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excuse to the rich and intelligent for combining their means to
overturn the liberties of a nation； as is to be found in abuses
like those just named。 We very well know that the idea is
prevalent among us of the irresistible power of popular sway； but
he has lived in vain who has seen the course of events in other
nations for the last half century； and has not made the discovery
that men in political matters become the servants of money as
certainly and almost as actively as the spirits of the lamp were
made to do the bidding of Aladdin。 To us； it would seem that the
future of this country holds out but three possible solutions of
the tendencies of the present timeviz。 the bayonet； a return to
the true principles of the original government； or the sway of
money。 For the first it may be too soon； the pressure of society
is scarcely sufficient to elevate a successful soldier to the
height of despotism； though the ladder has been raised more than
once against the citadel of the Constitution by adventurers of
this character； through the folly and heedless impulses of the
masses。 Fifty years hence； and a condition of society will
probably exist among us that would effectually have carried out
the principle of despotic rule which is beginning to show itself
in the bud amongst us； and which is nothing more than the
shadowing out of coming events。
｛legislative body can be brought = the New York State legislature
had enacted laws giving certain tenant farmers the right to
purchase the land they occupied； thus ending one of the causes of
the so…called 〃anti…rent wars〃 of the 1840s in upstate New York｝
Notwithstanding all these obvious tendencies and the manifest
dangers that beset the real liberties of the country； we do not
see that any material influence will be brought by them to bear
upon the fortunes and ascendancy of the particular place of which
we are writing。 Even political despotism in this age would
necessarily respect the ordinary rights of commerce； and quite
probably the greater security that would be given to property；
the increased dignity and authority of the courts of justice； and
the visible control of a vigilant and efficient government might
rather have a tendency to build up than to check the progress of
the capital of any country。
Civil war； in our view； can alone produce any material checks to
the prosperity of these towns of Manhattan。 Against the malign
influence of so great a source of evil no one can with discretion
venture to predict the consequences。 But we do not think that it
enters into the spirit of the true American character； so
remarkable for its mildness and disposition to mercy； in carrying
out the powers of government； to permit such a struggle as would
be likely to produce long…continued； or very withering local
distress。 Compromises in some form or other would be resorted to；
to restore the course of the commerce of the country； and
although it might be； and probably would be； that this could only
be accomplished in the midst of the triumph of disorder；
irresponsibility； and the derangement of most that is necessary
to permanent security and quiet； a set of laws would arise for
the control of the affairs of the towns that would exercise their
sway； without any appeal to regularly constituted authority；
beyond that of the law of necessity。 At this very moment； when we
have all the machinery of an efficient government around us； and
one has a right to look to the courts for the protection of his
rights； a thousand dollars of debt are secured and paid in a
place like that of New York； by the sole influence of commercial
opinion； where one dollar is secured and paid by the process of
law。 Trade issues its own edicts； and they are ordinarily found
to be too powerful for resistance； wherever there are the
concentrated means of rendering them formidable by the magnitude
of the interests they control。
We see； then； nothing in the future that is very likely seriously
to disturb the continued growth and increasing ascendancy of the
great mart of the country。 A trading people will pursue its
interests under any conceivable or tolerable condition of things。
It would require a generation or two； indeed； to obliterate； or
even sensibly to diminish the habits and opinions now in
existence among the people； and it must ever be remembered that
society pursues its regular course more or less successfully；
according to circumstances； even in the midst of revolution； war；
and rapine。 A battle is fought to…day； and a month hence it
becomes difficult to discover its traces； over which the p｛l｝ough
has already passed； and among which the husbandman is resuming
his toil； as he replaces his fences； and clears away his fallen
trees after the passage of the whirlwind。 It follows from these
views； and this course of reasoning； which might be greatly
extended and much more satisfactorily developed； that political
changes have less direct influence on the ordinary march of
society than is commonly supposed。 The spirit of the age is and
must be respected by rulers of every shade of character； and the
fourth estate； as opinion is commonly termed； enters largely into
the ordinary action of every form of government or combination of
social organization that the accidents of history have produced；
or the sagacity and wants of men have more ambitiously paraded
before the eyes of their fellow creatures。 When we couple with
these facts the certainty that there are undercurrents which
enable ordinary society； trade； and all the other active and
daily recurring interests of life； to manage their own affairs
more or less in their own way； it is not easy to foresee any
material consequences to the progress of a place like this at the
mouth of the Hudson； that can trace their rise to the future
course of political events in the country。 We do not anticipate
any apparent dissolution of the ordinary ties of society； for we
know that nations will bear burdens of this nature for a long
period of time； without struggling or making the effort necessary
to remove them； and that it is only when they are felt to be
intolerable to the great body of the people that one may
confidently hope for redress and reformation。 Petty wrongs are
never repaired by the masses； they sometimes vindicate their
rights by means of the strong arm； when seriously required to do
so； but in general the wrong is endured； and the victim immolated
without awakening attention or leaving any regrets among those
who escape its immediate consequences。
It has long been a subject of investigation among moralists；
whether the existence of towns like those of London； Paris； New
York； &c。； is or is not favorable to the development of the
better qualities of the human character。 As for ourselves； we do
not believe any more in the superior innocence and virtue of a
rural population than in that of the largest capitals； perfectly
conscious of the appalling accumulation of vice； and sin； and
crime that is to be found in such places as London and Paris； and
even in New York。 We cannot shut our eyes to the numberless evils
of the same general character of disobedience to the law of God；
that are to be found even in the forest and the most secluded
dales of the country。 If there be incentives to wrong…doing in
the crowded population of a capital town； there are many
incentives to refinement； public virtue； and even piety； that are
not to be met with elsewhere。 In this respect we apprehend that
good and evil are more nearly balanced among us than is commonly
supposed； and we doubt if it were possible to render the laws a
dead letter in the streets of New York； as has been done around
the bell of the Capitol at Albany； and strictly among its rural
population； directly beneath the eyes of the highest authority of
the State。 The danger to valuable and movable property would be
too imminent； and those who fel