Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-09-29
Further Suggestions to Mr. CAL
ailan.
BY b. B. NJ.


that would meet with the REGIsTER,)
Mr.. C.'s reply to my former suggestion.
l am glad that he recognized the cour-
tesy with which 1 intended to correct
the mistake which he made in stating
that Judge Marshall was a prominent
member Of the Convention which
framed the Constitution of the United
States. In the same respectful spirit,
I offer some further suggestions, based
upon his reply.
It is very true that our admirable
organic law was not the fruit of the
patriotism and wisdom of the few men
whose names are affixed to it, and that
many of the great men of our then
young Republic who were not on the
floor of THAT Convention" were well
worthy of being there, and that some
of them exerted salutary and impor-
tant influence upon its deliberations
and its results without being actually
members of it. But it will not do to
belittle the work of the rightful and
competent insiders by magnifying and
exaggerating the ability and influence
of outsiders.
Truly great minds seek wisdom. col
lect it, appropriate it, apply it, and dis
seminate it. They are not afraid Of the
cooperation and assistance of others:
they do hot avoid friendly conference
Loo III
nor forego the aid of Jefferson; but he
was fully able to take care of himself,
and far more safe and conservative
than the sage of Monticello. Mar
shall was every way qualified to have
been member of the Federal COnven-
ton of 1887; but he was not a member,
either de .j,tre or de tacto; and l am
not aware Of any evidence that he was
even one ot the potential outsiders.
He was able enough, and old enough,
for think he was older than Madison;
but my impression is that his inf1u-
ence in public affairs came to he recog-
nized after the framing of the Federal
Constitution, and in the State Conven-
ton of Virginia which ratified said
Constitution. Indeed, Mr.. &. seems
to confound the Federal Convention
whicl, formed the said Constitution
with the Convention which approved
it,-with certain amendments. twas
in the latter body that Marshall shOne
forth SO brightly and conspicuously,
and that he had such splendid COLI
tests with Patrick Henry.
Duty and pleasure combined have
led me to handle and to enjoy no little
both EIliott's D.bates and Madison's
Papers; and they are an inexhau>tible
mine of political information: Yet
am not able to appreciate the following
declarations of Mr.. G.. He says:
''john Adams was not On the fl or Of the
Convention; and yet comparison OF liott's
Debates with his Mr.tin.s aud letters Of that
p.rod will disclose The fact that the Massa-
chusetts delegation wa= little more than the
piece of John A'iams."
1t is true that Mr.. Adams was an
author, and that his works and letters
have been published; but / have not
such familiarity with them as will en-
able me to verify or contradict this
sweeping assertion. Mr.. Adams prom
inence was very great, and his views
Of public affairs We're then widely
known, although his works and let
ters had not then been published.
In h.,
where be was our Minister. when the
Convention of 1857 was in session?
But why did not Massachusetts have
other sons who could speak for them
selves, and did their own thinking and
acting, though they might even con-
cur with John Adams? Too much
compliment to John Adams, because
too uncomplimentary to the other ell
lightened and independent SONS of the
old Bay State.
But Mr.. Callahan adds:
''Jobn Marshall aud Patrick Henry were not
on the floor Of that Convent.on; and yet FL
liott's Debates, compared with their writings
of that period, will show that John Marshall
and Patrick Henry debated IN that Convention
for eighteen days, and that John Marshall CAR
ried his point"
I confess that I neither appreciate
nor understand this. With what writ
ings of that date of either Marshall or
Henry shall We compare Elliott's De-
bates? I am not acquainted with
them. Mr.. Henry was not much Civ
en- to writing, and was not regarded
as fine writer. Some messages as
Governor, and perhaps few reports
in legislative assemblies, and few
letters can be traced to him. Writ
had notthen even reported the speech
es contained in his Biography of him.
In the Virginia Convention, MIR.
Henry, who had declined to be
member of the Federal Convention,
though appointed, strenuously opposed
the ratification OF the Constitution of