north america-1-第6章
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cared to see； as everybody was habitually out of town during the heat of the latter summer and early autumn； but this was not so。 The war and attendant turmoils of war had made the season of vacation shorter than usual； and most of those for whom I asked were back at their posts。 I know no place at which an Englishman may drop down suddenly among a pleasanter circle of acquaintance； or find himself with a more clever set of men； than he can do at Boston。 I confess that in this respect I think that but few towns are at present more fortunately circumstanced than the capital of the Bay State； as Massachusetts is called； and that very few towns make a better use of their advantages。 Boston has a right to be proud of what it has done for the world of letters。 It is proud； but I have not found that its pride was carried too far。 Boston is not in itself a fine city； but it is a very pleasant city。 They say that the harbor is very grand and very beautiful。 It certainly is not so fine as that of Portland； in a nautical point of view； and as certainly it is not as beautiful。 It is the entrance from the sea into Boston of which people say so much； but I did not think it quite worthy of all I had heard。 In such matters； however； much depends on the peculiar light in which scenery is seen。 An evening light is generally the best for all landscapes； and I did not see the entrance to Boston harbor by an evening light。 It was not the beauty of the harbor of which I thought the most； but of the tea which had been sunk there； and of all that came of that successful speculation。 Few towns now standing have a right to be more proud of their antecedents than Boston。 But as I have said； it is not specially interesting to the eye； what new town； or even what simply adult town； can be so？ There is an Atheneum； and a State Hall； and a fashionable street；Beacon Street； very like Piccadilly as it runs along the Green Park；and there is the Green Park opposite to this Piccadilly； called Boston Common。 Beacon Street and Boston Common are very pleasant。 Excellent houses there are； and large churches； and enormous hotels； but of such things as these a man can write nothing that is worth the reading。 The traveler who desires to tell his experience of North America must write of people rather than of things。 As I have said； I found myself instantly involved in discussions on American politics and the bearing of England upon those politics。 〃What do you think； you in Englandwhat do you believe will be the upshot of this war？〃 That was the question always asked in those or other words。 〃Secession； certainly；〃 I always said； but not speaking quite with that abruptness。 〃And you believe； then； that the South will beat the North？〃 I explained that I personally had never so thought； and that I did not believe that to be the general idea。 Men's opinions in England； however； were too divided to enable me to say that there was any prevailing conviction on the matter。 My own impression was； and is； that the North will； in a military point of view； have the best of the contestwill beat the South； but that the Northerners will not prevent secession； let their success be what it may。 Should the North prevail after a two years' conflict； the North will not admit the South to an equal participation of good things with themselves； even though each separate rebellious State should return suppliant； like a prodigal son； kneeling on the floor of Congress； each with a separate rope of humiliation round its neck。 Such was my idea as expressed then； and I do not know that I have since had much cause to change it。 〃We will never give it up；〃 one gentleman said to meand； indeed； many have said the same〃till the whole territory is again united from the Bay to the Gulf。 It is impossible that we should allow of two nationalities within those limits。〃 〃And do you think it possible；〃 I asked； 〃that you should receive back into your bosom this people which you now hate with so deep a hatred； and receive them again into your arms as brothers on equal terms？ Is it in accordance with experience that a conquered people should be so treated； and that； too； a people whose every habit of life is at variance with the habits of their presumed conquerors？ When you have flogged them into a return of fraternal affection； are they to keep their slaves or are they to abolish them？〃 〃No；〃 said my friend； 〃it may not be practicable to put those rebellious States at once on an equality with ourselves。 For a time they will probably be treated as the Territories are now treated。〃 （The Territories are vast outlying districts belonging to the Union； but not as yet endowed with State governments or a participation in the United States Congress。） 〃For a time they must； perhaps； lose their full privileges； but the Union will be anxious to readmit them at the earliest possible period。〃 〃And as to the slaves？〃 I asked again。 〃Let them emigrate to Liberiaback to their own country。〃 I could not say that I thought much of the solution of the difficulty。 It would； I suggested； overtask even the energy of America to send out an emigration of four million souls； to provide for their wants in a new and uncultivated country； and to provide； after that； for the terrible gap made in the labor market of the Southern States。 〃The Israelites went back from bondage；〃 said my friend。 But a way was opened for them by a miracle across the sea； and food was sent to them from heaven； and they had among them a Moses for a leader； and a Joshua to fight their battles。 I could not but express my fear that the days of such immigrations were over。 This plan of sending back the negroes to Africa did not reach me only from one or from two mouths； and it was suggested by men whose opinions respecting their country have weight at home and are entitled to weight abroad。 I mention this merely to show how insurmountable would be the difficulty of preventing secession； let which side win that may。 〃We will never abandon the right to the mouth of the Mississippi。〃 That； in all such arguments； is a strong point with men of the Northern Statesperhaps the point to which they all return with the greatest firmness。 It is that on which Mr。 Everett insists in the last paragraph of the oration which he made in New York on the 4th of July； 1861。 〃The Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers；〃 he says； 〃with their hundred tributaries； give to the great central basin of our continent its character and destiny。 The outlet of this system lies between the States of Tennessee and Missouri； of Mississippi and Arkansas； and through the State of Louisiana。 The ancient province so called； the proudest monument of the mighty monarch whose name it bears； passed from the jurisdiction of France to that of Spain in 1763。 Spain coveted itnot that she might fill it with prosperous colonies and rising States； but that it might stretch as a broad waste barrier； infested with warlike tribes； between the Anglo…American power and the silver mines of Mexico。 With the independence of the United States the fear of a still more dangerous neighbor grew upon Spain； and； in the insane expectation of checking the progress of the Union westward； she threatened； and at times attempted； to close the mouth of the Mississippi on the rapidly…increasing trade of the West。 The bare suggestion of such a policy roused the population upon the banks of the Ohio； then inconsiderable； as one man。 Their confidence in Washington scarcely restrained them from rushing to the seizure of New Orleans； when the treaty of San Lorenzo El Real； in 1795； stipulated for them a precarious right of navigating the noble river to the sea； with a right of deposit at New Orleans。 This subject was for years the turning…point of the politics of the West； and it was perfectly well understood that； sooner or later； she would be content with nothing less than the sovereign control of the mighty stream from its head…spring to its outlet in the Gulf。 AND THAT IS AS TRUE NOW AS IT WAS THEN。〃 This is well put。 It describes with force the desires； ambition； and necessities of a great nation； and it tells with historical truth the story of the success of that nation。 It was a great thing don
