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II. State Taxes upon Personal Property-Licenses, &c., in America-
General Comparison of the English and American Systems of Taxa-
tion-Evil Effects of the present Taxes in England
CHAPTER IX.
THE SOCIAL INFLUENCE OF DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA.
I. Political Equality-Respect paid to Electors-Success of talented Men-
Familiar intercourse - Equality at the President's Levee, in the
Common Schools, in Churches, and in Travelling-Education provided
by the State-Colleges-The Newspaper Press-Ignorance and Indif-
ference in England to great public events-Liberty: Freedom of
Discussion, and of Political Association-Its Effects upon National
Character
II. The Diffusion of Wealth-Law of Descent, and absence of Entails-Ab-
sence of a favoured class monopolising Public Places of Honour and
Profit-Impossibility of there being an Aristocracy in America-Ame-
rican Farmers working on their own Land-Condition of the Agri-
cultural Population of the United States
CHAPTER X.
THE SOCIAL INFLUENCE OF DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA (CONTINUED).
I. Why the abundance of land is not the cause of American prosperity-
Condition of Russia, of Lower Canada, and of the people of England,
in the olden times-The state of Society in the British Colonies-Public
spirit, energy, and enterprise, created by Democracy-Fraternity: The
desire to secure the good opinion of, and to be useful to, the Public
II. Superior Morality of the Women of America the Consequence of Demo-
cratic Institutions-Respect paid to Women
III. Temperance-Beneficial effects of the absence of an Established Church
-Question as to the advantages to be derived from the Endowment
of all Religious Sects.
IV. Competition in Trades and Professions-Absence of a class independent
of business-How Democratic Institutions secure Employment for the
People better than Aristocratic
Page
76
79
80
82
83
84
85
CHAPTER XI.
I. Mr. McCulloch's argument on the Division of Land in France .
II. France compared with Great Britain and Ireland-The future in France
III. The Division of Land in Ireland-Causes of Irish distress, and the Remedy
-How the English Government met the late crisis
IV. The pretended over-population of England and Ireland-Efficacy of De-
mocracy in securing a Division of the Land-The beneficial effects of
such Division-How Minute Division will be prevented-The Popu-
lation Question
V. Supposed advantages derived by Society from an Hereditary Aristocracy
--Evils produced by that class-Usefulness of a Middle Class uncon-
nected with business
87
89
90
93
96
CHAPTER XII.
THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA AND ENGLAND COMPARED.
I. Pauperism and Crime in America-Poor-laws-Friendly and Benefit So-
cieties-Savings Banks-Life Insurance-Needle-women-Domestic
Service Condition of Irish and German Emigrants - English and
Scotch Emigrants-Disadvantages of a new country-The new Towns,
want of comfort, &c.
II. General state of Society-Competition in Trade-Employment for Me-
chanics and Labourers-Servants-The population of the thinly-settled
Districts-Pauperism and Crime amongst Emigrants
III. General comparison between the condition of the various classes of
society in England and the United States
CHAPTER XIII.
98
99
100
THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA AND ENGLAND COMPARED
(CONTINUED.)
I. General equality in America-Food, Clothing, Dwellings, Health, Amuse-
ments, &c.-Effects of Climate, &c.
II. Condition of large American cities-The Country compared with England
-Emigration-Character of the Americans
CHAPTER XIV.
AMERICAN POLITICS AND PARTIES.
I. Unanimity of opinion on fundamental principles-American opinion of
Monarchy
II. Free-trade-Triumph of Free-trade in the United States
102
103
107
108
III. The Currency question-The Paper-money Nuisance-Modern American
opinion on this subject
IV. The Internal Improvement question-Power of Congress
110
V. The Public Land question
VI. The Slavery question-Position of Parties-Prospects of Abolition
VII. The various parties, Whigs, Democrats, Liberty-men, and Native Ame-
ricans, described
111
CHAPTER XV.
THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION.
I. The Legislative Power-Composition of the two Houses of Parliament-
Sham Representation of the People
II. Voting by Proxy in the House of Lords-Power of the Sovereign-Powers
of the Ministry-Modern Theory of the British Constitution-Defence
of the existing Electoral System
113
114
III. Want of local Self-Government
115
IV. Proposed Reform of the Constitution-Separate Legislatures for different
parts of the Empire
116
CHAPTER XVI.
THE CHARACTER OF BRITISH LEGISLATION AND GOVERNMENT.
I. Advantages derived from the partial adoption of the Representative
Principle-Further advantages of its entire adoption
II. The Army and Navy-The Established Church
III. How the British Constitution may be reformed-Consequences of an
improved Representation of the People-Impoverishment of the Aris-
tocracy-Who are the Aristocracy?
117
118
IV. Comparison between the American and English systems of Govern-
ment and Legislation
CHAPTER XVII.
THE SOCIAL INFLUENCE OF THE ARISTOCRATIC SYSTEM IN ENGLAND.
I. Neglect to provide Instruction-The Prevention of Cheap Newspapers
-Want of exercise in the Rights and Duties of Freemen-Laws re-
straining Political Discussion and Political Associations-Spirit of
caste created by the existence of a Titled Class-Extinguishment of
Humane and Fraternal Sentiments
II. Laws creating a Monopoly of the Land and impeding its Transfer-
Want of Small Farms owned by the cultivators-Servile Tenants and
Poor Labourers-Immense Manufacturing Population-Wars against
Liberty, and their consequences-The National Debt-Vicious system
of Taxation-Lavish Expenditure-Evil consequences of the Standing
Army
III. Government Patronage, how dispensed, Social Influence of the System
-The Effects of the Aristocratic Church Establishment upon the
Religion of the Country
119
121
122
123
IV. Social consequences of the Laws being obscure and the Administration
of Justice enormously expensive-Want of a rational and humane
system of Poor Laws-Want of due attention to the Health of Towns 124
V. Causes of Female Immorality detailed 125
VI. What the People's Parliament and Government will do, and what will
be the social consequences of Democracy in Great Britain and Ireland 125
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE LIBERTIES OF ENGLISHMEN, WANT OF FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS, AND OF DISCUSSION-ORAL AND WRITTEN.
I. Blackstone's definition of Natural Rights-Violation of those Rights-
Right of Petitioning-Origin of the Laws prohibiting Free Dis-
cussion-Mr. Fox Maule's remarks on the Six Acts, and the Conduct
of the Government of 1817-Permission of Free Discussion-Danger
of attending Public Meetings
II. The Act 39 Geo. III. prohibiting Associations-Power of Justices over
Innkeepers-The Law prohibiting Lectures and Public Meetings in
unlicensed places
III. The Act 57 Geo. III.; prohibition of Societies-The Act 60 Geo. III.,
prohibiting Meetings of more than 50 persons, unless &c.-Conse-
quences of exciting contempt of the Government, &c.-Prohibition of
flags, music, &c. at Public Meetings
IV. What is an Unlawful Assembly-What is a Riot-The Riot Act-The
Act 60 Geo. III., prohibiting the Learning the Use of Arms-The
Right to possess Arms-How that Right is dealt with
CHAPTER XIX.
128
130
131
132
OF THE PRESS, AND OF DISCUSSION-ORAL AND WRITTEN-(CONTINUED).
I. What is Sedition-Chief Justice Wilde's conflicting definitions-Baron
Alderson's definition of an Illegal Assembly-Chief Justice Tindal's
definition of Sedition
134
II. Specimen of Sedition cases-Charge of the Recorder of London-Defini-
tion of Sedition given by the Criminal Law Commissioners
III. Practical Operation of the Laws-Report of a recent trial for Sedition
IV. Remarks on these Laws-Under what circumstances they are enforced
V. The Statute 25 Edward III.-What is Treason-Liability of Newspaper
Proprietors for publishing Reports of Seditious Speeches
VI. What is Conspiracy?
VII. What is a Libel on the Government or Institutions of the Country?
VIII. The new Treason and Felony Act-Its real objects and actual operation-
Baron Lefroy's charge in Mr. Mitchell's case-What is Felony or
Treason?
.
IX. The right to discuss the proper Form of Government-Public Meetings,
when not permitted
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
CHAPTER XX.
OF THE PRESS, AND OF DISCUSSION-ORAL AND WRITTEN- -(CONTINUED).
I. Recent Enforcement of the Laws, and conduct of the Press on the occa-
sion-Power of the Government over the Post Office, the Railways,
and Electric Telegraphs-The Alien Law
144
II. Why Trial by Jury is usually no protection in Political cases-Why the
Habeas Corpus Act is of little value
145
III. Power of Parliament and its Disposition-The Laws to prevent the dis-
semination of Political Knowledge through a Cheap Press
IV. Recapitulation-General view of the Laws and their Operation-Oc-
casional permission to violate some of the Laws
146
147
V. Temporary Laws of the French Republic
149
150
VI. Restraints on Religious Liberty-Law against Attacks on the Tenets of
the Established Church-Apostacy, Heresy, Blasphemy
VII. Imprisonment without regular Trial-Sureties for good behaviour-Con-
viction of suspected persons-Imprisonment for possessing Arms-
Punishment for Poverty-Blackstone on the Liberty of the Subject-
Proposed Reform of the Laws
CHAPTER XXI.
151
THE PROSPECTS OF A REFORM IN THE CONSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN AND
IRELAND, AND THE PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES OF ITS POSTPONEMENT.
I. Political parties described
II. Probable treatment of the Reform question by the Whigs-Difficulties
likely to arise from Treaties with European Monarchs
III. Probable consequences of a war against liberal principles-The United
States and the British provinces in America-French and American
Navies-Necessity of Arming the People to resist Invasion-Conse-
quences of this measure.
153
155
156
IV. Necessity of immediately establishing popular Institutions in England-
Probable consequences of the refusal of Parliamentary Reform
V. Ignorance on political subjects-Want of cheap Democratic Daily News-
papers, and other Democratic organs
157
158
VI. Character of English Newspapers-Their conduct with respect to recent
events on the Continent-Their ignorance and misrepresentations on the
subject of Democracy in America-Conduct of the Clergy-The Church
service-Conduct of the Judges-The future progress of Democracy. 159
CHAPTER XXII.
THE TESTIMONY OF EUROPEAN WRITERS ON AMERICA.
I. Uniformity of opinion on certain points-The opinion of the principal
Continental Writers on the effects of the Democratic Institutions and
Laws of America-Opinions of the principal English Writers on the
same subject-De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America"
II. "Domestic Manners of the Americans." By Mrs. Trollope
III, "Men and Manners in America." By the author of "Cyril Thornton."
(Captain Hamilton)
162
163
164
IV. "A Diary in America, with Remarks upon its Institutions." By Captain
Marryatt
166
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE TESTIMONY OF EUROPEAN WRITERS ON AMERICA (CONTINUED).
I. Mr. Charles Dickens' Notes on America
168
II. "Travels in North America, in the years 1841-42." By C. Lyell, Esq.
III. Miss Martineau's Works on America
169
171
IV. "Three Years in North America." By J. Stuart, Esq.
172
V. "America-Historical, Statistic, and Descriptive." By J. S. Bucking-
ham, Esq.
173
VI. "Hochelaga; or, England in the New World." Edited by the author of
"The Crescent and the Cross"
174
VII. Vast importance of the Question as to the effect of Democratic Institu-
tions-Extension of American Principles-Necessity for studying the
Great Problem
175
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE MISSION OF DEMOCRACY.
I. Object of this enquiry-What Social Changes will result from Demo-
cracy-How these changes will be effected-Origin of the present
system of Society-Why it has continued-Its prominent evils
II. Evils remaining untouched by Democratic Institutions-What is neces-
sary to make Man virtuous and happy, and cherish mutual affection
III. The source of all debasing pasions-Evils of the present state of
Society detailed
IV. Description of the existing Social System of France, by M. Louis Blanc
-The evils of Excessive Competition
V. Review of the Speech of M. Thiers, on the Right of Labour, and in de-
fence of the present Social System-Advantages derived by the
Working Classes from Improved Machinery-Respect due to Legal
Governments
VI. The question whether the Poor should be left to starve-The English
Law-M. Thiers' views on this subject, and on Liberty, the founda-
tions of Society, &c.-Absolute necessity of a Poor Law in France
VII. Criticism of M. Thiers' opinions on the Foundations of Society
VIII. The government of a well-organised Society, defined and contrasted
with M. Thiers' theory-M. Thiers on God's promise that the labourer
shall be rewarded for his toil-True criterion of the Prosperity of a
Country contrasted with M. Thiers' criterion-His popularity with the
English Tories
177
179
181
184
191
192
194