The Practicality of the Federal Constitution

The distance between the 31st and the 45th degrees amounts to 973 common miles. The mean distance from the Atlantic to the Mississippi does not probably exceed 750 miles. On a comparison of this extent, with that of several countries in Europe, the practicability of rendering our system commensurate to it appears to be demonstrable. Were it proposed by the plan of the convention to abolish the governments of the particular states, its adversaries would have some ground for their objection. If they were abolished, the general government would be compelled by the principle of self-preservation to reinstate them in their proper jurisdiction?