Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-04-05
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, APRIL $. 1881.

growth OF this City, aud the Constitution OF the United
STATES are coevals and coemporaes.. They began
gether they have ourshcd together and if rashncss
and folly destroy one, the other will follow it 10 the
liomb. .
Genemen Il Is true, Indeed that the growth OF this
city IL extraordinary, and almost unexampyed IL is
now believe, sixteen seventeen years since first
saw it. Within that comparatively abort period IL has
added TO Its number three times the whole amount of its
popa'aton when the Constitution adopted OF all
things having power TO check this prosperity-of all
things potent TO blight and blast il OF all things capa-
oc oil compelling this city TO recede fast she has
auVanceu u disturbed yernment, enfcebled public
authority, broken or weakened Union OF the States,
wohd BIO sovereign This would be cause efficient
enough. Every thing else inlhe common fortunes of
communities, she may hopo TO resist, 10 prevent
That would be fatal as the OF death.
Gentlemen you have personal recolIecilons and as
sociaons connected with tho cstab ishment and adop
ton OF the Constitution, which are necessarily called
up on an occasion like this II is impossible TO forget
tho prominent agency which eminent citizens OF your
own uifilied in regard 10 that great measure They
are now recorded among the srious dead; but they
have lett names never TO be forgotten, and to be
remembered without respect and venoraion Least of
constitution, and your Of its nestimable impor
lance 70 the happiness OF tho people.
should do violence to my own feelings gentlemen:
think should offend yours, If omitted respectful
mention of great names, yet fresh your recoliec,ions
How can stand here, TO speak of the Constitution Of
me United States OF the wisdom OF It's provisions Of the
di.hculues attending its udopion of tho evils from
which 1t rescued the country, and of the prosperity
anu power 70 whch II has raised IL, and yet pay TIT
butte TO those who highly Instrumental i'm accom-
p'ishng the work. While we are here TO rejoice that
IL yet stands trin and strong; while congratulate
one another that we live under its benign influence,
and cherish hopes of its long DURATION cannot
get who they were that In tho day of national in
fancy in the times of dependency and despair; main
~ assisted TO work out our deliverance should feel
That disregarded the strong recollecons which tho
occasion presses upon us that not true to graft
ude, not true TO patriotism, the living or the
Dead not true TO your feelings or my own if should
/ Of Arr
TON. -
Comne rom the mil t,ry service ofthe country, YET
you'e, on' win knowledge and maturity, even in
cvI afairs FAR leyond bis years, be made this city
the place of his adoption; and he gave the whole pow
ers oil his mind to The contemplation Of the week and
distracted condition of the country. Daily
Ia acquaintance aud confidence with the people OF ,h,
city, he saw, what they also saw, the absolute neee.
~ oil some closer bond OF Uoicn for the States. The
was the Rrea object oil desire. He never appe TO
have lost sight OF 1t, but found 10 the lead whsn
ever a1y this was to be attempted for it's accomplish
ment One experiment after another, as is well known
was tried, and all failed The States were uteeG.iS
called to confer such further toyers on tie Old
Congress as would enable IL 10 tedse the public faith
or 20 adopt themselves some general aud common pin-
cipies oil commercial regulation But the Sia,cs had
not agreed end were MOI likely agree. In this pos
lure o. afairs SO full OF public Difficult W ard public
Sommlssioners from Eve or six of the States
me-, on the request OF Virginia. al Annapolis, in Sep
temoer i!SS The precise obeetio their appointm ent
wa' to take into considerations the trade OF the United
States; 10 examine tho relative situations and trade nj
the several States; aud to consider how far uniform
system OF commercial regulations was necessary to
their common interest and permanent harmony Mr.
Hamilton was one OF these Commissioners and have
understood, though assert the fact tina, their
Report was drawn by him. HIS associate from this
Safe was the venerable Judge Benson who has lived
long, and sill lives to tho happy of the coup
sells Which originated Ia hi. meeting Or its membsr,
ne and Mr. Madison are, bsave, now the only sur.
vivors Ihesa Commissioners recommended, what
iooK paco the next year, general Convention of all
the States, 20 AXE into serious de the cond
ton OF the country and devise such provision. as should
render the Constitution Of the Federal Government
adequate TO the exigencies OF the Union I mead moi
remind you, that OF this Convention Mr. Hamilton was
an active and efficient member. The Constitution
framed ana submitted 10 The country. And then ano-
Their great work was to he undertaken The Const,u-
non would naturally find, ard did find enemies and
oppossr5 Objections 10 il were numerous md no,yer
lu, aud spirited. They were 10 be answered; aud they
were, ehecuaiiy, answered. The writer's of the num-
bers OF the Feteralist, MI. Hamilton, Mr. Madison
aud MIR. Jay, so greatly distinguished themselves in
taer discussions OF the Constitution, that hote num-
oers ere generally received as important commentaries
on The text and accurate expeditions in general of lis
objects aud purposes Those papers were all written
and pub,i'h I'd 10 This city Mr.. Hamilton elected
one OF the distinguished dele too from the CITY into
the State Convention at Poughkeepse, called to ray
the new Constitution Its debates are published Mr.
ham'on appears TO have exerted, on this occasion, to
ths utmost, every power and faculty of his mind
The whole question likely TO depend on the de-
csion OF New York. lie l the full Importance of
me Crisis and the reports oil his speeches, imperfect as
they probably are, are yet lasting monuments 20 his
genius aud patriotism. He cav LEST his hone, fll-
hlled: rs cav the Con''iuiion adopted ard The gov
ernm~ nj Under j., es.ay.is cd aud organsed The dis
eern'ng eye OF Washington immediately called him 20
tJat posi-, Infinitely the most Important in The admin
is'ration Of The new system. II was mad, Secretary
of tne Treasury; ard bow re iuhlled the duties Of
such place, al such time the whole country per-
ceived, with delight and ite yaois wsrId "a ~ Win
admiration He smo'e the rock Of Inc national resour-
ces, ard abundant streams oil revenue eusbed forth
lie touched the dead corpse OF The Public Credit and
u sprung upon it, feet Th- failed birth of Minetva
ffoh the brain of Jeve, hardly more eudiep tr
more pprec, than the financial system Of the United
Satss, burt forth from The conceptions Of Alexander
Hamilton.
Your reeolecGons, gentlemen, yoir respect and
your ate ttions all conspred bring fore YOU al
such iine 40 his another grsa, man w. too mum.
bered with the dead, L mean the pure The disnter.
tsied, the patriotic JOHN JAY His character ia a
biisni jewel in the sacted te@sures Of aona' repu-
'atiao Leaving his profession at an early period vet
not before he had 'iugnlarly dishgu ed himself in IT,
liom the commencement Of the rev luton his whole
lie, uotil his hnsI retirement, lie If public ser.
vice. member OF The fret Congress, he was the su-
Thor OF that political paper which Is generally ae-
ku"wl dyed 10 stand FIRST tbs incOmparable PRO.
uucticns OF TIA body; papers, which cailed fotth thai
decisive SIT ain OF commentator from ia grea, Lord
Chatham, Ia which be pronounced hem rot in e-ior
TO he bnes productions Of the master states of the
world. III bad been abr al. abd he had al O bee
long Introsrd with the d III ~, duties Of our toesiyu
correspondence at home lie had see and felt in the
iules measure aud 10 the eaest pos tide ex,eui the
6fbculty Of conducting foreign ah lie honofabIy
Union a, horne Though Doi a member OF he Con.
venTop which framsd tbs Consitn ION, re was yet
prsreOt while II ia essiOu and looked usisusy
Tor iis result. BY tie chdice OF lhis CITY h, lad