A Letter to Thomas F. Bayard

In this fiery 1882 pamphlet, a self‑educated legal mind confronts a sitting senator with a sweeping challenge to the very notion of congressional authority. Drawing on natural law and the principles of individual liberty, the writer argues that no legislative body can legitimately claim a “trust” to impose laws that diverge from innate rights. He illustrates his case with stark analogies, comparing the delegation of legislative power to the absurdity of selling one’s own freedom.

The essay unfolds as a meticulous, point‑by‑point refutation of the idea that a constitution can grant lawmakers the right to command obedience at will. Readers are led through logical premises that claim any such delegation is inherently null, because liberty cannot be transferred or surrendered. The result is a compelling call for citizens to rethink the relationship between government and natural rights, setting the stage for ongoing debates about the limits of state power.