The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-05-02
OUR FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
The Guardian of our Liberties Talks-Chiet
Justice Fuiler's Remarks.

| Chief Justice Fuller responded to the
toast, Our Federal Constitution-The
consummation of all former political wis
dom, the trust OF the present, the guide for
all coming nations-George Bancroft."
After dwelling at some length on the
problems which confronted the trainers of
the constitution and the necessity for IN
! equaled patience, sagacity, moderation
and wisdom on their part, the speaker said {:
That patience, that sagacity, that modera-
ton, that wisdom, signally exhibited in
general, was especially illustrated il his
character and conduct whose inauguration
we celebrate to-day. To WaShington's
prophetic eye. glories of the future had
! long been unveiled. Dependent for realiza-
/ ton upon the success Of craftsmanship in
! the work Of construction entered on al MS
| suggestion aud carried TO completion IN
der his direction, the equaDlG and SteaCtast
! tenor Of his mind was eXamplihed IN his
| well known exclamation, Let Us raise a
standard to which the wise and honest can
repair. The event is in the hands Of God
! Under such guidance, in that temper, with
| that reliance. the work went forward TO its
elimination in the masterpiece of political
| science. The great English statesman de
| clared 1t the most wonderful work ever
! STRUCK On aL Il 2Ik III J4lllC DA t4lI DId4l4 Llu
purpose OF man. But in its main features
| it is as much proceeded from progressive
history as any governmental organism
mankind has ever seen. Like the action Of
nature, forces had been long accommodating
| before they burst into expression. The
careful division Of powers, the checks and
| balances, the representation OF the states
and the peOple2re q safeguard against the
| exercise of arbitrary will. The immense
] +D Y,YsH-a.r tho
Cypress were but tle concentrated results
of prior experiences while the plan Of gov
eminent is absolutely sovereign in its own
sphere, leaving the states without d political
superior of their own, was the natural ont
come Of the necessity Of recOncillng imperial
sway over q vast extent of country to be
peOpled by coming myriads with republi-
can rule resting on 4 representative system
and the principle of local government Tor
domestic purposes. A supreme tribunal
was part of the noble scheme to which was
committed the duty of determining when
federal or state action exceeded the bound
aries by which each was prescribed. For
the fieXibility Of unWrltten constitutions
there was substituted here not merely a
mode of alteration when sanctioned as pre-
Scribed, but through a simple generosity of
the terms employed an elasticity enabling
the fundamental law TO develop with the
progress of the people as heineXorable logic
Of events influenced by its provisions, or
judicial interpretation expanded them, not
so as to impair vital rule, but to permit
its adoption to new conditions, thus keep
ing pace with the onward sweep of empire
which it rendered possible: TUis matchless
instrument vindicates its title to immortal
ity. Well may the venerable historian,
whose years nearly equal the life of the
nation, describe the constitution as not only
the consummatiOn of political wisdom in
in the past, but the trust of the present,
and well may we hope with him that com
ing nations will avail themselves of the
teachings that its century Of successful
operation affords, as will we trust sue
ceeding centuries ofprogress, and in recog
milton of mans capacity to observe the
self-imposed limitations, accelerate the
time when the whole world shall be
wrapped in the peace Of one dominion"