democracy in america-1-第24章

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ises　the　maxim　that　every　one　is　the　best　and　the　sole　judge　of　his　own　private　interest；　and　that　society　has　no　right　to　control　a　man's　actions；　unless　they　are　prejudicial　to　the　common　weal；　or　unless　the　common　weal　demands　his　co…operation。　　This　doctrine　is　universally　admitted　in　the　United　States。　　I　shall　hereafter　examine　the　general　influence　which　it　exercises　on　the　ordinary　actions　of　life；　I　am　now　speaking　of　the　nature　of　municipal　bodies。

The　township；　taken　as　a　whole；　and　in　relation　to　the　government　of　the　country；　may　be　looked　upon　as　an　individual　to　whom　the　theory　I　have　just　alluded　to　is　applied。　　Municipal　independence　is　therefore　a　natural　consequence　of　the　principle　of　the　sovereignty　of　the　people　in　the　United　States：　all　the　American　republics　recognize　it　more　or　less；　but　circumstances　have　peculiarly　favored　its　growth　in　New　England。

In　this　part　of　the　Union　the　impulsion　of　political　activity　was　given　in　the　townships；　and　it　may　almost　be　said　that　each　of　them　originally　formed　an　independent　nation。　　When　the　Kings　of　England　asserted　their　supremacy；　they　were　contented　to　assume　the　central　power　of　the　State。　　The　townships　of　New　England　remained　as　they　were　before；　and　although　they　are　now　subject　to　the　State；　they　were　at　first　scarcely　dependent　upon　it。　　It　is　important　to　remember　that　they　have　not　been　invested　with　privileges；　but　that　they　have；　on　the　contrary；　forfeited　a　portion　of　their　independence　to　the　State。　　The　townships　are　only　subordinate　to　the　State　in　those　interests　which　I　shall　term　social；　as　they　are　common　to　all　the　citizens。　　They　are　independent　in　all　that　concerns　themselves；　and　amongst　the　inhabitants　of　New　England　I　believe　that　not　a　man　is　to　be　found　who　would　acknowledge　that　the　State　has　any　right　to　interfere　in　their　local　interests。　　The　towns　of　New　England　buy　and　sell；　sue　or　are　sued；　augment　or　diminish　their　rates；　without　the　slightest　opposition　on　the　part　of　the　administrative　authority　of　the　State。

They　are　bound；　however；　to　comply　with　the　demands　of　the　community。　If　the　State　is　in　need　of　money；　a　town　can　neither　give　nor　withhold　the　supplies。　　If　the　State　projects　a　road；　the　township　cannot　refuse　to　let　it　cross　its　territory；　if　a　police　regulation　is　made　by　the　State；　it　must　be　enforced　by　the　town。　　A　uniform　system　of　instruction　is　organized　all　over　the　country；　and　every　town　is　bound　to　establish　the　schools　which　the　law　ordains。　　In　speaking　of　the　administration　of　the　United　States　I　shall　have　occasion　to　point　out　the　means　by　which　the　townships　are　compelled　to　obey　in　these　different　cases：　I　here　merely　show　the　existence　of　the　obligation。　Strict　as　this　obligation　is；　the　government　of　the　State　imposes　it　in　principle　only；　and　in　its　performance　the　township　resumes　all　its　independent　rights。　　Thus；　taxes　are　voted　by　the　State；　but　they　are　levied　and　collected　by　the　township；　the　existence　of　a　school　is　obligatory；　but　the　township　builds；　pays；　and　superintends　it。　　In　France　the　State…　collector　receives　the　local　imposts；　in　America　the　town…collector　receives　the　taxes　of　the　State。　　Thus　the　French　Government　lends　its　agents　to　the　commune；　in　America　the　township　is　the　agent　of　the　Government。　　This　fact　alone　shows　the　extent　of　the　differences　which　exist　between　the　two　nations。

Public　Spirit　Of　The　Townships　Of　New　England

How　the　township　of　New　England　wins　the　affections　of　its　inhabitants　…Difficulty　of　creating　local　public　spirit　in　Europe　…　　The　rights　and　duties　of　the　American　township　favorable　to　it　…　Characteristics　of　home　in　the　United　States　…　Manifestations　of　public　spirit　in　New　England　…　Its　happy　effects。

In　America；　not　only　do　municipal　bodies　exist；　but　they　are　kept　alive　and　supported　by　public　spirit。　　The　township　of　New　England　possesses　two　advantages　which　infallibly　secure　the　attentive　interest　of　mankind；　namely；　independence　and　authority。　　Its　sphere　is　indeed　small　and　limited；　but　within　that　sphere　its　action　is　unrestrained；　and　its　independence　gives　to　it　a　real　importance　which　its　extent　and　population　may　not　always　ensure。　

It　is　to　be　remembered　that　the　affections　of　men　generally　lie　on　the　side　of　authority。　　Patriotism　is　not　durable　in　a　conquered　nation。　　The　New　Englander　is　attached　to　his　township；　not　only　because　he　was　born　in　it；　but　because　it　constitutes　a　social　body　of　which　he　is　a　member；　and　whose　government　claims　and　deserves　the　exercise　of　his　sagacity。　　In　Europe　the　absence　of　local　public　spirit　is　a　frequent　subject　of　regret　to　those　who　are　in　power；　everyone　agrees　that　there　is　no　surer　guarantee　of　order　and　tranquility；　and　yet　nothing　is　more　difficult　to　create。　　If　the　municipal　bodies　were　made　powerful　and　independent；　the　authorities　of　the　nation　might　be　disunited　and　the　peace　of　the　country　endangered。　　Yet；　without　power　and　independence；　a　town　may　contain　good　subjects；　but　it　can　have　no　active　citizens。　　Another　important　fact　is　that　the　township　of　New　England　is　so　constituted　as　to　excite　the　warmest　of　human　affections；　without　arousing　the　ambitious　passions　of　the　heart　of　man。　　The　officers　of　the　country　are　not　elected；　and　their　authority　is　very　limited。　　Even　the　State　is　only　a　second…rate　community；　whose　tranquil　and　obscure　administration　offers　no　inducement　sufficient　to　draw　men　away　from　the　circle　of　their　interests　into　the　turmoil　of　public　affairs。　　The　federal　government　confers　power　and　honor　on　the　men　who　conduct　it；　but　these　individuals　can　never　be　very　numerous。　The　high　station　of　the　Presidency　can　only　be　reached　at　an　advanced　period　of　life；　and　the　other　federal　functionaries　are　generally　men　who　have　been　favored　by　fortune；　or　distinguished　in　some　other　career。　Such　cannot　be　the　permanent　aim　of　the　ambitious。　　But　the　township　serves　as　a　centre　for　the　desire　of　public　esteem；　the　want　of　exciting　interests；　and　the　taste　for　authority　and　popularity；　in　the　midst　of　the　ordinary　relations　of　life；　and　the　passions　which　commonly　embroil　society　change　their　character　when　they　find　a　vent　so　near　the　domestic　hearth　and　the　family　circle。

In　the　American　States　power　has　been　disseminated　with　admirable　skill　for　the　purpose　of　interesting　the　greatest　possible　number　of　persons　in　the　common　weal。　　Independently　of　the　electors　who　are　from　time　to　time　called　into　action；　the　body　politic　is　divided　into　innumerable　functionaries　and　officers；　who　all；　in　their　several　spheres；　represent　the　same　powerful　whole　in　whose　name　they　act。　　The　local　administration　thus　affords　an　unfailing　source　of　profit　and　interest　to　a　vast　number　of　individuals。

The　American　system；　which　divides　the　local　authority　among　so　many　citizens；　does　not　scruple　to　multiply　the　functions　of　the　town　officers。　For　in　the　United　States　it　is　believed；　and　with　truth；　that　patriotism　is　a　kind　of　devotion　which　is　strengthened　by　ritual　observance。　　In　this　manner　the　activity　of　the　township　is　continually　perceptible；　it　is　daily　manifested　in　the　fulfilment　of　a　duty　or　the　exercise　of　a　right；　and　a　constant　though　gentle　motion　is　thus　kept　up　in　society　which　animates　without　disturbing　it。

The　American　attaches　himself　to　his　home　as　the　mountaineer　clings　to　his　hills；　because　the　characteristic　features　of　his　country　are　there　more　distinctly　marked　than　elsewhere。　　The　existence　of　the　townships　of　New　England　is　in　general　a　happy　one。　　Their　government　is　suited　to　their　tastes；　and　chosen　by　themselves。　　In　the　midst　of　the　profound　peace　and　general　comfort　which　reign　in　America　the　commotions　of　municipal　discord　are　unfrequent。　　The　conduct　of　local　business　is　easy。　　The　political　education　of　the　people　has　long　been　complete；　say　rather　that　it　was　complete　when　the　people　first　set　foot　upon　the　soil。　　In　New　England　no　tradition　exists　of　a　distinction　of　ranks；　no　portion　of　the　community　is　tempted　to　oppress　the　remainder；　and　the　abuses　which　may　injure　isolated　individuals　are　forgotten　in　the　general　contentment　which　prevails。　　If　the　government　is　defective　（and　it　would　no　doubt　be　easy　t