north america-1-第70章
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ectly from the people； and that such power shall return to the people at short intervals。 The Senate and the Governor each remain for two years； but not for the same two years。 If a new Senate commence its work in 1861； a new Governor will come in in 1862。 But； nevertheless； there is in the form of government as thus established an absence of that close and immediate responsibility which attends our ministers。 When a man has been voted in； it seems that responsibility is over for the period of the required service。 He has been chosen； and the country which has chosen him is to trust that he will do his best。 I do not know that this matters much with reference to the legislature or governments of the different States； for their State legislatures and governments are but puny powers； but in the legislature and government at Washington it does matter very much。 But I shall have another opportunity of speaking on that subject。 Nothing has struck me so much in America as the fact that these State legislatures are puny powers。 The absence of any tidings whatever of their doings across the water is a proof of this。 Who has heard of the legislature of New York or of Massachusetts？ It is boasted here that their insignificance is a sign of the well… being of the people； that the smallness of the power necessary for carrying on the machine shows how beautifully the machine is organized； and how well it works。 〃It is better to have little governors than great governors；〃 an American said to me once。 〃It is our glory that we know how to live without having great men over us to rule us。〃 That glory； if ever it were a glory； has come to an end。 It seems to me that all these troubles have come upon the States because they have not placed high men in high places。 The less of laws and the less of control the better； providing a people can go right with few laws and little control。 One may say that no laws and no control would be best of allprovided that none were needed。 But this is not exactly the position of the American people。 The two professions of law…making and of governing have become unfashionable； low in estimation； and of no repute in the States。 The municipal powers of the cities have not fallen into the hands of the leading men。 The word politician has come to bear the meaning of political adventurer and almost of political blackleg。 If A calls B a politician； A intends to vilify B by so calling him。 Whether or no the best citizens of a State will ever be induced to serve in the State legislature by a nobler consideration than that of pay； or by a higher tone of political morals than that now existing； I cannot say。 It seems to me that some great decrease in the numbers of the State legislators should be a first step toward such a consummation。 There are not many men in each State who can afford to give up two or three months of the year to the State service for nothing； but it may be presumed that in each State there are a few。 Those who are induced to devote their time by the payment of 60l。 can hardly be the men most fitted for the purpose of legislation。 It certainly has seemed to me that the members of the State legislatures and of the State governments are not held in that respect and treated with that confidence to which； in the eyes of an Englishman； such functionaries should be held as entitled。
CHAPTER XVI。 BOSTON。
From New York we returned to Boston by Hartford； the capital or one of the capitals of Connecticut。 This proud little State is composed of two old provinces； of which Hartford and New Haven were the two metropolitan towns。 Indeed； there was a third colony； called Saybrook； which was joined to Hartford。 As neither of the two could； of course； give way； when Hartford and New Haven were made into one； the houses of legislature and the seat of government are changed about year by year。 Connecticut is a very proud little State； and has a pleasant legend of its own stanchness in the old colonial days。 In 1662 the colonies were united； and a charter was given to them by Charles II。 But some years later； in 1686； when the bad days of James II。 had come； this charter was considered to be too liberal； and order was given that it should be suspended。 One Sir Edmund Andross had been appointed governor of all New England； and sent word from Boston to Connecticut that the charter itself should be given up to him。 This the men of Connecticut refused to do。 Whereupon Sir Edmund with a military following presented himself at their Assembly； declared their governing powers to be dissolved； and； after much palaver； caused the charter itself to be laid upon the table before him。 The discussion had been long； having lasted through the day into the night； and the room had been lighted with candles。 On a sudden each light disappeared； and Sir Edmund with his followers were in the dark。 As a matter of course； when the light was restored the charter was gone； and Sir Edmund； the governor…general； was baffled； as all governors…general and all Sir Edmunds always are in such cases。 The charter was gone； a gallant Captain Wadsworth having carried it off and hidden it in an oak…tree。 The charter was renewed when William III。 came to the throne； and now hangs triumphantly in the State House at Hartford。 The charter oak has； alas！ succumbed to the weather； but was standing a few years since。 The men of Hartford are very proud of their charter； and regard it as the parent of their existing liberties quite as much as though no national revolution of their own had intervened。 And； indeed； the Northern States of the Unionespecially those of New Englandrefer all their liberties to the old charters which they held from the mother country。 They rebelled； as they themselves would seem to say； and set themselves up as a separate people； not because the mother country had refused to them by law sufficient liberty and sufficient self…control； but because the mother country infringed the liberties and powers of self…control which she herself had given。 The mother country； so these States declare； had acted the part of Sir Edmund Androsshad endeavored to take away their charters。 So they also put out the lights； and took themselves to an oak…tree of their ownwhich is still standing； though winds from the infernal regions are now battering its branches。 Long may it stand！ Whether the mother country did or did not infringe the charters she had given； I will not here inquire。 As to the nature of those alleged infringements； are they not written down to the number of twenty…seven in the Declaration of Independence？ They mostly begin with He。 〃He〃 has done this； and 〃He〃 has done that。 The 〃He〃 is poor George III。； whose twenty…seven mortal sins against his Transatlantic colonies are thus recapitulated。 It would avail nothing to argue now whether those deeds were sins or virtues； nor would it have availed then。 The child had grown up and was strong； and chose to go alone into the world。 The young bird was fledged； and flew away。 Poor George III。 with his cackling was certainly not efficacious in restraining such a flight。 But it is gratifying to see how this new people； when they had it in their power to change all their laws； to throw themselves upon any Utopian theory that the folly of a wild philanthropy could devise； to discard as abominable every vestige of English rule and English power；it is gratifying to see that； when they could have done all this； they did not do so； but preferred to cling to things English。 Their old colonial limits were still to be the borders of their States。 Their old charters were still to be regarded as the sources from whence their State powers had come。 The old laws were to remain in force。 The precedents of the English courts were to be held as legal precedents in the courts of the new nation； and are now so held。 It was still to be England； but England without a king making his last struggle for political power。 This was the idea of the people and this was their feeling； and that idea has been carried out and that feeling has remained。 In the constitution of the State of New York nothing is said about the religion of the people。 It was regarded as a subject with which the co
