Alison, in his "History of I'urope," prophesied that " democratic institutions will not and can- ! not exist permanently in North America. The frightful i anarchy which lias prevailed in the Southern States I since the great interests dependent on slave emancij pation were brought into jeopardy, the irresistible j sway of the majority, and the rapid tendency of 1 the majority to deeds of atrocity and blood, the ' increasing jealousy, on mercantile grounds, of the ! Northern and Southern States, all demonstrate I that the Union cannot permanently hold together, ! and that the innumerable millions of the Anglo- .Vmerican race must be divided into separate States, like the descendants of the Gothic conquerors of I Europe. Out of this second great settlement of : mankind will arise separate kingdoms, and interests and passions, as out of the first. But democratic I habits and desires will still prevail, and long after I the necessity and the passions of an advanced stage i of civilization have established firm and aristocratic governments, founded on the sway of property in the old States, republican ambition and jealousy will not cease to impel millions to the great wave that ap-

HISTORY OF WP:STCHESTER COUNTY.

proaches the Rocky Mountains. Democratic ideas will not be moderated in the New World till they have performed their destined end, and brought the Christian race to the shores of the Pacific." All the convulsions thus predicted have taken place with even greater force and consequences than the historian contemplated, and yet our Union is preserved in greater strength and more apparent durability than was thought possible by its most enthusiastic admirer. The practical common sense, the wise and exalted patriotism of the people, have brought order out of confusion, removed obstacles to progress, destroyed institutions inimical to liberty, and placed their country, its institutions and its government upon a higher plane of progress and duration than was thought to be possible by the wisest of its founders.