CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE '^'*'™" arVl030 """"""y Library o„,3„3 1924 Iffl™ Cornell University Library The original of tliis bool< is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924031172293 A HISTORY OF AMERICAN POLITICAL THEORIES j2^^^ A HIST#RY OF AMERICAN POLITICAL THEORIES BY CHARLES EDWARD MERRIAM, Ph.D. PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WeiD gorft THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1926 Ati rights reserved Copyright, 1903, By the MACMILLAN COMPANY, Set up and electrotyped. Published February, 1903 3Co PROFESSOR WILLIAM ARCHIBALD DUNNING -MY TEACHER AND GUIDE IN THE STUDY OF POLITICAL THEORIES THIS VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED PREFACE The development of American political theories has received surprisingly little attention from stu- dents of American history. Even the political ideas of the Revolutionary fathers and the tenets of such important schools as those represented by Jefferson and Adams have not been carefully ana- lyzed or put in their proper perspective. The political theory of the controversies over slavery and the nature of the Union has generally been presented from the partisan point of view, while recent tendencies in political thought have received no adequate notice. In explanation of this fact, it might be said that until very recent times but little interest has been manifested in systematic politics. But while it is true that Americans have never developed systems of politics after the philosophic fashion of the Germans, there has been no dearth of political theory from the days of the Puritans to the present time. Seldom worked out by political scientists or philosophers, American political ideas have generally taken shape in connection with some great question of national policy which has seemed vili PREFACE to require a broad theoretical basis for either con- demnation or approval. Conspicuous examples of this are found in the discussion over the Revo- lution, over slavery and secession. These political theories have played an important part in our national life, and are closely woven into the fabric of American history. Of particular significance are they in view of the fact that they represent the philosophy under which has been developed the mightiest democracy of modern times, or of any time. It is, then, the purpose of this work to present a description and analysis of the characteristic types of political theory that have from time to time been dominant in American political life. An effort has been made throughout to discuss these theories in their relation to the peculiar con- ditions under which they were developed, and to keep in sight the intimate connection between the philosophy and the facts that condition it. Like all other poUtical theory, American political ideas are of Uttle importance aside from the great his- torical movements of which they are an organic part. In the preparation of this volume, use has been made of several articles already published else- where. "Paine's Political Theory" appeared in The Political Science Quarterly for September, 1899, and "The Political Theory of Jefferson" in the same magazine for March, 1902. "The PREFACE IX Political Theory of Calhoun " was printed in The American Jotirnal of Sociology iox Mzj, 1902; and the chapter on pohtical theory in relation to the nature of the Union is an expansion of Chapter IX in my monograph on " The History of the Theory of Sovereignty since Rousseau " (in Co- lumbia University Series in History, Economics, and PubHc Law, Vol. XH, No. 4, 1900). This study is the outgrowth of investigations begun in the Seminar on American Pohtical Phi- losophy given by Professor Dunning in Columbia University, 1 896-1 897; and the writer wishes to acknowledge his deep sense of obhgation for the inspiration then given and for subsequent encour- agement and assistance in the prosecution of this work. Acknowledgment is also due to Professor Judson, Professor Jameson, and Professor Freund of The University of Chicago, to Professor Hart of Harvard, Professor Willoughby of Johns Hopkins, Professor Macdonald of Brown, and others who have kindly read parts of the manuscript and offered invaluable suggestions. September, 1902. : CONTENTS CHAPTER I The Political Theory of the Colonial Period PAGI 1. Introductory considerations i 2. Basis of the Puritan System 2 3. Theocratic elements in Puritanism . j 4. The theory of the relation between church and state 7 5. Democratic elements in Puritanism 15 6. Puritan idea of liberty and equality 23 7. Conclusion as to the Puritans 26 8. Political ideas of the Quakers 27 9. The rise of democratic sentiment in the colonies 32 10. Summary 36 CHAPTER II The Political Theory of the Revolutionary Period 1 Introduction — Sources of information — Historical considerations — Constitutional theory . 38 2. Fundamental principles of the Revolution — Natural rights — The social contract — Popular sover- eignty — The right of revolution — The purpose of government ....... 46 3. Typical Loyalist theory 63 4. Constructive theory of the Patriots Monarchy and aristocracy — Doctrine of dele- gated powers and its application ... 69 (i) Weak government; (2) Separation of office . powers ; (3) Short term of ^^ . : : . : Xll CONTENTS PAGa Theory and practice as to suffrage 84 Qualifications for office 8S Church and state 86 88 Source of Patriot ideas . Conclusions 94 CHAPTER III The Reactionary Movement 1. Historical considerations . 96 2. The Constitutional Convention and the Constitution 99 3. The theory of the Federalist General considerations Democracy and territorial area . 103 Forms of government 106 The division of governmental powers 107 The legislature — The executive — The judi- ciary ..... 109 Guaranties of liberty . 116 Conclusions 119 4. The theory of John Adams Distrust of democracy 125 Theory of aristocracy . 130 Balance of powers 137 5. Summary 141 CHAPTER IV The Jeffersonian Democracy 1 Characteristics of the radical movement 143 2. Jefferson and natural rights . 147 3. Means of perpetuating the social contract (i) Revolution 149 (2) Periodical revision of constitutions 150 . CONTENTS XIU PAGE 4. Attitude toward monarchy IS3 5. Attitude toward aristocracy . 1 54 6. Analysis of JefFersonian democracy 157 7. Comparison between Adams and Jeflferson 161 8. Sources of Jeiferson's tlieory . 167 9. Conclusions 171 10. Summary of the epoch .... 173 CHAPTER V The Jacksonian Democracy 1. Introductory considerations .... 176 2. The development of the executive power 178 In the national government 178 In the states ...... 183 3. The spoils system and rotation in office . 184 4. Abolition of property qualifications for office-holding and suffrage 188 5. Religious liberty 193 6. Democratization of the judiciary . 197 7. Summary of political changes 199 8. Reactionary tendencies in political theory 200 CHAPTER VI The Political Theory of the Slavery Controversy Introduction 203 The Anti-slavery Theory 1 The theory of the radical abolitionists . 206 2. The philosophic argument 217 3. Lincoln's argument 221 4. Conclusion 226 . XIV CONTENTS The Pro-slavery Argument 1. Introduction 227 2. Theory of inequality ...... 229 3. Theory of natural rights 231 4. Concept of liberty . 234 5. Relation between superior and inferior races . 236 6. Slavery and democracy ...... 240 7. Conclusions ........ 246 General conclusions on the slavery controversy . 248 CHAPTER VII Political Theory in Relation to the Nature OF THE Union Introduction 352 1. The compromise theory . -253 At the time of the adoption of the Constitution . 257 Down to 1830 258 Madison's theory of the genesis of the Union . 259 2. The state-sovereignty theory 265 Tucker's contract theory 266 Calhoun's theory of nullification .... 268 The theory of secession 278 3. The Nationalist theory 284 Webster's theory 284 The later Nationalists 290 Burgess's theory 299 4. Summary of the arguments 302 CHAPTER VIII Recent Tendencies 1 General characteristics of recent . theory . 305 2. Attitude toward the contract theory . y^i CONTENTS XT! rAGE 3. Natural rights 309 4. Civil liberty 311 5. Functions of the state 3'S 6. The separation of governmental powers . 322 7. Distinction between state and government . 325 8. Modern democracy 3^7 9. Sociological contributions 3^9 10. Conclusions 33^ CHAPTER IX Conclusion 334 A HISTORY OF AMERICAN POLITICAL THEORIES CHAPTER I THE POLITICAL THEORY OF THE COLONISTS A STUDY of American political theories may appropriately begin with an examination of the ideas of the colonists who laid the foundations upon which the national structure now rests. In view of the fact that the Puritan ideals, political and moral, have been so potent a force in the development of American national characteristics, attention will first be directed to the Puritan political tenets. Puritanism was primarily a religious and not a political movement.^ Its central doctrine was that the spiritual element in worship is of far greater importance than the ceremonial element. The 1 A complete discussion of the Puritan theory is given by H. L. Osgood in the Political Science Quarterly, Vol. VI, " The PoUtical Ideas of the Puritans." See also The Rise of Democracy in Old and New England, by Charles Borgeaud; G. E. Ellis's Puritan Age in Massachusetts; and the standard histories of this period: in particular, Doyle's Puritan Colonies and J. G. Palfrey's History of New England. B I 2 AMERICAN POLITICAL THEORIES Puritans condemned a ritualistic service as not only unnecessary and superfluous, but positively injurious and sinful; and they demanded a style of worship from which the ceremonial features were as nearly as possible eliminated. The Anglican Church they bitterly denounced for its failure to carry through the desired reforms, and its retention of so many of the features of the Roman worship. Theologically, Puritanism was closely allied to Calvinism, and it resembled Calvin's system on the political side also.