AMERICA

COMPARED WITH ENGLAND.

THE RESPECTIVE SOCIAL EFFECTS OF THE AMERICAN
AND ENGLISH SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT

AND LEGISLATION;

AND

THE MISSION OF DEMOCRACY.

"LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY."

LONDON:

EFFINGHAM WILSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE.

R9

JONES AND WALLACE, PRINTERS, BRUNSWICK STREET, STAMFORD STREET.

4

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE CONSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENTS OF THE SEVERAL STATES.

I. Continually increasing number of the States-Each State is a distinct Re-

public-For what purposes they are united-The respective powers of

the several Republics and of the Confederation-The Federal Constitution

its general character-Compared with the new German Confederation.

II. How the constitution of a State is formed-Government of a territory before

it becomes a State The constitutions and governments of the several

colonies before the revolution

III. Differences between the present Constitutions, Governments, and Laws of,

the various States-Progress of Democracy-The Constitution of the

State of Ohio described by way of example

Page

1

2

3

IV. The object of a written Constitution-How a Constitution may be amended

-How the Legislative body is chosen in Ohio

V. Remarks on annual elections and vote by ballot

VI. The Executive

VII. The Judiciary System compared with that of England-The Administra-

tion of Justice.

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VIII. The Militia-Local Self-Government

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IX. The Fundamental Rights reserved and guaranteed by the Constitution of

Ohio-Remarks on the violation of these rights in England

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CHAPTER II.

THE CONSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENTS OF THE SEVERAL STATES

(CONTINUED).

I. Comparison between the Constitution of Ohio and the Constitutions of other

States-Sedition Laws in the Slave States-The Electoral Franchise-

Reform of the old Constitutions, and introduction of Universal Suffrage-

Property Qualification for Representatives The various Judiciary

Systems

-

II. The Election of the Judges directly by the people every two or three years

-Whether this may not dispense with the necessity for Trial by Jury.

III. Composition of the Legislative Body in the thirty different States-The

Executive Power in the various States

IV. Tendency of the more modern Constitutions in this respect-Expediency of

leaving the people to elect directly the principal office-holders, judges, &c.

V. The new Constitution for the State of New York

VI. Remarks on the American Electoral System-Universal Suffrage and

Annual Elections

VII. Equal Electoral Districts