Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-22
Observation-Disclosures %, 1885.
That 'stato-sovereignty" Plank.


we have had discussions not few, and
while the perfervid genius of the South
has sometimes led it TO assume posi-
tons with which we could not agree, it
is always intelligent and perspicacious.
i; puts its argument into distinct phrase
oloey, and it does not Intentionally
make its opponents Say what they did
not say and did not intend to say.
When the Dispatch carries the doctrine
Of States rights to an extreme it does
so in open fashion,"
The Journal then copies our interpre-
tstion Of its words, and adds:
alt was the purpose of the Journal
to say something in the editorial re-
ferred to. TO it the language Of the
ex-Confederate in Richmond, and the
way it was received, meant a great
deal. The comment thereuDon was
sincere. There was no mental reserva-
ton. 1t was encouraging to find evil
dence tending to show the South as de-
voted to the Union. So we said; so
we meant TO say"
We thank the Journal for its fair
ness to the Dispatch. We also assure
ii that we believe its kind words for the
South were sincere. We say now, as
we have repeatedly said, that the Jour
nails stumbling-block in dealing with
the South has been the negro. To its
misunderstanding of the NEGRO ques-
ton" we can trace most OF the hard
things it has said about the South.
However, our Providence contemporary
made an allusion which affords us
good opportunity for bringing to
its attention matter which we
particularly desire that such papers as
the Journal should understand. Not
long ago the Journal. abiding to our
position with reference to the STAN
LEY MATTHEWS usurpation, charged
that we were advocating notification.
We replied to its article, and think we
succeeded in demonstrating that there
was no ground for the charge. Suisse
quently the Virginia Democrats met in
Convention and adopted platform, the
estate debt" plank of which contains
the following:
"The question Of the State debt has
ceased to be one Of dollars and cents.
1t has become one Of State sover-
eighty"
This declaration was the signal for
the organs and number of uniformed
papers in the North to raise the cry of
"rebellion and Estate sovereignty"
We do not know whether the Journal
joined in that cry or not. Our impress
sion is that it did not. But we do know
thatithas en- several occasions shown that
il is very sound on the "rights of the
States within the Constitution" We
know that in order to impress us with
its sincerity it now makes this asser-
ton:
"The Journal has watched with
keen interest the material progress of
the South, as it has readily acknow.
lodged every sign Of renewed regard for
the Union and obedience to the Consti-
tuition. And this upon the sole ground
that, while political parties might gain
or lose in power, the nation was aud is
TO be one and that consequently it is
for the best welfare of all that each
part should be wise and honest toward
the supreme law and the public veal.
We claim that the Democrats Of Viz
ginia are struggling to secure obedience
to the Constitution, are honest towards
the supreme law Of the land, and are
fighting against judge-msde law. All
the estate sovereignty" there is III
the Virginia declaration I" is based
upon the eleventh amendment to the
Constitution and the dissenting opinion
Of Chief-Justice WAITE aud his thSee
associates, and is such Estate sove-
reignty" only as the Journal can with
perfect consistency advocate. For the
benefit Of the Journal we repeat the in.
spiration Of the declaration of the Vir
ginia Democrats. The eleventh amend
ment to the Constitution, which tn,
Virginia Democrats would cause TO b,
respected, and which we necessarily con
clude fron the Journals language tina
paper would have obeyed, reads:
"The judicial power of the United
States shall not be construed to extend
!. TO any suit in law or equity commenced
or prosecuted against one Of the United
States by citizens Of another State, or
by citizens or subjects of any foreign
State"
The dissenting opinion of ChiefJus.
tice ATE says:
Eve have no right. if we were dis
posed, to fritter away the substance Of
this solemn stipulation by a neat and
skilful manipulation OF its words. We
are bound to give it its fall and sub
stantial meaning and effect. All this
litigation in reference TO Virginia bonds
is an attempt, through the medium Of
the Federal courts, 10 coerce the STATE
Of Virginia into the fulflment Of her
contracts"
We ask the Journal to persevere
in the way in which it has started.
We ask it TO study "this ques-
ton" upon which the Democrats
Of Virginia "appeal 10 all men ire
spsctive Of party" and in which
Rhode Island Is no less interested than
is Virginia. We ask it TO emphasize
what II holds to be involved in obedi-