of which no change is to be effected in it but by a concurrence of two-thirds of all the legislative bodies, of the union in demanding such change, and the consent of three-fourths to its ratification; and also in the rule, by which, in certain cases, a majority of two-thirds of the senate of the United States is required for the adoption of measures of political importance. But I think on examination that this provision will be found to contain a few elements in common with the principle that is generally advocated by the "Quarterly" as being "conservative." At first sight it certainly appears that when a majority, wanting but one or two votes of the requisite two-thirds, is forced to yield to the wishes of a smaller party in the nation or senate, a modification of the oligarchical principle is perceptible; the minority, in fact, carrying their point. But let a question of great public interest arise, a question which awakens the attention, and calls forth the energies of the mass of the people in its support, and, in a government constituted like that of America, it will be found that the necessary majorities will never be wanting.

states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of threefourths of the several states, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the congress," &c. &c.

It may be a conservative principle, but it is one that in effect has its foundation in the necessity of placing beyond a doubt the general assent to any measure of vital importance by the great preponderance required, and thus virtually amounts to an extension of the principle of governing in accordance to the will of the “numerical majority.”

Fourthly. The rapid diminution of the public lands will, in the course of time, doubtless alter materially the moral and political aspect of America. Still the closing up of this "safety-valve," as it has been called, of the constitution of the United States must, in all human probability, be remote. The Quarterly is almost justified in calling this an "inexhaustible fund." The government of the United States possesses, in round numbers, one thousand millions of acres of unoccupied land; and, making ample allowance for those parts which are unfruitful or inconvertible to useful purposes, it will be probably long before its population becomes inconveniently crowded.

Up to the present time, twenty millions of acres have been sold; about the same number has been granted by congress for education, internal improvement, &c.; and about eighty millions are in the market, i. e. surveyed, valued, &c. Some estimate may be formed, from the amount of appropriation

CHAPTER X.

Revue Britannique on Finances of the United States.—Letters of General Bernard and Mr F. Cooper, published by General Lafayette, containing answers to the statements of Revue Britannique.

In the month of June 1831, there appeared an article in the Revue Britannique published in Paris, on the finances of France and the United States, in which the expenses of the French and American governments were compared, in a similar spirit to that of the Quarterly. The result of this comparison was asserted to be that, notwithstanding the supposed economy of the American republic, its expenses exceeded, proportionately to its population, those of the French monarchy. As this unexpected statement was made public at a moment when the French budget was under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, and clearly with a view to influence public opinion on so important a subject, it attracted much attention. General Lafayette, better acquainted with the real nature of the American government than any of his colleagues, and naturally more desirous, both on public grounds and from private feeling, of placing the subject in its true

light than perhaps any of his countrymen, would have doubtless been well qualified to reply to the assertions of the Revue Britannique. He preferred, however, addressing two of his friends, in order to obtain such a statement as their intimate acquaintance with the financial details of the United States, and recent personal observation of them, would enable them at once to afford.

He thus elicited a counter-statement from two gentlemen, whose opportunities for forming a correct judgment on the statistics of the United States are undoubted, and whose competency in every sense, to furnish accurate information, few will be inclined to dispute. Mr F. Cooper, of New York, well known as the author of several excellent works, wrote a letter, addressed to General Lafayette, in answer to the statements of the Revue Britannique ; and General Bernard, formerly Napoleon's confidential aide-de-camp (and subsequently several years in the service of the United States, until the revolution of 1830 afforded him an opportunity of returning to his native country, without compromising either the integrity of his principles, or the delicacy of his feelings), also answered General Lafayette's appeal by an able comparative statement on the budgets and financial arrangements of the American and French governments.