democracy in america-1-第121章
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In the United States； in 1830； the population of the two races stood as follows： …
States where slavery is abolished； 6；565；434 whites； 120；520 blacks。 Slave States； 3；960；814 whites； 2；208；102 blacks。 ＇In 1890 the United States contained a population of 54；983；890 whites； and 7；638；360 negroes。＇＇
It is evident that the most Southern States of the Union cannot abolish slavery without incurring very great dangers； which the North had no reason to apprehend when it emancipated its black population。 We have already shown the system by which the Northern States secure the transition from slavery to freedom； by keeping the present generation in chains； and setting their descendants free； by this means the negroes are gradually introduced into society； and whilst the men who might abuse their freedom are kept in a state of servitude； those who are emancipated may learn the art of being free before they become their own masters。 But it would be difficult to apply this method in the South。 To declare that all the negroes born after a certain period shall be free； is to introduce the principle and the notion of liberty into the heart of slavery； the blacks whom the law thus maintains in a state of slavery from which their children are delivered； are astonished at so unequal a fate； and their astonishment is only the prelude to their impatience and irritation。 Thenceforward slavery loses； in their eyes； that kind of moral power which it derived from time and habit； it is reduced to a mere palpable abuse of force。 The Northern States had nothing to fear from the contrast； because in them the blacks were few in number； and the white population was very considerable。 But if this faint dawn of freedom were to show two millions of men their true position； the oppressors would have reason to tremble。 After having affranchised the children of their slaves the Europeans of the Southern States would very shortly be obliged to extend the same benefit to the whole black population。
Chapter XVIII： Future Condition Of Three Races … Part V
In the North； as I have already remarked； a twofold migration ensues upon the abolition of slavery； or even precedes that event when circumstances have rendered it probable； the slaves quit the country to be transported southwards； and the whites of the Northern States； as well as the emigrants from Europe； hasten to fill up their place。 But these two causes cannot operate in the same manner in the Southern States。 On the one hand； the mass of slaves is too great for any expectation of their ever being removed from the country to be entertained； and on the other hand； the Europeans and Anglo…Americans of the North are afraid to come to inhabit a country in which labor has not yet been reinstated in its rightful honors。 Besides； they very justly look upon the States in which the proportion of the negroes equals or exceeds that of the whites； as exposed to very great dangers； and they refrain from turning their activity in that direction。
Thus the inhabitants of the South would not be able； like their Northern countrymen； to initiate the slaves gradually into a state of freedom by abolishing slavery； they have no means of perceptibly diminishing the black population； and they would remain unsupported to repress its excesses。 So that in the course of a few years； a great people of free negroes would exist in the heart of a white nation of equal size。
The same abuses of power which still maintain slavery； would then become the source of the most alarming perils which the white population of the South might have to apprehend。 At the present time the descendants of the Europeans are the sole owners of the land； the absolute masters of all labor； and the only persons who are possessed of wealth； knowledge； and arms。 The black is destitute of all these advantages； but he subsists without them because he is a slave。 If he were free； and obliged to provide for his own subsistence； would it be possible for him to remain without these things and to support life？ Or would not the very instruments of the present superiority of the white； whilst slavery exists； expose him to a thousand dangers if it were abolished？
As long as the negro remains a slave； he may be kept in a condition not very far removed from that of the brutes； but； with his liberty； he cannot but acquire a degree of instruction which will enable him to appreciate his misfortunes； and to discern a remedy for them。 Moreover； there exists a singular principle of relative justice which is very firmly implanted in the human heart。 Men are much more forcibly struck by those inequalities which exist within the circle of the same class； than with those which may be remarked between different classes。 It is more easy for them to admit slavery； than to allow several millions of citizens to exist under a load of eternal infamy and hereditary wretchedness。 In the North the population of freed negroes feels these hardships and resents these indignities； but its numbers and its powers are small； whilst in the South it would be numerous and strong。
As soon as it is admitted that the whites and the emancipated blacks are placed upon the same territory in the situation of two alien communities； it will readily be understood that there are but two alternatives for the future； the negroes and the whites must either wholly part or wholly mingle。 I have already expressed the conviction which I entertain as to the latter event。 *r I do not imagine that the white and black races will ever live in any country upon an equal footing。 But I believe the difficulty to be still greater in the United States than elsewhere。 An isolated individual may surmount the prejudices of religion； of his country； or of his race； and if this individual is a king he may effect surprising changes in society； but a whole people cannot rise； as it were； above itself。 A despot who should subject the Americans and their former slaves to the same yoke； might perhaps succeed in commingling their races； but as long as the American democracy remains at the head of affairs； no one will undertake so difficult a task； and it may be foreseen that the freer the white population of the United States becomes； the more isolated will it remain。 *s
＇Footnote r： This opinion is sanctioned by authorities infinitely weightier than anything that I can say： thus； for instance； it is stated in the 〃Memoirs of Jefferson〃 （as collected by M。 Conseil）； 〃Nothing is more clearly written in the book of destiny than the emancipation of the blacks； and it is equally certain that the two races will never live in a state of equal freedom under the same government； so insurmountable are the barriers which nature； habit； and opinions have established between them。〃＇
＇Footnote s： If the British West India planters had governed themselves； they would assuredly not have passed the Slave Emancipation Bill which the mother…country has recently imposed upon them。＇
I have previously observed that the mixed race is the true bond of union between the Europeans and the Indians； just so the mulattoes are the true means of transition between the white and the negro； so that wherever mulattoes abound； the intermixture of the two races is not impossible。 In some parts of America； the European and the negro races are so crossed by one another； that it is rare to meet with a man who is entirely black； or entirely white： when they are arrived at this point； the two races may really be said to be combined； or rather to have been absorbed in a third race； which is connected with both without being identical with either。
Of all the Europeans the English are those who have mixed least with the negroes。 More mulattoes are to be seen in the South of the Union than in the North； but still they are infinitely more scarce than in any other European colony： mulattoes are by no means numerous in the United States； they have no force peculiar to themselves； and when quarrels originating in differences of color take place； they generally side with the whites； just as the lackeys of the great； in Europe； assume the contemptuous airs of nobility to the lower orders。
The pride of origin； which is natural to the Eng
