The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-31
much of the increased and Increasing prosperi-
ty and popularity of William and Mary College.

| much OF The increased and increasing prOsperI
ty and popularity of William and Mary College
WILLIAMSBURG, March 9th, 1912.
DEAR SIR-Having been student of William and
Mary College, and member of Professor fuckers
Law Glass, deem it but act of Justice after the
charge OF political heresy which has been made
| against him, to place in your hands the following
statement of the political doctrines inculcated by
Professor Tucker during the years attended his lee
lures Every member of the class, during those
years, will, have doubt, confirm the correctness
| of the statement.
| During the sessions of 1886 and 1867, |
was regular member of the law class of William
and Mary College, and frequently attended the lee
lures in 1878, after had begun the practice of
my profession Not only | a member of Profess
sor fuckers class, but also daily vsiter at his
house, where the subjects of his lectures were the
most usual topics of conversation between u.s. 1t may
| be then presumed that was well acquainted with
Judge rs political sentiments, as these sentiments
must necessarily be expressed in Of lectures
on constitutional law, to say nothing of private
versatioss on the same subject The text books
used constitutional law, were the letters of Mr.
Madison, Mr.. Jay and Mr. Hamilton, addressed to
the People OF the United States prior to the adoption
of the Federal Constitution, Familiarity known as the
Federalist Chancellor Kent's lectures on the Con-
stiutOn, and the Virginia resolutions of 1885,
Judge Tucker always contended that the Federalist
should be received the true Interpretation of the
Constitution, upon two grounds LIST. That it was
the Interpretation put upon it at the time of its crea
ton, and according to the legal maxim contempt
rama exposito est tortssiman should be received
! the best evidence of the true intent and meaning
| thereof 2dly. AS these letters had operated to
great extent in efecting a ratification of the
Constitution, they should be considered as an
endorsement made upon the contract at the time of
its erecution and therefore form part of the nstru
ment, showing the true intent and meaning of
the contracting parties If them these letters contain
heretical doctrines, were taught heresy. 1t is
equally true that Judge Tucker did disagree with
Chancellor Kent in many of his views of the Com
stituton, every State rights man must do that he
did consider and so taught to consider, the States
not merely municipal authorities, but sovereign
ties, and the Federal Government creature of
these sovereignties formed by contract and entirely
owing its existence to this contract that the States
having delegated power, this power Cor the Cons
tution) must be construed strictly. He also, taught
us to oppose all encroachmens of the Federal Gov
eminent on the rights of the States he considered
the tendency of the Government to consolidation
much greater than to disunion. That so long the
Constitution was Interpreted in its true spirit, he
taught to love and to cherish it as an inestimable
| blessing, and that it was better to bear many
mal-uses Of the instrument than "to fly to ills we
know not Of" But that there might be assumptions
of power by the Federal Government under the garb
of constitutional right, which would make this
tract rather than blessing he certainly did
acknowledge and, to prevent such assumption, to
tend against it with every effort what he incu-
Gated and he did this flom conviction that the Union
could be endangered unless the States shall be
provoked to Impotence by the usurpation and centra
Using measures of the Federal Government (Note
A.
You will that this statement is intended for the
public, if you think proper to use it.
| am, dear sir,
Most respectfully,
Your Obt servt,
w. S. PEACHY.