嘉慶皇帝的國家治理及其自我論述

Jiaqing Emperor's Governance and His Self-explanation

本文主要透過實錄、詔諭，解析嘉慶皇帝對重大事件的態度，運用御製詩文集，探索其內心情感，關注長期以來受忽視的清中葉歷史研究。長久以來，學者多以「倒放電影」的方法，將嘉慶朝視為清朝中衰起點。諸多弊病確實自嘉慶朝漸次浮現，或埋下導火線，嘉慶皇帝對此均未積極處理。其守成思想，更深刻影響繼位者的為政態度。然回歸「順著放電影」，即可發現嘉慶皇帝係有心求治，以期繼志述事，但勤政有餘，卻心餘力絀。自責己過、愧嘆德薄不時出現，但在自責文字背後，可見嘉慶皇帝多將過錯推至和珅與各級官員身上。嘉慶皇帝認為嘉慶朝深受上天眷佑，晚年雖仍表達己德不足、社會風俗未盡淳化等，然國家在其勤勉為治下，尚稱安和。即便阿美士德來華最後結局是不歡而散，仍可顯現天朝恩澤廣被四方。同時，各地豐收，亦象徵天佑大清。因此，唯有在倒放與順放之間，忠實掌握歷史脈動，才能幫助吾人更清楚理解清中葉以降的發展樣貌。

Mobile, the only port and largest city in Alabama, a state dominated by agriculture, had a multi-ethnic population, a low proportion of slaves, and a highly commercial atmosphere. The city was in some ways less southern than its hinterlands, and its citizens maintained a long and close commercial connection with the North. Nevertheless, Mobilians eventually backed immediate secession and merged their fortunes with that of the Confederacy. This paper provides a careful examination of many of the factors that linked Mobile to the North and weighs the importance of these connections in shaping Mobilians' decision-making during the sectional crisis of the 1850s and the secession movement of 1860-61. The paper argues that Mobilians' support for secession was not simply a function of massive resistance to northern economic predominance, although the city had its grievances against the North. White Mobilians fundamentally valued what they perceived to be southern rights in the territories and in the Union. They fought for these rights for many years before they recognized an irresolvable conflict between their rights and interests and the intentions of a menacing northern Republican party. Mobile endorsed secession during one of the most prosperous periods in its history. Mobilians were confident that secession would breed further progress. As long as slavery and cotton were secure, as they predicted that they would be in a new Confederacy, Mobilians thought that their futures would be also.