Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-13
A Word More 10 Nr. Conway.

A Word More 10 Nr. Conway.
! To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
If it be not bad manners, permit me
10 refer again 10 Mr.. Conway, who you
! complimented muchly, and then think
showed concusiyely that a fish IN water
might be considered a very graceful
animal, whereas on land he would figure
as anything else. In other words, in Mr.
| Conway's usual sphere, he was to be
much admired, but when he launched
out on what was to him, | think, very
dry land he soon appeared to practical
men az being very much out OF deep
water. My recollection IS that Hamll-
| ton favored strong central govern
ment." My recollection also is that the
main reason why several of the States in
conventions which ratified the COnstitu
/ ton of the United States fought and OPP
posed such Constitution through many
/ of their delegates was owing solely to
/ the fear that the Government Of the
United States would finally " swallow
I'D " and destroy the sovereign rights OF
tue several States. You doubtless re-
member the grand speech Of Patrick
Henry in the Virginia Convention
bitterly opposing the ratification
of the Constitution OF the United
States. The great objection OF
such Constitution in the conventions of
the States to ratify it sprang from fear
that the central or United States Govern
ment would or might overthrow the
rights Of the States. If In any convention
held by any one of the States one single
representative ever opposed the adop-
ton or ratification of the Constitution of
the United States on the ground THAT
such instrument did not protect the peo-
pie Of the several States from State OPP
preston or injustice, then 1 confess l
never heard OF such thing. The states
by name having been recognized as
"sovereign" States by Great Britain,
and knowing even at that early
day what "home rule" meant,
the people of each State were
Jealous about their rights. Consequently,
when the United States Constitution was
before them for adoption the main OBJ
lection was "that the Federal Govern
ment, in the course OF time. might and
would assume powers not delegated to it
by the States" To read now the mag
nifcent protest OF Patrick Henry in the
Convention Of Virginia, called to ratiiy
the Constitution of the United States,
looks as if lie was nearly "inspired. "
Certainly the trouble he warned his
countrymen against has been more than
fulfilled, and yet, after all the blood
which has been shed to protect
simply 1.-the rights Of the States, we
find men absolutely believing that
the United States Government would
never have been formed had it not
been well understood that powers were
given such Government by the States to
keep the latter from treating It's own
citizens with rank injustice and Oppres-
sion. Such an idea, after what We have
seen since 1860, borders, to my mind,
as worse than childishness. To talk or
write about the Government of the
United States being formed to prevent
"the States" from expressing its own
citizens must strike any one (who has
any real knowledge OF the facts as be-
ing too ridiculous for a moments
consideration. 1t is just on par with
the hundreds and thousands OF people
who have taken an oath to support the
Constitution Of the United States, and
who, If they ever read 1t, have about as
much idea Of its real intent and charac-
ter as a fiye-year-Old child. Ii is equally
amusing to ind men writing about the
great Alexander Hamilton as one rather
opposed to concentration Of power IN
the L" Federal Government. My idea
is that he worked as hard as he possibly
could to make the Federal Govern
ment strong, but be failed to make it as
strong as he wished, and so thought it
best to accept half of a loaf when
whole one could not be had. The
States under certain doubtful pow
ers certainly have cause to mourn
over the fact that every single
power granted the Federal Gov
srnment had not been specified in black
and white and in language not suscepti-
bic of a wrong construction. If | am
wrong in what | have written | certainly
can comfort myself in the belief that
any one who wrote this sentence-viz. /:
al say refuge, for it was because of
political superstitions extinct in England
were long afterwards fostered by tue
prithv klnglings in her colonies, and Is.
peciuliy In tue West Indies, where
Hamilton was nurtured, that so many
fallacies concerning English law survive
IN this country, is next TO blind as TO
the history OF many of the colonies Of
England IN America. Let one get
copy of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence" made in the colony of North Car
DINA and read It and he will SEQ
that a lie in America gave English
subjects some "new ideas of mans ca
pacity to govern himself twithont the
aid Of kings and the laws of kings)-
The Constitution of the United States.
aud especially the Declaration of hide,
pendence. sent forth to the world no un-
certain sound as to the power of 1.-THE
people OF the states to make laws for
rthe benefit of themselves and their
p.steritv." And in order TO accomplish
tdat power and' TO preserve "home
rule under no circumstances would
the States have ever agreed to
enter the Federal onion unless in one
branch OF Congress every State
should have voice of equality.
The Senate of the United States is in
truth the only law which prevents the
Federal Government from becoming
"a great central power" having no
regard for the local wishes of the people
of the different States. To suppose that
the State OF Virginia would, after Patrick
Henry's powerful speech against ratify-
ing the Constitution Of the United States,