American Institutions and Their Influence | Page 2

may be had at

the same moderate price.
A few notes, in addition to those contained in the former editions, have
been made by the American editor, which upon a reperusal of the
volume seemed useful if not necessary: and some statistical results of
the census of 1840 have been added, in connection with similar results
given by the author from returns previous to that year.

PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
The following work of M. DE TOCQUEVILLE has attracted great
attention throughout Europe, where it is universally regarded as a
sound, philosophical, impartial, and remarkably clear and distinct view
of our political institutions, and of our manners, opinions, and habits, as
influencing or influenced by those institutions. Writers, reviewers, and
statesmen of all parties, have united in the highest commendations of
its ability and integrity. The people, described by a work of such a
character, should not be the only one in Christendom unacquainted
with its contents. At least, so thought many of our most distinguished
men, who have urged the publishers of this edition to reprint the work,
and present it to the American public. They have done so in the hope of
promoting among their countrymen a more thorough knowledge of
their frames of government, and a more just appreciation of the great
principles on which they are founded.
But it seemed to them that a reprint in America of the views of an
author so well entitled to regard and confidence, without any correction
of the few errors or mistakes that might be found, would be in effect to
give authenticity to the whole work, and that foreign readers, especially,
would consider silence, under such circumstances, as strong evidence
of the accuracy of its statements. The preface to the English edition, too,
was not adapted to this country, having been written, as it would seem,
in reference to the political questions which agitate Great Britain. The
publishers, therefore, applied to the writer of this, to furnish them with
a short preface, and such notes upon the text as might appear necessary
to correct any erroneous impressions. Having had the honor of a
personal acquaintance with M. DE TOCQUEVILLE while he was in
this country; having discussed with him many of the topics treated of in
this book; having entered deeply into the feelings and sentiments which
guided and impelled him in his task, and having formed a high

admiration of his character and of this production, the writer felt under
some obligation to aid in procuring for one whom he ventures to call
his friend, a hearing from those who were the subjects of his
observations. These circumstances furnish to his own mind an apology
for undertaking what no one seemed willing to attempt,
notwithstanding his want of practice in literary composition, and
notwithstanding the impediments of professional avocations, constantly
recurring, and interrupting that strict and continued examination of the
work, which became necessary, as well to detect any errors of the
author, as any misunderstanding or misrepresentation of his meaning
by his translator. If the same circumstances will atone in the least for
the imperfections of what the editor has contributed to this edition, and
will serve to mitigate the severity of judgment upon those contributions,
it is all he can hope or ask.
The NOTES are confined, with very few exceptions, to the correction
of what appeared to be misapprehensions of the author in regard to
some matters of fact, or some principles of law, and to explaining his
meaning where the translator had misconceived it. For the latter
purpose the original was consulted; and it affords great pleasure to bear
witness to the general fidelity with which Mr. REEVE has transferred
the author's ideas from French into English. He has not been a literal
translator, and this has been the cause of the very few errors which
have been discovered: but he has been more and better: he has caught
the spirit of M. DE TOCQUEVILLE, has understood the sentiment he
meant to express, and has clothed it in the language which M. DE
TOCQUEVILLE would have himself used, had he possessed equal
facility in writing the English language.
Being confined to the objects before mentioned, the reader will not find
any comments on the theoretical views of our author. He has discussed
many subjects on which very different opinions are entertained in the
United States; but with an ability, a candor, and an evident devotion to
the cause of truth, which will commend his views to those who most
radically dissent from them. Indeed, readers of the most discordant
opinions will find that he frequently agrees with both sides, and as
frequently differs from them. As an instance, his remarks on slavery
will not be found to coincide throughout with the opinions either