The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Advertisement.
• Observations, &c.
• Of the Importance of the Revolution Which Has Established the Independence of the United States.
• Of the Means of Promoting Human Improvement and Happiness In the United States.—and First, of Public Debts.
• Of Peace, and the Means of Perpetuating It.
• Of Liberty.
• Of Liberty of Discussion.
• Of Liberty of Conscience, and Civil Establishments of Religion.
• Of Education.
• Of the Dangers to Which the American States Are Exposed.
• Of Debts and Internal Wars.
• Of an Unequal Distribution of Property.
• Of Trade, Banks, and Paper Credit.
• Of Oaths.
• Of the Negro Trade and Slavery.
• Conclusion.
• Advertisement.
• Letter From M. Turgot
• Appendix,
• Advertisement.
• The Testament of Fortune Ricard
• Tables.
• Observations.
• Remark, By the Translator.
• No. II. Table of the Produce of Each Sum of 100 Livres, Bequeathed By the Testator, From One Hundred to Five Hundred Years.
• No. VI. Table of the Disposition of the 4 Th Sum, Amounting to 29,782,761,461 Liv. 13 Sous.

Of theDangersto which the American States are exposed.

IN the preceding observations, I have aimed at pointing out the means of promoting the progress of improvement in the united States of America. I have insisted, particularly, on the importance of a just settlement of the federal union, and the establishment of a well-guarded and perfect liberty in speculation, in government, in education, and in religion.—The united States are now setting out, and all depends on the care and foresight with which a plan is begun, which hereafter will require only to be strengthened and ripened. This is, therefore, the time for giving them advice; and mean advice (like the present) may suggest some useful hints.—In this country, when any improvements are proposed, or any corrections are attempted of abuses so gross as to make our boasts of liberty ridiculous* , a clamour immediately arises against innovation; and an alarm spreads, left the attempt to repair should destroy.—In America no such prejudices can operate. There abuses have not yet gained sacredness by time. There the way is open to social dignity and happiness; and reason may utter her voice with confidence and success.

[* ]The majority of the British House of Commons is chosen by a few thousands of the dregs of the people, who are constantly paid for their votes.—It is not ridiculous to call a country so governed free?—See a striking account of the State of the British Parliamentary Representation, in Mr. Burgh’s Political Disquisitions, Vol. I. p. 39, &c.

It was proposed to the convention for settling the Massachusett’s constitution, that one of the two houses which constitute the general court of that State should be a representation of persons, and the other a representation of property; and that the body of the people should appoint only the electors of their representatives.—By such regulations corruption in the choice of representatives would be rendered less practicable; and it seems the best method of concentering in the Legislature as much as possible of the virtue and ability of the State, and of making its voice always an expression of the will and best sense of the people.—On this plan also, the number of members constituting a Legislature might be much lessened.—This is a circumstance of particular consequence, to which the united States, in some future period of their increase, will find it necessary to attend. It has been often justly observed, that a legislative body very numerous is little better than a mob.