The native American., 1839-04-06
DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA
BY .Aleris de IocqueuiHe, .7rocat la cour
Royale de Paris

After having seen country, its institutions
an manners, misrepresented by traveller after
traveer-superfcial observers for the most part,
who were unable to take in the whole of such a
subject, and bad digesters of what little they did
pick up-we have now before US the production
Of an intelligent man who had an eye to mark, a
Judgment keen to discriminate, and mind truly
philosophical, in SO far freedom from prejudice
and great generalizing powers may warrant that
epithet. 1t is true maxim, that he who would
gain wisdom from observation, must be wise al
ready. No man could have written book like
this, save who had been long accustomed to look
at things in their principles 1t is such one only
who can discern unity in diversity, who is able
in the midst of apparent confusion, to trace the
consistent operation of elemental laws and to be-
hold all particulars of customs, manners, and in
stitutions as the genuine opponents of the national
vis vits. We have hardly yet arrived ourselves
at the stage Of self-recogntion Our principles
are not yet carried to their ultimaes Like the
orator of Demosthenes, our first second, and third
characteristic is action, action, action. We Weld
to the inherent impulse without nquring into its |
nature, without looking TO ascertain whittier it
will conduct us. Reflection will come ONLY when
consequences are felt ..:
The observations of an enlightened foreigner
who can look calmly OH our fermen,ing condition
and observe the nature Of the various elements
which are at work in the general mass, NAV be
of great use; not indeed towards staying the pro-
gress Of things, or modifying their direction; but
the truths which he lays before our notice, NAV
be learned, may be acknowledged theoretically.
When the time comes for proftng by former err
rors they will be ready at our hands, and NAV
imperceptlbly influence the course of subsequent
conduct.
What will strike with admiration every reader
Of this book, is the wonderful accuracy with which
the author dscourses of our institutions. deni-
zen of the republic, native born, and studious of
such things, could hardly be expected to show a
more familiar acquaintance with the principles and
details of our government in all their modes of
action, general, state and municipal. We speak
not Of mere statistical accuracy-skeeton-k
ledge-an anatomical acquaintance with ribs and
arteries and muscles-but comprehension of the
whole system in action, perception of the quick
ening life, with impulse beating, and every organ
of respiration i'll full play. Like man who
wished to understand the quality of stream, he
went to the fountain head. lie consulted the old
colonial records-document which to the most
of our citizens are known only by hearsay.-
Among these are mentioned Hazards Collection
Of State Papers, The Generate Historic of Pr
GINA and Ne,c England, bv Coptain .Iobo
Smith, souaetymes Gorernor in those Couotr;ee
and AdmiraH Of Ne'o ENGLAND The History
of Virginia by William Suth, the History of Cara
lima by John Lawson, New England's Memorial
by Nathaniel Norton, Cotton Mathers Eccles;as.
teal History of New England, the History of the
Colony Of Massachusetts by Gov. Hutchinson,
Trumbull's Complete History of America, the
History OF New Hampshire by Jeremy Belknap
the History of New York by William Smith,
Prouds History Of Pennsylvania. OF these few
are much known in this country. Capt. John
Smith is indeed familiar name; not because he
wrote the General Historic" but BY reason IF
sundry romantic achievements, such as cutting off
the heads Of Turkish champions, being rescued
by Pocahontas, and other adventures Which show
him to have been gallant man and hero.
From such sources as these, the enlightened
traveller was enable TO comprehend the genuine
spirit Of those who laid the foundations of society
in America. In the germ thus deposited, were
ascertained the principles which SUBSEQUENT times
and events have developed. 1.-The child is father
Of the man." says Wordsworth-.thea ancestor
bears all his descendants within HIMSELF" is the
language Of the law. Hence the earnestness with
which NJ. de TocqueviIle dwells upon the "man.
ners Of the psoPle'--intendng by that term to de-