The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-23

Of; political. concern with us TO secure TIN
State Government Of virkina to the tru,
and, real Virginians. All other ends Of poll
tical struggle fade int itisiguificance as com
paredIwith this, and we will bury all consid
Grafton: OF former differences of opinion
upon politics, to unite in common action all
those ih whose affection Virginia IS the first
object, for the purpose Of saving the State
!, Ia this connection 1t, is, perhaps, proper
to say that there was another function
sought to be performed by the rule OF. strict
construction, not so important in itself as
that Of which have been speaking, but ..
cc, TIE CAUSE OF MUCH AcRIMoHY
and collision among the sections; a source
of difference and division which, since the
conclusion Of the war, many of both parties
have sought to put away. A respectable,
but not the larger party in the country
sought to copfine Congress to the exercise
only Iof granted powers, or those derived
from the granted powers, BY a clear and strict
construction; that there was much ground
for these principles of construction in
the words of the Constitution itself is obvi-
Gus enough. Nor can it be doubted that
there was good policy in those who wished
to preserve the popular form of government
to prevent any undue or unnecessary con-
centraiion Of power in the General Govern
ment. But in this way opposition was often
made to schemes of general interest which
could only be accomplished by the Federal
Government, and occasionally much odium
was thus attached to the opponents of such
measures. An odium which sometimes at
tached to opinions which excluded Congress
from exercising powers which could only be
safely reposed in the States themselves, and
which could only be safely used BY the indi-
yidtlal States .,..,.-.,: ..i..,-
CONSISTENTLY WITH THE HARMONY OF THE
nH @ WHOLE nj ..... ...
and the happiness and prosperity of each.
To secure this last, which is essential to the
proper conduct of our system of govern
ment, some relaxation in the strictness of our
construction Of the derived powers was felt
to be necessary So necessary was this felt
to be, in order to put the States Rights
party In kind relations with all sections of
the Union, that Mr.. Calhoun long ago, in
his celebrated speech at Memphis, admitted
the propriety of allowing to the General
Government the right Of improving rivers
which ran through three or more States,
and constructing harbors of refuge. These
things, which were important to be done, he
said the States could not do themselves, and
could only be executed by the General Coy
ernment. IN other words, he was willing to
derive powers to the General Government by
a more liberal rule from the granted powers,
where it was not question between the
State and General Government as to its pos.
session, but when, if not exercised by the
latter, it could not be used ut all. Accord
ing to this view. the right of Congress to
construct not only the Pacific railroad. but
the important work now completed by
which the great Northwest is proposed to
be united with the Atlantic through the
waters Of Virginia, may be easily justified rs
fair derivation from the war powers ex
pressly granted to the General Government
The - .:.
CHANCES OF UNITING ALL TIE STATES
of the Union upon the necessity of leaving
all matters OF internal concern and peculiar
interest to the States in the hands of Their
own government, will be far greater if some
relayatious are made in the strictness of the
rule Of construction in regard to these othe
questions, so as to enable them to do wha
seems essential to be done, and which cal
only be done by the General Government
II is said that the Jews, in their last struggle
for independence with the Roman empire
lberalizcd, in some measure, their rules o
interpreting their law so as to reDder it NOR,
cosmopolitan in its character, and to accom-
modate their system, in some degree, to tht
wants and opinion of the world. 1t success
i'm their struggle was their first object
there was sound policy in their course, ant
if these relaxations could be truly reconcilet
with the inner spirit of their law, it WA;
wisely done. The old common law has beer
modified by judicial Interpretation, and ha:
thus been accommodated to the wants o
society from age to age, until it has become
a living rule Of action to all the people who
have Inherited it as law. When thus modi
fed from time to time by the necessities o
society, n law may retain much of its origina
genius and spirit, although changed TO some
extent in its form or application. All rule.
Of action Of human institution require to bt
thus modified to be long-liVed. Laws are
modified by legislatures or judicial interpre
tations, 'H" 's'"' "#'i ha@
-." CONSTITUTIONS ARE CHANGED a. -.
through the determination of people, eX
nressed sometimes by the declarations of con
ventions aud sometimes by the arbitramen
of the sword. And it thus wisely adapted
10 the changing wants of humanity, thel
usefulness may be greatly prolonged, pro
yided only that their true spirit and genius
are preserved. That to some extent our Olt
systems of policy and construction have beer
modified by the recent civil war, all seem Il
admit. Let us see that its true spirit ant
genius are preserved and acknowledge IN
changes " hicb are not indisputable. Abov'
all. let us preserve TO the people OF eacl
State, through its special government, th
control OF its domestic and peculiar affairs
If we wish to preserve to each the priYileg'
of self.royernment aud maintain harmon,
between the different States and sections
this is Indispensable. '".-' @t
THERE ARE THOUSAND MATTERS
of internal concern which each State mus
regulate for itself, or the most dangerou
and irreconciable differences and collision
must occur. Questions may, and proba6l.
will, arise growing out of the relations Dc
tween labor and capital, upon which ther
may be SO many and such dangerous dlhei
ences of opinion that the people OF eac
State must settle them for itself. In the &C
iustment of these peace and harmony ma
be difficult to preserve iu any mode, but i
| no other will 1t be possible. But let IKE no
wander from the matter strictly in hand.
r WE ARE now TO DETERMINE ...
bv what constituency is Virginia to b
governed here at home and in her Stat
Government. We all say by Virginians j
| fact and in truth, Yirginians in heart an
soul, in interest and in feeling. Let this b
done and we feel safe, but in no other mode
IF each of the States could be governed by
constituency thus formed, and true to them
and if the rights of the States could be iuil
and completely respected, peace apd pro-
perity would soon return. Such diSgraeetu
sDectacles as are now to lie seen in Sout
Carolina and Louisiana would disappear
and State after State would wheel upon tf
track in one grand and united progre:
which would strike the beheIder with VOL
der and admiration at such an example