Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-01
SATURDAY.........AUGUsT !, 1885
The state Sovereignty Of the Platform
..o~;.t;c If thu Mahoueites

Is IL characteristic Oh INC "en"ne'o'
that they should charge the STANLEY
MAr~HEws usurpation upon the one
Democrat III Democrat he is) who sits
upon the bench OF the Supreme Court
Of the United States. This preposter-
os,s charge is made in the face OF the
facts. first, that that one so-called Demo-
cratic Judge was appointed by Repub-
licsn President, and, second, that four of
the Republican justices concurred in the
SrANLEY.NA7THEws decision. Give
us sound Democrats upsn the bench in
the place Of these four Republicans
and see how soon the dissenting opinion
of Chief-Justice WATTS and his three
associates will become the law of the
land.
All the "rebellion and :" State
sovereignty" concealed, according to
our enemies, in the Democratic plat
form, may be found in the dissenting
opinion just spoken of, and in the Con-
stitution Of the United States. The
words employed in the platform were
based upon that opinion and upon the
eleventh article Of amendments to the
Constitution Of the United States, which
amendment is in the following words:
"The judicial power of the United
States shall not be construed to extend
to any suit in law or chancery CON-
menced or prosecuted against one of the
United States by citizens Of another
State, or by citizens or subjects Of any
foreign State"
As originally ratified, the Federal
Constitution did not allow State to be
sued in the Federal courts by its own
citizens, but did allow it to be sued by
citizens Of another State or by citizens
of q foreign nation. So the effect Of
the addition Of the eleventh amendment
to the Federal Constitution was to pro-
vide that State shall not be sued by
her own citizens, nor by citizens Of an
other State, nor by citizens of foreign
nation.
The Democrats Of Virginia, following
the lead of the Chief Justice of the
United States and his three dissenting
associates in the recent Virginia coupon
cases, claim that these decisions were
rendered in violation Of the eleventh
amendment, and that the sovereignty"
Of every State is assailed by those de-
cisions, and will be endangered unless
the Supreme Court Of the United States
can be taught to respect the Constitu-
ton OF the United States. 1t lisa ques-
ton in which Massachusetts, has as
deep . concern as Virginia. 1t is o
question in which Republicans ought to
feel as profound an interest as Demo-
Gratis. II we had had q hand in the
preparation Of the Democratic platform,
we should have asked to add to what is
said on this subject the declaration that
1t is only by respecting the eleventh
amendment that "an indissoluble
Union Of indestructible States" can be
perpetuated.
The plank Of which we are speaking
would, therefore, be good one and
ought to be popular one in any north
ern State. 1t is not even tinged with
sectionalism. 1t is broad enough to
hold all the people of the United States,
Of all parties. Let every Democratic
editor or speaker plant himself firm
ly upon il. "That way lies safety"
Let the Democrats quote on every
stump what Chief-Justice WAITE,
speaking through Justice BRADLEY,
said on this subject. Here are the
words:
1--WE have no right, il we were dis
posed, to fritter away the substance Of
this solemn stipulation by neat aud
ski!ful manipulation Of its words. We
are bound to give it its full and sub
stantial meaning and effect. All this
litigation in reference to Virginia bonds
IL an attempt through the medium Of
the Federal courts TO coerce the State
of Virginia into the ful6lment Of her
contracts.
That Is all the State sovereignty there
Is in tho Virginia Democratic platform,
The Democrats Of this State entrench
themselves behind the Chief Justice Of
the Supreme Court Of the United States
and his three dissenting associates, and
demand that the substance" of the
Federal Constitution shall not be I" frit-
tered away" knowing as we well do
that "au his litigation in reference to
Vsrginia bonds is an attempt through
The medism Of the Federal courts TO
.eeeres lie State Of Virginia" We
know 1t because the United States Cir
cult Court for the tRichmond circuit, in
contempt Of the Constitution, has by
mandamus compelled Virginia to as
sumo . debt Of ffty thousand dollars
which she had refused to assume, and
forced her to issue her bonds for that
amount--thus openly and plainly max.
ing the State . party TO suit, when
the Constitution in express terms de-
clares she shall not be sued
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