Price, 50 Cents; or $5 per dozen. - CITIZENSHIP. We call him a CITIZEN, who has the privilege of sharing with others in Government, SOVEREIGNTY.-A Nation, is a State, a body politic, or a society of men united together to From the very design that induces a number of men to form a Society that has its common interests, It is evident, from the very act of the Civil or Political Association, that each Citizen subjects himself If the Body of the Nation keeps in its own hands the Empire, or the RIGHT OF COMMAND [le Droit de CHICAGO: PUBLISHED FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS, 1864. The first volume of the work or compilation, of which this publication is a compend, to be entitled OUR FEDERAL UNION: STATE RIGHTS AND WRONGS, will be published about 15th March. The volumes will contain 500 to 550 pages each, similar to this in type and arrangement. One is to be published each six or eight weeks, and sold in muslin binding at $3. Five volumes will probably suffice for the compilation, which is designed to furnish an epitome of governmental principles, historical facts, documents (each of which will be given entire), the substance of important debates, and of influential opinions in private and published letters, tracts, and other publications, and also a short examination of other Governments, to discover the right of our Revolution, and the superior excellences, and confused but not complicated systems, of our State and Federal Governments. Every family in the land needs this information, which is now scattered through hundreds of volumes, many expensive and inaccessible, in order to enable each Citizen, and the young lad who is soon to be a Citizen, to understand his individual rights, exalted privileges, responsible duties; and also the rights and wrongs of these Sovereign States. The wonder is not that we are in civil war, but that, with our ignorance of principles, and mistakes in theory, our practice has been so nearly correct. To the statesman and politician, the compilation, if at all a success, will be particularly valuable; bringing together for the first time documents, opinions, and principles, to which every one needs to refer more or less often. The marginal notes, with the thorough index which shall be supplied, will make reference quite convenient; and until superseded by something better, it will be the American statesman's manual. In such a work some would like room to record notes and comments; and should the demand justify, an edition will be printed on superior paper, with wide margin for writing, and in strong binding. Subscribers will please intimate their wish, and should an extra edition be printed, the volumes of this edition will be received in exchange, if uninjured, the party paying the difference in price. The terms are already low, considering the present high cost of materials and the amount of reading supplied, but it is proposed to still further reduce them. The kind patrons in New York and those in Chicago, who have thus far advanced the funds for publication, will not permit delay for the lack of means. But not to encroach unnecessarily on their liberality, it is proposed to supply the five volumes for $13 paid in advance. Remittances can be made to the subscriber, either at Chicago, or directed to Station D, New York City, where most of his time must necessarily be spent until the publication is finished. 12 Lafayette Place, New York, 1st Jan., 1864. J. S. WRIGHT. A COPIES of this pamphlet are distributed immediately upon its publication to a few leading minds of our country, irrespective of their politics, religion, or occupation. An independent, unbiassed expression of opinion, is desired from each recipient, either pro or con. Should he be decidedly favorable, he would doubtless like to aid in extending the circulation of this Compend, and a short letter to a paper or two in his city or neighborhood, or to some editor at a distance with whom he may be acquainted, calling attention to it, would be very influential. He may also be willing to write to two or three prominent persons, enclosing a copy of the accompanying prospectus; and upon being furnished with the address, we shall be happy to forward those parties a copy each of the Compend. It is hoped the recipient will be able soon to make the examination, and that it will not be partial or prejudiced. And experience already proves the propriety of a caution to the reader, not to make up his judgment from detached parts. If he will just glance his eye over the marginal notes from beginning to end, he will have a general idea of the views, and can then better judge of the several portions. Having sent a copy of only the first 80 pages to one of the most eminent scholars of our country, an old and valued friend, he thus remarks: success. ... Your present line of labor is one that I had not thought of in connection with you, but your object is so important, and you are performing it with so much ability, that I wish you all My studies have not been much in the line of International Law, and I have accepted the doctrine commonly received, that there is such a thing as a United States Government. This I understand you to deny. [Not at all. So far from it, my main object is to prove that we have the grandest, most perfect systems of Government, both State and Federal, ever instituted. My friend says in another place, "I have only had time to run over" the pages, and 'probably a further examination of even the first eighty pages changed his opinion, as would surely a perusal of the remainder.] Where there is Government, there must be the Right to Command, and the obligation to obey, in regard to some things; and that, I suppose, would constitute a Government, as no Government, except that of GOD, extends to all things. [Very true; and when by the usurpations of Parliament, and the violation of his oath by our King, the Right of Command, the Sovereignty, of George III over these Colonies was forfeited by him, we took it into the keeping of each individual Colony, each of these Peoples becoming a Sovereign State, or nation. But as these Peoples are too widely distributed, even in the smallest State, to exercise directly their Right of Command, they have made use of Republicanism or Representation, to preserve to themselves their Sovereignty, and to govern their faithful or unfaithful subjects. And in great wisdom have they joined together, and delegated the exercise of some important parts of their Rights of Command to certain parties which constitute the Government of the United States.] If the apparatus at Washington is simply a Federal Agency, then very much of what has been done from the first, has been usurpation. [Most certainly "the apparatus at Washington is simply a Federal Agency," for the tenth amendment to the Constitution establishes the truth beyond peradventure, that the powers are not granted, but "delegated." A delegate is ever an agent, restricted to the authority delegated; and whatever has been done by an agent beyond his authority, is surely usurpation, which circumstances may or may not justify.] I should wish it settled, first, whether we have a Government; and then that its powers might be defined. Any thing that will throw light on these points is most desirable, and you write with so much of research, and candor, and ability, that your labor cannot fail to be useful. [It shall be the constant aim of the writer to merit the encouraging encomiums of his partial friend, and he prom TRANSFER FROM LENOX. |