Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-28
Chief-Jusnce Marshalrs Views.

The Chicago Tribune asks the atten-
ton Of the Richmond Dispa'ch to remark
able letter written by Chief-Justice MAR
sHAIL in 1888" and suggests that We print
ii for the benefit of our " constituency"
The Tribune copies this letter from the
original, which is in the noted autograph
collection of Mr. c. i. GUNIHER, of chi
cago. We take pleasure IN carrying out
the Tribaa.6S suggestion. The letter is as
follows; oo
RICHMOND, VA. May 7, 1898.
Nv Dear Sir,-I am much indebted to
Won for your pamphlet on our Federal re-
lations, which | have read with much sat
isiaction. No subject, as 1t seems TO me. Is
more misunderstood or more perverted.
You have brought into view numerous I'M
pOr1ant historical facts, which, III my
Judgment, remove the foundations on
which the nullitiers and seceders have
erected that superstructure which over
shadows our Union. You have, thlhk,
shown satisfactorily that We have never
been perfectly distinct, independent socie-
tres, sovereign IN the sense m which the
nullihers use the term. When colonies
we certainly were not. We were parts OF
the British empire, and, although not Ill
rectly connected with each other SO lar as
respected government, We were connected
in MANY respects and were united 70
the same stock. The steps We took - e.
feet "a separation were, as You have tully
shown, not only revolutionary IN thelr ma
ture, but they were taken conJ0intly'
Then. as now, we acted in many respects as
one people. The representatives OF each
COLONY acted for all. Their resolutions pro-
ceeded from common source ana Ope-
rated on the whole mass. The army was
continental army, commanded by CONT
mental general, and supported from the
Continental Treasury. The Declaration OF
Independence was made by a common
coyernment and was made for all the
States. r..
Everything has been mixed. Treaties
made by CONGRESS have been considered
as binding all the States. some powers
have been exercised by Congress, some 10y
The States separately. The lines were not
distinctly drawn. The inamhty OF Con
gress TO carry its legitimate powers into
execution has gradually annuiled those
powers practically. but they always existed
In theory. Independence was declared IN
the name aud by the authority OF the good
people Of these colonies" In fact, we have
always been united IN some respects. sepa-
rate in others. We have acted as one peo-
ple for some purposes. rs distinct socie-
ties Tor Others. think you have shown
this clearly, and in 50 doing have demon
strated the fsllacy Of the principle on which
either notification or the right Of peaeeable
constitutional secession is asserted.
The time las arrived when these truths
must be more generally spoken or our
Union Is At an end. The idea of complete
sovereignty in the States converts our
Goyernmtnt into league, and. if carried
into practice. dissolyes the Union.
am, dear sir, yours afectionately,
J. MARSHALL.
Humphrey karssaA, Esq, frarakford, Ny.
! This letter is noteworthy one. OF
2 course no such doctrines as are here set
forth can be found in the published opin-
hiohs Of ChiefJustice MARSHALL. He was
Fell known, however. as Federalist or adj
kocafa ~ a stron0 national government