So, though universal suffrage, good as far as it goes, is not
alone sufficient, the division of powers affords with it a not
inadequate protection.
No government, whose workings are intrusted to men, ever is or
can be practically perfect--secure all good, and guard against
all evil. In all human governments there will be defects and
abuses, and he is no wise man who expects perfection from
imperfection. But the American constitution, taken as a whole,
and in all its parts, is the least imperfect that has ever
existed, and under it individual rights, personal freedom and
independence, as well as public authority or society, are better
protected than under any other; and as the few barbaric elements
retained from the feudal ages are eliminated, the standard of
education elevated, and the whole population Americanized,
moulded by and to the American system, it will be found to
effect all the good, with as little of the evil, as can be
reasonably expected from any possible civil government or
political constitution of society.
CHAPTER XI.
SECESSION.
The doctrine that a State has a right to secede and carry with it
its population and domain, has been effectually put down, and the
unity and integrity of the United States as a sovereign nation
have been effectively asserted on the battle-field; but the
secessionists, though disposed to submit to superior force, and
demean themselves henceforth as loyal citizens, most likely hold
as firmly to the doctrine as before finding themselves unable to
reduce it to practice, and the Union victory will remain
incomplete till they are convinced in their understandings that
the Union has the better reason as well as the superior military
resources.
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