308.] General Remarks On The Administration Of The United States Differences of the States of the Union in their system of administration--Activity and perfection of the local authorities decrease towards the South--Power of the magistrate increases; that of the elector diminishes--Administration passes from the township to the county--States of New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania--Principles of administration applicable to the whole Union--Election of public officers, and inalienability of their functions--Absence of gradation of ranks--Introduction of judicial resources into the administration.
I have already premised that, after having examined the constitution of the township and the county of New England in detail, I should take a general view of the remainder of the Union.

Townships and a local activity exist in every State; but in no part of the confederation is a township to be met with precisely similar to those of New England.

The more we descend towards the South, the less active does the business of the township or parish become; the number of magistrates, of functions, and of rights decreases; the population exercises a less immediate influence on affairs; town meetings are less frequent, and the subjects of debate less numerous.

The power of the elected magistrate is augmented and that of the elector diminished, whilst the public spirit of the local communities is less awakened and less influential.

*f These differences may be perceived to a certain extent in the State of New York; they are very sensible in Pennsylvania; but they become less striking as we advance to the northwest.