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While we were in the valley we heard the shouts of a company of Jacksonians who were rejoicing at the defeat of the Whigs of this county. Why were they rejoicing? because of the triumph of good principles of the cause of virtue & morality? No! but because their party was victorious! ¹ 

I have of late felt a presentiment that the Institutions of the U[nited] States will ere long undergo a change—that there will be a separation of the States. Riot & public murder are common occurrences; every newspaper brings accounts of the laws violated not by individuals merely but by organized societies who act in defiance of the lawfully constituted authorities. What a weakness this proves in the government! It appears to me that the moral principle of the nation is much lower than formerly, much less than vanity will allow. Americans are too fond of attributing the great prosperity of the country to their own good government instead of seeing the source of it in the unbounded resources & favorable political opportunities of the nation.

It is with sorrow that I anticipate the downfall of this republican government; its destruction will be a death blow to Freedom, for if the Free government of the U States cannot exist a century where shall we turn? ...May my fears be foolish; a few years will tell. ²