The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-13
"The Imperial sovereignty OF the
Nation"
A RADICAL CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF
THE STATES.

NnfhOn.'
A RADICAL CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF
THE STATES.
80 PEABODY, Mass, August !, 1879.
Hon. Senator Hill:
Honorable Sir,-Will you have the kind
ness to send me copy OF Your report about
the feeling of the North on the subject OF
Capitalization have seen public aiiu-
sions 10 it, but not the full report itself.
send to you copy OF my letter 10 Presl-
dent Graut, which explains Itself. l have
received from men high in station warm
approval Of my object.
One OF the chief reasons why [ do not
wish to see General Grant again at the head
OF the Government Is, that be did not co,
when President, what he could have done
constitutionally and consistently with his
oath OF ofice-to promote the formation OF
a National Constitution supcrseding ana
annuIing the Federal Constitution OF the
United States. This ought to have been
done at the close OF the war certainly be-
fore the expiration of eight years from the
close. 4 National Constitution should have
been the work and the pledge OF " recon-
struction,' not OF the South al1ne, but vi
the whole nation.
The main duty OF the Republican party,
when the war was over, was, by ccnStltu-
tional and historical precedent, to destroy
the Constitution OF the United States. whose
deadly and exactly logical work the civil
war was. 1t should have been put out OF
the way OF doing any more mischief JUST as
the articles of confederation were put OUT
of the way when their work, both for Tood
and evil, had been done.
For the neglect Of its plain duty to de-
stroy the Constitution Of the United States,
the Republican party deserved all It's re-
verses. | shall greatly rejoice ii there be
truly reason for fear. and any hope that
the Republican party, If again in tie ascend
ant. will make Il better and more thorough
use OF its power than it did bcIorc-that il
will bury the Constitution OF the United
States in the same grave with slavery. That
Is the proper place for it, and there hope
it will lie.
I shall rejoice indeed il there lie good
reason to believe that the Republican par
~ is determined to DO what 1t can 10 secure
a National Government in which the States
shall be thoroughly subordinate to the ma
tional soyereignty--tl> mtch 50, certainly,
as the cities and townS Of any State are 10
any Suite government, and probably nuch
more so.
Every person connected with the civil adj
tioual officer from the Governor Of I State
to the hnmbcst police officer. 1t may be
well enough that the Governor OF the States
should he chosen, as they nov arc, by the
people OF the States but the Governors,
once designated by the popular vote, should
receive their authority and commission
from the National Government. So the
MAYORS OF cities and superintendent OF
towns may he chosen by the cities and
towns: but their commissions should come
from the Governor OF the State himself, I'M
der the supposltlOn Il representative OF the
National Government.
You see, honorable sir, that | advocate
a system OF National Government which
shall greatly modify the executive authority
OF the States and completely abolish State
courts. State judIciarics, State laws, State
militas, and State constitutions.
or course, you understand me as speak
inc for myself. l have no right to speak for
the Republican party, and do not seek to do
so. Nevertheless, shall be glad II the Re-
publican party shall take my ground and add
yocate the confirmation By organic law OF
the imperial sovereignty OF the nation in al!
departments and TO the rcmotcSt acre OF the
national domain.
Ii this shall be done, Of course the Fcde-
raj Senate will entirely disappear, ana lis
place will be supplied by a National Sen
ate, ut least half OF whom ought TO hold Tor
life by executive appointment, the rest to
be chosen by senatorial districts, without
regard to the States.
| am perfectly willing that you should
publish this letter. | should have sent it
to some paper to be printed rs IN open let
ter to you, but that courtesy toward you as
Il senator required me to send it to you in
this way.
Let me say, in conclusion, that fally CO.
ncidc with the views general at the South,
that the Constitution OF the United States
recognizes, at least by logical Inference, the
doctrine OF State sovereignty. | have no
reason to withhold my judgment, not hastl-
y formed, that in the great constitutional
debate Webster had the best OF the patriot.
ism and nationality OF sentiment and inspi-
ration; and Calhoun had the best OF the
argument This is one reason why wish
to see established a national constitution.
hope before | die TO have the right to be-
hcve | am citizen OF one country, and not
OF forty or fifty, more or less.
Very respectfully yours,
NV