The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-20
A Lesson from History.


o, our readers some. OF the good examples
and the wise words which the fathers OF
the republic have left, upon record for our
limitation and instruction. ,..,9 4
Chief Justice John MARSHALL, il he were
now alive, would assuredly not be Readjust-
er. This great and good man, whom Virginia
has itly honored with q place among her
foremost sons around the Washington mon.
ument. was SO opposed to Reputation In
all,itsferms that heis said to have favored
an extreme Federal theory OF the powers
OF the General Government, as much for
thereason that be did not wish to have the
States left freeto disown their debts as for
any other. In bis " Life of Washington :"
Judge MARSHALL thus aliudes to the divi-
sion OF parties at the close OF the Revolu.
tionsry war by much the same lines as di-
yideahe people OF Virginia In their present
contest. The words OF the writer are in
deed almost prophetic. he says:
"The discontents arising out-of the en-
bsrrassments OF individuals continued TO in-
crease. AT length two great parties were
formed In every State, which pursued dis
tinct, objects with systematic arrangement.
.fThe one struggled for the exact observ-
ancc Of public and private CONTRACTS. Those
who composed it weresthe Uniform friends
Of irregular administration OF Justice, and
Of vigorous course OF taxation, which
would enable the State to comply. with its
engaeemeptss-Tt - = The other marked
out for themselves; more ndulgent course.
They were. uniformly ia favor OF relaxing
the administration OF sussice, OF affordines
facilities for the payment Of debts. or OF sus-
taxes. .:as. shThrouehaut tie Union the
contest between those parties was1annuailY
revived, and the pu6tsc saiad ,oas perpet,E
ally agitoted ,oits hopes asd fears on SAB
jecfs srhich affected essentially the fortunes
Of considerable portion Of society. THIS,
INSTABILITY IN PRINCIPLES, which,
ought tottbe rendered ir1n1utable, PRO
DUCED A LONG. TRAIN OF ILLS, aud
is believed to Iave been among the opera
ting causes OF those pecuniaTy embarrass-
meuts which in1ueneed the legislation Of al
most every State - ~ y i, ~
JOIN MARSHALL would not have been
Readiu.,ter. What better rsan appears
among those whose ef1gies sEround the
central figure. OF WAsHrsGToN on the Capt..
toEsquaFe !. monument than General and
Governor THOMAS NELSON? II Governor
Nelson wer alive at this day, we have rea.
son to believe he would net be a ReEdjuster.
Eyefybody KIN, ows that this gallant and good
man, when con- 'mander-in,ehief Of the State
militia, was elect ed Governor at r.JEaFER-
soS's request as h is own successor, IN a7Sp;;
and that he (aop ernor NEISoN) offered a |
capnonier guinea to fire first on bis oWn
fne residence when, Yorktown was bonn
barded at the final Dig. 1t OF the war. Bishop
MEApa says: !, sl i.ys 4. i
1Again see his high and honorable
Character. in Imitation OF that integrity
which his father display ed ia all his deal
ings, when 1t was propose, d In the Hoase OF
Burgesses to adopt some method 81 dis
charging British debts whlc,h he considered
improper. He Indignantly opposed ~, ae.
clasiHg, seDae say. with an oatn otIssss
far more .piobaBly. So btfp mo TOO. |
Others may do " hat they pleas oh \, 4 WV
pay 10Y debts like an honest man !!
It H. evident that Governor NELSON would
not be found training with the Rexfiusters
fl be were yet alive. s.s st5,
One or Generaf w asRISaTos's fayofite
Gides.de.caap was Colonel RICHARD KDDsR
MEADE, or Virginia. When the General
took lasye.oi the officers OF his STAFF, he said
something pleasant and appropriate 10 esshl
onesJf ttiefn. 81 Colonel MEADE bis words I
Mssaa "a r,end Dick, ycn msiss 90 fos
piantaticn Az syisssiais. Ydh wiz ihslssa
good farmer, and on bones foreman d IND /
Rrapd 3nry in the county 81 here ron i've,
and 20 he III t Int ha eWotijd aleyegs. avail