登陆注册
5259600000011

第11章 CHAPTER III. THE CONFEDERATION(3)

The earlier document enunciated the rights of English subjects, the recent infringement of which made it desirable that they should be reasserted in convincing form. The American documents asserted rights which the colonists generally had enjoyed and which they declared to be "governing principles for all peoples in all future times."

But the greater significance of these State Constitutions is to be found in their quality as working instruments of government.

There was indeed little difference between the old colonial and the new State Governments. The inhabitants of each of the Thirteen States had been accustomed to a large measure of self-government, and when they took matters into their own hands they were not disposed to make any radical changes in the forms to which they had become accustomed. Accordingly the State Governments that were adopted simply continued a framework of government almost identical with that of colonial times. To be sure, the Governor and other appointed officials were now elected either by the people or the legislature, and so were ultimately responsible to the electors instead of to the Crown; and other changes were made which in the long run might prove of far-reaching and even of vital significance; and yet the machinery of government seemed the same as that to which the people were already accustomed. The average man was conscious of no difference at all in the working of the Government under the new order. In fact, in Connecticut and Rhode Island, the most democratic of all the colonies, where the people had been privileged to elect their own governors, as well as legislatures, no change whatever was necessary and the old charters were continued as State Constitutions down to 1818 and 1842, respectively.

To one who has been accustomed to believe that the separation from a monarchical government meant the establishment of democracy, a reading of these first State Constitutions is likely to cause a rude shock. A shrewd English observer, traveling a generation later in the United States, went to the root of the whole matter in remarking of the Americans that, "When their independence was achieved their mental condition was not instantly changed. Their deference for rank and for judicial and legislative authority continued nearly unimpaired."* They might declare that "all men are created equal," and bills of rights might assert that government rested upon the consent of the governed; but these constitutions carefully provided that such consent should come from property owners, and, in many of the States, from religious believers and even followers of the Christian faith. "The man of small means might vote, but none save well-to-do Christians could legislate, and in many states none but a rich Christian could be a governor."** In South Carolina, for example, a freehold of 10,000 pounds currency was required of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of A he Council; 2,000 pounds of the members of the Senate; and, while every elector was eligible to the House of Representatives, he had to acknowledge the being of a God and to believe in a future state of rewards and punishments, as well as to hold "a freehold at least of fifty acres of land, or a town lot."

* George Combe, "Tour of the United States," vol. I, p. 205.

** McMaster, "Acquisition of Industrial, Popular, and Political Rights of Man in America," p. 20.

It was government by a property-owning class, but in comparison with other countries this class represented a fairly large and increasing proportion of the population. In America the opportunity of becoming a property-owner was open to every one, or, as that phrase would then have been understood, to most white men. This system of class control is illustrated by the fact that, with the exception of Massachusetts, the new State Constitutions were never submitted to the people for approval.

The democratic sympathizer of today is inclined to point to those first State Governments as a continuance of the old order. But to the conservative of that time it seemed as if radical and revolutionary changes were taking place. The bills of rights declared, "That no men, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services." Property qualifications and other restrictions on officeholding and the exercise of the suffrage were lessened. Four States declared in their constitutions against the entailment of estates, and primogeniture was abolished in aristocratic Virginia. There was a fairly complete abolition of all vestiges of feudal tenure in the holding of land, so that it may be said that in this period full ownership of property was established. The further separation of church and state was also carried out.

Certainly leveling influences were at work, and the people as a whole had moved one step farther in the direction of equality and democracy, and it was well that the Revolution was not any more radical and revolutionary than it was. The change was gradual and therefore more lasting. One finds readily enough contemporary statements to the effect that, "Although there are no nobles in America, there is a class of men denominated 'gentlemen,' who, by reason of their wealth, their talents, their education, their families, or the offices they hold, aspire to a preeminence," but, the same observer adds, this is something which "the people refuse to grant them." Another contemporary contributes the observation that there was not so much respect paid to gentlemen of rank as there should be, and that the lower orders of people behave as if they were on a footing of equality with them.

同类推荐
  • 金刚顶瑜伽三十七尊出生义

    金刚顶瑜伽三十七尊出生义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 胎藏金刚教法名号

    胎藏金刚教法名号

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 钱氏秘传产科方书名试验录

    钱氏秘传产科方书名试验录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 罗天大醮设醮仪

    罗天大醮设醮仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 春闺辞二首

    春闺辞二首

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 你身后有星光璀璨

    你身后有星光璀璨

    “怎么会?战帝怎么会解散?FLC怎么会隐退?”“就是啊!FLC那么厉害,怎么会放弃所有……
  • 妾本倾城

    妾本倾城

    她,南宫汐雪,倾国又倾城,却倾倒不了心中的那个男人?他在死人堆里救起她,给了她新的名字,新的生命,新的开始,陪伴她走过生命中最孤苦的岁月。她倾心于他,愿意给他全部的生命,她的爱,从来不加掩饰!可是他一心权术,他的爱,沉默隐忍,冰冷刻骨,充满伤害,为了权力不惜一次又一次把她推向别人,甚至嫁做人妻!她嫁的那个王爷可一点也不比他差,虽然他是个傻子,可是却有全天下最纯澈最温暖的心。他就不怕她变心吗?*沈墨,靖王府的少爷,冷漠,英俊,残忍,野心勃勃,对女人来说,他是用来膜拜的。他曾失手杀死心爱的女人,被指为蓄意谋杀,愧疚缠绕他数十年,直到另一个人慢慢打开他的心扉…他却已无力爱她。慕容颜,南王府的继承人,他们在荷花池边相遇,命运的齿轮便开始流转。他灿烂,明媚,温暖人心,是傻子却也不是傻子,在她最需要他的时候,毅然站出来承担了一直逃避的生活…颜笙,聪明坚定的皇宫侍卫统领,一直默默守护着她,沉着,冷静,稳重,只要他在,事情总是会有挽回的余地,只要他在,她就很安心…*《倾城》的视频做好了。。哈哈,是未央爱妃和袖子一起做的,挺漂亮的```那首歌也是我超喜欢的来着。亲们有空去看看。?pstyle=0————倾城入了原创大赛复赛,谢谢大家的支持~~推荐自己的新文。《狐戏红尘》
  • 张子正蒙注

    张子正蒙注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 五凤吟

    五凤吟

    小说叙述明嘉靖年间,浙江宁波府定海县乡宦之子祝琼与友郑飞英、平君赞一同读书,吟诗作赋,与县尹邹公之女雪娥一见钟情,私订婚盟;祝琼又与雪娥婢素梅、轻烟狎戏……描写琪生与五女子之间的艳异情事。
  • 大目干连冥间救母变文

    大目干连冥间救母变文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 你在高原9:荒原纪事

    你在高原9:荒原纪事

    《你在高原(共10册)》为“茅盾文学奖获奖作品全集”系列之一。《你在高原(共10册)》是一批五十年代生人的故事,这一代人经历的是一段极为特殊的生命历程。无论是这之前还是这之后,在相当长的一个历史时期内,这些人都将是具有非凡意义的枢纽式人物。整个汴梁的政治、经济和文化等各种景致尽收眼底,气韵宏阔;而就局部细节上,哪怕是一个人物的眉眼表情,又都纤毫毕现。这特点在这部小说中也有鲜明的体现,错综复杂的历史、宏大的故事背景和众多的人物,展现了近百年来,特别是改革开放以来中国某一地域的面貌,而在具体的细节刻画和人物摹写上,又细致入微、生动感人。
  • 山西黑砖窑事件寻访日记(2007)

    山西黑砖窑事件寻访日记(2007)

    下午去当地一个村调查黑砖窑的一桩旧案。刚来永济时我听当地一个司机讲起,有一个当地的小孩在西安竟然被又骗回附近芮城的黑砖窑。很顺利就找到了小孩的家,听他家人的描述,竟然是一个比曹生村砖窑更残忍、规模更大的砖窑。一样有残酷殴打,一样有死人。是2005年发生的事情。当时窑主或包工头也被捕了,似乎判了,家长说得不是很清楚。但是受害人都没有得到赔偿,他的孩子也只是补发了工资。
  • 姒女仙途

    姒女仙途

    现代少女死后魂魄到异世界的酆都,从一个魂体到鬼修鲜葩,从冥界到道修之地与各路天骄争锋斗奇的成长故事。无CP。
  • 神秘的厨子

    神秘的厨子

    张大奎是个极其细致周密的人,他早已利用查修管道的机会,把这里的管道口与不远处的下水道连接上了。就在他和魏国杰一起把木箱顺下来的时候,负责埋伏在下水道里接应的是肉铺掌柜,他带人迅速把上面顺下来的木箱一一运走。当张大奎跳下来的时候,就听到地面上传来了爆炸声,他的眼泪立刻就流了下来,张大奎知道此时的战友魏国杰凶多吉少,他心里一阵难过……
  • 张文端公诗选

    张文端公诗选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。