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ed in fewer hands[1]. The same tendency is faintly observable in some other States[2]; but in general the prominent feature of the administration in the United States is its excessive local independence.
OF THE STATE.
I have described the townships and the
administration; it now remains for me to speak of the
State and the Government. This is ground I may
pass over rapidly, without fear of being misunderstood;
for all I have to say is to be found in written
forms of the various constitutions, which are
easily to be procured[3]. These constitutions rest
upon a simple and rational theory; their forms
have been adopted by all constitutional nations,
and are become familiar to us.
In this place, therefore, it is only necessary for me to give a short analysis; I shall endeavour afterwards to pass judgement upon what I now describe.
- ↑ Thus the district-attorney is directed to recover all fines below the sum of fifty dollars, unless such a right has been specially awarded to another magistrate. Revised Statutes, vol. i. p. 383.
- ↑ Several traces of centralization may be discovered in Massachusetts; for instance, the committees of the town-schools are directed to make an annual report to the Secretary of State. See Laws of Massachusetts, vol. i. p. 367.
- ↑ See, at the end of the volume, the text of the Constitution of New York.
