Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-09-22
GOV. FITZ. LEE IN PHILADELPHIA.
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADO
TON OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADoP-
TIoN OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
A meeting of the Governors of the thir-
teen original States that adopted the Con-
stitution of the United States, was held in
Independence Hall in Philadelphia last Fri
day, to inaugurate steps for the celebration
of the Centennial anniversary, on the
Itch of September, 1887, of the adoption OF
the United States Constitution.
Gov. Lee of this State was honored by
being selected as the Chairman.
The Philadelphia Press says
"Governor Lee, of Virginia, responded
on behalf of the governors. He said: "The
great scientist, Professor Tyndall, traces
the course of drop of water from its home
in the ocean until it is caught up in the
clouds, formed into a rain drop, and de-
scends to refresh the earth, from which it
flows again back to its home, the ocean. In
the same way might trace the history of
this great nation, from its origin as united
people, in this hall. In this historic city
| we come to renew our love of liberty. re-
turn thanks for the welcome from the may
or of Philadelphia. One Of the citizens Of
Virginia presided at the first congress in
this hall; the pen of another wrote the dec
laration of independence, and the eloquence
of a third, a silver-tOngued orator. shook
appeal, Give me liberty or give me
DEATH -
In speaking of the doctrine of states
rights Governor Lee said: ''In the framing
Of the constitution there was one fatal neg
lect, which was the cause of much bitter
contention and ultimately deluged the coun-
try with blood. The rights of the states
are not clearly defined. Although we
believe that the United States government
should be the centre of system around
which the states, like planets, should re-
volve, we think planets, while yet acknow-
Lodging the central power, should be allow
ed to mark out their own orbits. The
power of the general government is arbi-
trary: if it should come into your state and
take away from your municipality the right
of selecting mayor, you would have no re-
course but appeal and if your appeal should
not be heard, you would have no recourse
but war, and if you take the advice Of the
southern states you will never 60 to war.
We believed in the south in the right of any
state to Withdraw from the confederation.
But that question has been settled in the
negative forever. Thank God, we don't
have to leave it to our children to settle.
We have no thought in Virginia now, ex-
cept to lift her up to be one of the brightest
jewels in the coronet upon the brow OF the
union" The governor then finished his
address with beautiful peroration on
white-winged peace spreading her protect
ing wings over the country from the rock
ribbed coast of the Atlantic to where the
x>lo ~ e @bo Do osf ,o NJ ho
golden sands of the western coast"
The Philadelphia Times says
'sThe convention was then organized
with Governor Lee in the chair. A COM
mittee of fl We was appointed, consisting of
the governors of Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Rhode Island, Maryland and Georgia, to
formulate plan of action for the celebration
of the centennial anniversary of the adop
ton of the constitution on the 18th day of
September, 1887 The committee drafted a
resolution, to the effect that the president
be invited to formally communicate to con-
gress, at their next meeting, the fact that
his administration closes the first century
of constitutional government, and to urge
upon that body the propriety of taking
measures to render the celebration worthy
of an occasion of such dignity and impor-
JauCo, tu6t GuC 0AtCublV0 VI every Sbhto duo
territory in the union be formally communi-
Gated with and urged to press upon the at
tention of their people the fitness of their
hearty cooperation; that this body commu-
nicate through its chairman and secretary
with the president of the United States,
and with the governors of the states and
territories and request them to appoint a
delegate to meet in Philadelphia on Thurs
day the 2l day of December A d. 1896
said delegates to organize as permanent
organization with power to devise such
plans and measures as will in their judg-
ment securea celebration worthy of so great
an event.
Colonel Peyton then said that if every
state in the union from Maine to California
would send regiment of soldiers to Phila-
delphia to camp in it's park during the cele
bration he could die happy. The meeting
then adjourned, to convene again at the call
of the chairman"