laying it off into two or three States only. Even on this view, however,
there would still be something to be said against it, which might render
it at least doubtful. But that is a question, which good faith forbids
us to receive into discussion. This requires us to state the question in
its just form, How may the territories of the Union be disposed of, so
as to produce the greatest degree of happiness to their inhabitants?
With respect to the maritime States, little or nothing remains to
be done. With respect, then, to the ultramontane States, will their
inhabitants be happiest, divided into States of thirty thousand square
miles, not quite as large as Pennsylvania, or into States of one hundred
and sixty thousand square miles each, that is to say, three times as
large as Virginia within the Allegany? They will not only be happier in
States of moderate size, but it is the only way in which they can exist
as a regular society. Considering the American character in general,
that of those people particularly, and the energetic nature of our
governments, a State of such extent as one hundred and sixty thousand
square miles, would soon crumble into little ones. These are the
circumstances, which reduce the Indians to such small societies. They
would produce an effect on our people, similar to this. They would not
be broken into such small pieces, because they are more habituated to
subordination, and value more a government of regular law. But you
would surely reverse the nature of things, in making small States on
the ocean, and large ones beyond the mountains. If we could, in our
consciences, say, that great States beyond the mountains will make the
people happiest, we must still ask, whether they will be contented to be
laid off into large States. They certainly will not: and if they decide
to divide themselves, we are not able to restrain them. They will end by
separating from our confederacy, and becoming its enemies. We had better
then look forward, and see what will be the probable course of things.
This will surely be a division of that country into States, of a small,