The Nature and Practice of Political Association in the United States

Key Insight

Americans are instilled with self-reliance, leading them to use associations for various public and private purposes, from resolving road obstructions to organizing celebrations and combating intemperance. Political association progresses through distinct stages: initially, individuals publicly commit to doctrines, making opinions clearer and uniting supporters. The next stage involves physical assembly, establishing centers of action, fostering vigorous exchange, and enhancing influence.

The highest stage of political association in the US applies the representative system to a party, forming a 'separate nation within the nation.' Delegates represent the collective strength of their constituents, wielding moral force to challenge existing laws and propose new ones. For instance, in 1831, an obscure citizen initiated a convention of over 200 tariff opponents in Philadelphia, including 63 delegates from South Carolina. This assembly, meeting for ten days, debated legislative powers and free trade, ultimately petitioning the American people that the tariff was unconstitutional and not in the nation's interest.

Despite inherent dangers, the unlimited freedom of political association in the US serves as a critical safeguard against the 'tyranny of the majority.' When a single party dominates public power, the minority, blocked from government, must organize externally to oppose it with moral force. This necessity arises particularly in democratic societies lacking natural 'secondary bodies' to check power. While capable of leading to near anarchy, this dangerous freedom also prevents secret societies, ensuring factions remain public rather than resorting to conspiracy.