The daily gazette., 1877-03-23
Fom the BoltimoreSun.


That the great Patrick Henry, of Vir>
ginia, was apolitical prophet as well
as an unsurpassed orator is evident in
the light which recent events have
thrown upon his remarkable predic-
tionsi as to the political future of the
American confederacy in the debates
on the adoption of the constitution in
the Virginia ratifying convention Of
1888. To any one who reads those de-
bates the speeches of Mr.. Henry seems
almost like words Of ofInspiration The
Following paragraph is particularly
impressive. Mr.. Henry was urgiug
the adoption Of an amendment which
would limit more strictly the power of
the federal government and more
clearly define the reserved rights of
the States. What his said was in re.
| ply to Gov. Randolph. who had spok-
en- of the dangers to the several State
governments II they did not enter the
proposed confederacy from the aggres-
sions and attacks ofEuropean powers.
said Mr. Henry:
| CHE speaks of WARS and bloodshed.
Whence do this war and blosdshed
come? fear 1t, bur not from the
source he seaks of. 1 fear 1t, sir. from
the operation and friends Of the federal
government. He speaks with contempt
of this amendment. Bat whoever will
advert to the use made, repeatedly in
England, Of the prerogative Of the, King
and the frequent attacks on the privi-
leges Of the people, Notwithstanding
many legislative acts to secure them,
will see the necessity of excluding inn
phcations. Nations who have trusted
to logical deductions have lost their
llibertyI" aria
| This country had learned long be-
fore the late war the danger of trust
ing to "logical deductions. Scarcely
a political Issue Of any magnitude be-
tween parties In former times did not
involve the subject of implied powers
and the triumph of the latter launched
the country upon q vast and perfieua
sea of legislation, embracing sll the
disputes between sections, which ter
minated at last in disruption and war.
Yet when the States formed the feder-
al Union they scruplousiy measured
such of the functions of their cherish
ed sovereignty as they choose to dele
gate to the general overnment. In
and by the constitution they united
themselves for certain specified OBJ
jects and purposes, leaving all powers
not therein conferred ON the general
government indubitably with the
States. Not content that any doubt
should in future arise as to the scope
and character of the acceptance oi
the constitution, the people of the sew
eral States engrafted upon the act the
explicit declaration that "the powers
not delegated to the United States by
the constitution, nor prohibited by II
to the States, are reserved to the
States, respectively, or to the people.
This subject may be no longer of prac'
tical interest but the history of''im- e
plications" shows the path by which
we have reached our present condi.
tion, Yet, Notwithstanding all the
changes which have been made in the
constitution. it still remains true that
neither the express nor implied power.
of that instrument confer upon the
general government the function Of
Interference in State affairs such as il
has practiced and is still called upon
to continue in South Carolina and
Louisiana. Patrick Henry had reason
to fear war and bloodshcd in the State
'from the operation and friends of the
federal government" but not by a
Legitimate exercise of the powers con
ferred upon it, or even of the present
powers, all of which have reference
only to federal relation or to the means
of accomplishing or executing things
of federal relation.