyobjectwillbeobtained,ifitsatisfiesyouastotheprinciplesofmyownaction,andofthehighrespectandconsiderationwithwhichItenderyoumysalutations。
  TYRANTSOFLANDANDSEA
  _ToMadamedeStael_
  _UnitedStatesofAmerica,May24,1813_
  Ireceivedwithgreatpleasure,mydearMadamandfriend,yourletterofNovemberthe10th,fromStockholm,andamsincerelygratifiedbytheoccasionitgivesmeofexpressingtoyouthesentimentsofhighrespectandesteemwhichIentertainforyou。Itrecallstomyremembranceahappyportionofmylife,passedinyournativecity;thentheseatofthemostamiableandpolishedsocietyoftheworld,andofwhichyourselfandyourvenerablefatherweresuchdistinguishedmembers。Butofwhatsceneshasitsincebeenthetheatre,andwithwhathavochasitoverspreadtheearth!Robespieremetthefate,andhismemorytheexecration,hesojustlymerited。
  Therichwerehisvictims,andperishedbythousands。ItisbymillionsthatBuonapartedestroysthepoor,andheiseulogisedanddeifiedbythesycophantsevenofscience。Thesemeritmorethanthemereobliviontowhichtheywillbeconsigned;andthedaywillcomewhenajustposteritywillgivetotheirherotheonlypre-eminencehehasearned,thatofhavingbeenthegreatestofthedestroyersofthehumanrace。Whatyearofhismilitarylifehasnotconsignedamillionofhumanbeingstodeath,topovertyandwretchedness!WhatfieldinEuropemaynotraiseamonumentofthemurders,theburnings,thedesolations,thefaminesandmiseriesithaswitnessedfromhim!Andallthistoacquireareputation,whichCartoucheattainedwithlessinjurytomankind,ofbeingfearlessofGodorman。
  Tocompleteanduniversalisethedesolationoftheglobe,ithasbeenthewillofProvidencetoraiseup,atthesametime,atyrantasunprincipledandasoverwhelming,fortheocean。NotinthepoormaniacGeorge,butinhisgovernmentandnation。Buonapartewilldie,andhistyrannieswithhim。Butanationneverdies。TheEnglishgovernmentanditspiraticalprinciplesandpractices,havenofixedtermofduration。Europefeels,andiswrithingunderthescorpionwhipsofBuonaparte。WeareassailedbythoseofEngland。
  TheonecontinentthusplacedunderthegripeofEngland,andtheotherofBuonaparte,eachhastograpplewiththeenemyimmediatelypressingonitself。Wemustextinguishthefirekindledinourownhouse,andleavetoourfriendsbeyondthewaterthatwhichisconsumingtheirs。ItwasnottillEnglandhadtakenonethousandofourships,andimpressedintoherservicemorethansixthousandofourcitizens;tillshehaddeclared,bytheproclamationofherPrinceRegent,thatshewouldnotrepealheraggressiveorders_astous_,untilBuonaparteshouldhaverepealedhis_astoallnations_;
  tillherminister,informalconferencewithours,declared,thatnopropositionforprotectingourseamenfrombeingimpressed,undercoloroftakingtheirown,waspracticableoradmissible;that,thedoortojusticeandtoallamicablearrangementbeingclosed,andnegotiationbecomebothdesperateanddishonorable,weconcludedthatthewarshehadbeenforyearswagingagainstus,mightaswellbecomeawaronbothsides。Shetakesfewervesselsfromussincethedeclarationofwarthanbefore,becausetheyventuremorecautiously;andwenowmakefullreprisalswherebeforewemadenone。
  Englandis,inprinciple,theenemyofallmaritimenations,asBuonaparteisofthecontinental;andIplaceinthesamelineofinsulttothehumanunderstanding,thepretensionofconqueringtheocean,toestablishcontinentalrights,asthatofconqueringthecontinent,torestoremaritimerights。No,mydearMadam;theobjectofEnglandisthe_permanentdominionoftheocean_,andthe_monopolyofthetradeoftheworld_。Tosecurethis,shemustkeepalargerfleetthanherownresourceswillmaintain。Theresourcesofothernations,then,mustbeimpressedtosupplythedeficiencyofherown。Thisissufficientlydevelopedandevidencedbyhersuccessivestridestowardstheusurpationofthesea。Markthem,fromherfirstwarafterWilliamPittthelittle,cameintoheradministration。Shefirstforbadetoneutralsalltradewithherenemiesintimeofwar,whichtheyhadnotintimeofpeace。Thisdeprivedthemoftheirtradefromporttoportofthesamenation。
  Thensheforbadethemtotradefromtheportofonenationtothatofanyotheratwarwithher,althougharightfullyexercisedintimeofpeace。Next,insteadoftakingvesselsonly_entering_ablockadedport,shetookthemoverthewholeocean,ifdestinedtothatport,althoughignorantoftheblockade,andwithoutintentiontoviolateit。Thenshetookthemreturningfromthatport,asifinfectedbypreviousinfractionofblockade。Thencameherpaperblockades,bywhichshemightshutupthewholeworldwithoutsendingashiptosea,excepttotakeallthosesailingonit,astheymust,ofcourse,beboundtosomeport。Andthesewerefollowedbyherordersofcouncil,forbiddingeverynationtogototheportofanyother,withoutcomingfirsttosomeportofGreatBritain,therepayingatributetoher,regulatedbythecargo,andtakingfromheralicensetoproceedtotheportofdestination;whichoperationthevesselwastorepeatwiththereturncargoonitswayhome。
  Accordingtotheseorders,wecouldnotsendavesselfromSt。Mary’stoSt。Augustine,distantsixhours’sail,onourowncoast,withoutcrossingtheAtlanticfourtimes,twicewiththeoutwardcargo,andtwicewiththeinward。Shefoundthistoodaringandoutrageousforasinglestep,retractedastocertainarticlesofcommerce,butleftitinforceastootherswhichconstituteimportantbranchesofourexports。Andfinally,thatherviewsmaynolongerrestoninference,inarecentdebate,herministerdeclaredinopenparliament,thattheobjectofthepresentwarisa_monopolyofcommerce_。
  Insomeoftheseatrocities,Francekeptpacewithherfullyinspeculativewrong,whichherimpotenceonlyshortenedinpracticalexecution。Thiswascalledretaliationbyboth;eachchargingtheotherwiththeinitiationoftheoutrage。Asiftwocombatantsmightretaliateonaninnocentbystander,theblowstheyreceivedfromeachother。Tomakewaronbothwouldhavebeenridiculous。Inorder,therefore,tosingleoutanyenemy,weofferedtoboth,thatifeitherwouldrevokeitshostiledecrees,andtheothershouldrefuse,wewouldinterdictallintercoursewhateverwiththatother;whichwouldbewarofcourse,asbeinganavoweddeparturefromneutrality。
  Franceacceptedtheoffer,andrevokedherdecreesastous。Englandnotonlyrefused,butdeclaredbyasolemnproclamationofherPrinceRegent,thatshewouldnotrevokeherorders_evenastous_,untilthoseofFranceshouldbeannulled_astothewholeworld_。Wethereondeclaredwar,andwithabundantadditionalcause。
  Inthemeantime,anexaminationbeforeparliamentoftheruinouseffectsoftheseordersonherownmanufacturers,exposingthemtothenationandtotheworld,theirPrinceissuedapalinodialproclamation,_suspending_theordersoncertainconditions,butclaimingtorenewthematpleasure,asamatterofright。Eventhismighthavepreventedthewar,ifdoneandknownherebeforeitsdeclaration。Buttheswordbeingoncedrawn,theexpenseofarmingincurred,andhostilitiesinfullcourse,itwouldhavebeenunwisetodiscontinuethem,untileffectualprovisionshouldbeagreedtobyEngland,forprotectingourcitizensonthehighseasfromimpressmentbyhernavalcommanders,througherror,voluntaryorinvoluntary;thefactbeingnotorious,thattheseofficers,enteringourshipsatseaunderpretextofsearchingfortheirseamen,whichtheyhavenorighttodobythelaworusageofnations,whichtheyneitherdo,noreverdid,astoanyothernationbutours,andwhichnonationeverbeforepretendedtodoinanycase,enteringourships,Isay,underpretextofsearchingforandtakingouttheirseamen,theytookours,nativeaswellasnaturalised,knowingthemtobeours,merelybecausetheywantedthem;insomuch,thatnoAmericancouldsafelycrosstheocean,orventuretopassbyseafromonetoanotherofourownports。ItisnotlongsincetheyimpressedatseatwonephewsofGeneralWashington,returningfromEurope,andputthem,ascommonseamen,undertheordinarydisciplineoftheirshipsofwar。TherearecertainlyotherwrongstobesettledbetweenEnglandandus;butofaminorcharacter,andsuchasaproperspirtofconciliationonbothsideswouldnotpermittocontinuethematwar。Thesword,however,canneveragainbesheathed,untilthepersonalsafetyofanAmericanontheocean,amongthemostimportantandmostvitaloftherightswepossess,iscompletelyprovidedfor。
  Assoonasweheardofherpartialrepealofherordersofcouncil,weofferedinstantlytosuspendhostilitiesbyanarmistice,ifshewouldsuspendherimpressments,andmeetusinarrangementsforsecuringourcitizensagainstthem。Sherefusedtodoit,becauseimpracticablebyanyarrangement,asshepretends;but,intruth,becauseabodyofsixtytoeightythousandofthefinestseamenintheworld,whichwepossess,istoogreataresourceformanningherexaggeratednavy,toberelinquished,aslongasshecankeepitopen。Peaceisinherhand,whenevershewillrenouncethepracticeofaggressiononthepersonsofourcitizens。Ifshethinksitwortheternalwar,eternalwarwemusthave。Sheallegesthatthesamenessoflanguage,ofmanners,ofappearance,rendersitimpossibletodistinguishusfromhersubjects。ButbecausewespeakEnglish,andlooklikethem,arewetobepunished?Arefreeandindependentmentobesubmittedtotheirbondage?