按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Americans towards the West； but we can readily apprehend its more immediate results。 As a portion of the inhabitants annually leave the States in which they were born； the population of these States increases very slowly； although they have long been established： thus in Connecticut； which only contains fifty…nine inhabitants to the square mile； the population has not increased by more than one…quarter in forty years； whilst that of England has been augmented by one…third in the lapse of the same period。 The European emigrant always lands； therefore； in a country which is but half full； and where hands are in request： he becomes a workman in easy circumstances； his son goes to seek his fortune in unpeopled regions； and he becomes a rich landowner。 The former amasses the capital which the latter invests； and the stranger as well as the native is unacquainted with want。
The laws of the United States are extremely favorable to the division of property； but a cause which is more powerful than the laws prevents property from being divided to excess。 *c This is very perceptible in the States which are beginning to be thickly peopled； Massachusetts is the most populous part of the Union； but it contains only eighty inhabitants to the square mile； which is must less than in France； where 162 are reckoned to the same extent of country。 But in Massachusetts estates are very rarely divided； the eldest son takes the land； and the others go to seek their fortune in the desert。 The law has abolished the rights of primogeniture； but circumstances have concurred to re…establish it under a form of which none can complain； and by which no just rights are impaired。
＇Footnote c： In New England the estates are exceedingly small； but they are rarely subjected to further division。＇
A single fact will suffice to show the prodigious number of individuals who leave New England； in this manner； to settle themselves in the wilds。 We were assured in 1830 that thirty…six of the members of Congress were born in the little State of Connecticut。 The population of Connecticut； which constitutes only one forty…third part of that of the United States； thus furnished one…eighth of the whole body of representatives。 The States of Connecticut； however； only sends five delegates to Congress； and the thirty…one others sit for the new Western States。 If these thirty…one individuals had remained in Connecticut； it is probable that instead of becoming rich landowners they would have remained humble laborers； that they would have lived in obscurity without being able to rise into public life； and that； far from becoming useful members of the legislature； they might have been unruly citizens。
These reflections do not escape the observation of the Americans any more than of ourselves。 〃It cannot be doubted；〃 says Chancellor Kent in his 〃Treatise on American Law；〃 〃that the division of landed estates must produce great evils when it is carried to such excess as that each parcel of land is insufficient to support a family； but these disadvantages have never been felt in the United States； and many generations must elapse before they can be felt。 The extent of our inhabited territory； the abundance of adjacent land； and the continual stream of emigration flowing from the shores of the Atlantic towards the interior of the country； suffice as yet； and will long suffice； to prevent the parcelling out of estates。〃
It is difficult to describe the rapacity with which the American rushes forward to secure the immense booty which fortune proffers to him。 In the pursuit he fearlessly braves the arrow of the Indian and the distempers of the forest； he is unimpressed by the silence of the woods； the approach of beasts of prey does not disturb him； for he is goaded onwards by a passion more intense than the love of life。 Before him lies a boundless continent； and he urges onwards as if time pressed； and he was afraid of finding no room for his exertions。 I have spoken of the emigration from the older States； but how shall I describe that which takes place from the more recent ones？ Fifty years have scarcely elapsed since that of Ohio was founded； the greater part of its inhabitants were not born within its confines； its capital has only been built thirty years； and its territory is still covered by an immense extent of uncultivated fields； nevertheless the population of Ohio is already proceeding westward； and most of the settlers who descend to the fertile savannahs of Illinois are citizens of Ohio。 These men left their first country to improve their condition； they quit their resting…place to ameliorate it still more； fortune awaits them everywhere； but happiness they cannot attain。 The desire of prosperity is become an ardent and restless passion in their minds which grows by what it gains。 They early broke the ties which bound them to their natal earth； and they have contracted no fresh ones on their way。 Emigration was at first necessary to them as a means of subsistence； and it soon becomes a sort of game of chance； which they pursue for the emotions it excites as much as for the gain it procures。
Sometimes the progress of man is so rapid that the desert reappears behind him。 The woods stoop to give him a passage； and spring up again when he has passed。 It is not uncommon in crossing the new States of the West to meet with deserted dwellings in the midst of the wilds； the traveller frequently discovers the vestiges of a log house in the most solitary retreats； which bear witness to the power； and no less to the inconstancy of man。 In these abandoned fields； and over these ruins of a day； the primeval forest soon scatters a fresh vegetation； the beasts resume the haunts which were once their own； and Nature covers the traces of man's path with branches and with flowers； which obliterate his evanescent track。
I remember that； in crossing one of the woodland districts which still cover the State of New York； I reached the shores of a lake embosomed in forests coeval with the world。 A small island； covered with woods whose thick foliage concealed its banks； rose from the centre of the waters。 Upon the shores of the lake no object attested the presence of man except a column of smoke which might be seen on the horizon rising from the tops of the trees to the clouds； and seeming to hang from heaven rather than to be mounting to the sky。 An Indian shallop was hauled up on the sand； which tempted me to visit the islet that had first attracted my attention； and in a few minutes I set foot upon its banks。 The whole island formed one of those delicious solitudes of the New World which almost lead civilized man to regret the haunts of the savage。 A luxuriant vegetation bore witness to the incomparable fruitfulness of the soil。 The deep silence which is common to the wilds of North America was only broken by the hoarse cooing of the wood…pigeon； and the tapping of the woodpecker upon the bark of trees。 I was far from supposing that this spot had ever been inhabited； so completely did Nature seem to be left to her own caprices； but when I reached the centre of the isle I thought that I discovered some traces of man。 I then proceeded to examine the surr