federal constitution, and those who achieved the separation of church and state, were right. The members of the judiciary, who are in the habit of drawing wisdom from the classical fountains, will remember the line of Virgil: "Discite justitiam moniti, et non temnere Divos!" We wish they may please consider this book as an humble common-sense appeal to renewed exertions for the creation of a dignified, independent, American judiciary, based upon an indigenous American common law, emanating from and in harmony with the great principle of self-government, and therefore in many respects different from the law ideas commonly prevalent in subject society. To the rising generation the book has been dedicated, and therefore written in familiar letter style, because those who are just entering into actual citizen life will have to finish the work of a great political reform, which stern necessity is forcing upon us. This book is, as its title indicates, particularly devoted to the great municipal interest of society. It appears before the public under similar circumstances which called forth the Federalist, then working for the abrogation of the unsatisfactory articles of confederation and the adoption of the present excellent federal constitution. The municipalist advocates the alteration of the present constitution of the state of New York, and its replacement by one more suitable to the urgency of the times. Before we conclude these prefacial lines we owe to the ladies a few words of apology, for having so often in our letters invited them to listen to our political discussions. We belong to those who are convinced that the career of a republic is of a doubtful duration if the whole population is not penetrated with a sufficient knowledge of its public affairs, to prevent them from coming under the exclusive possession of a favored few or control of mere party politicians. In regard to the importance of this knowledge there is no difference between the sexes, for women have, if not more, as much interest in the well-being of families, promoted by good government, as men. We possess excellent constitutional commentaries for students and professionists, but none, to our knowledge, which is calculated to promote an easy understanding of that what is called all over the world public or political business. Our book, certainly, is no novel, no flashy literary product, but a novelty, as the reader, acquainted with this kind of literature, will find out. It spreads notions and light over that material upon which the security and happiness of home and society everywhere are built. Such a book would not answer its purpose if it should not meet the favor of mothers and daughters as well as of fathers and sons. We hope, therefore, not to be considered intruding, if we desire for it a place among the select books of every household. BROOKLYN, September, 1858. GENERAL WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS.. ..173 .191 PART II. LETTERS ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK...203 A LETTER ON THE JUDICIARY... .251 A LETTER ON PENAL COLONIES.. .289 A LETTER ON LARGE CITIES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF MARY- LAND.... .294 CONTENTS. PART. I.-THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. LETTER I. Introduction. - Causes of the Letters.- Little Appreciation of the Federal Constitution. The Church a Comforter, but no Governor. Restoration of the Authority of Law. Influence of Woman. - Resistance against the Execution of Laws. Vigilance Committees.- Ten-Thousand-Dollar Subscription for Rebellion in Kansas. - Ancient Rome.. - Dangers to the Constitution and Union. - Articles of Confederation of 1777. - New Constitution for a Society of European Descendants, Africans, and Indians. — The Object, Union and an independent, powerful National Government, excluding all Municipal Affairs, Bond Labor included. - The Contents in Seven Articles.... ..PAGE 25 LETTER II. The Constitution. - Its Reading. - Preamble. - Short History of the Country. The Revolution. - Necessity of a National Government. - Greeks, Romans, Germans, Italians. - United States of America. - Family, Tribe. - Constitution of the People, and not of the States. - Object of the Constitution. National, municipal, free, non-political or private Affairs.— Justice. St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy.- Common Defence. Subjection. Licentiousness... 28 LETTER III. Congress. Works in three Channels. - Legislature. — Grants. — Republies.- Monarchies. — Government preservative, not progressive. — Scarcity of Solons.-Senate and House of Representatives. - Two-Chamber System.Qualification of Members of the House of Representatives. — Voting and electing, a Right of Families. - Congress biennial.—Qualification, twenty-five Years of Age.—Negroes, their counting. — Number of Representatives. Census.-Large Legislative Bodies. - Vacancies filled by the State Executive Action. - Speaker. - Impeachment. - Importance of the House of Representatives. - Ladies. - Decorum.. 32 |