Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-12

and by a strictly geographical vote,
against the same opposition which had
fought the two former measures, and IN
the face OF fact to which Ham
ilton's attention was called, that the
power to grant charters OF incorporation
had been proposed in the Federal Con-
yention and rejected. This act also
was approved by Washington, though
Jefferson and Randolph both informed
him that they regarded 1t as unconstitu-
ticnal. :,
In two years these "ideas" produced
the effects predicted by Madison and
others. alt had introduced" says
a competent contemporary witness, "the
most extravagant combinations, pro-
NOTED fictitious credits, and by
giving a facility TO stock job
binp in all its various forms
had become an enormous and ruinous
snare 1t had occnsioned many Of tho
most enterprising characters to desert
the lawful paths Of industry. Dissipation,
gambling, extravsgant projects, and e1-
travaeant modes OF life had been pro-
noted to such degree as to be ruinous
to morals and degrading to the national
character.
II wasin the discussion Of these last two
measures that Hamilton introduced an
other "idea his doctrine OF the I'M
piled potcers of the Constitution. I'm
der his lead his followers "laid 1t down
as fundamental axiom that every gov
eminent from the instant OF its forma-
ton has tacitly annexed to Its being the
various po1ers which are essential to the
PURPOSES for which it WAS framed.
.sAll of them united in the doctrine that
Congress in the exercise OF power was
not restricted TO the means necessary
and proper for the execution OF the
Do,CeTs specifically granted according to
the language of the Constitution, but
might do whatever it deemed necessary
and proper to the end for which the
Constitution was adopted and those
powers conferred" Under the tempta-
tions held out by Hamilton this idea was
adopted by his party. the history OF the
formation OF the Constitution was ig-
nored, the plainest principles OF con-
struction were disregarded, new and
strange modes of construction were
forced in, and the Constitution, so
far as Hamilton could prevail, ceased
TO be an instrument Of limited powers
and overthrow the powers OF the indi-
vidusl States. This was the poison
which John Randolph said Patrick Hen
nv and George Mason saw under the
wings OF the Constitution. BY this poll
CIV, saws Lodge, Hamilton EARNED the
Government with credit and with pro-
ductiye revenue no won for 1t the
hearty good will of the business world
be gave it a potent ally in the national
bank by the funding system and the
bank he drew out and welded together,
with the strong influence OF pecuniary
interest, powerful class which know no
State lines, and by his protective policy
and internal improvements he aimed to
create yet another vigorous body OF sup
porters, and give tho Government still
more Sstrength and popularity" In
other words, he established a COM
plete system OF merchantable ideas "
against which 1.-THE Jeffersonian simph-
city" strove with all its might, butstroye
in vain.
At last the logical end was reached in
1861, when the lust of power and the greed
of money took advantage OF sectional
hatred and self-righteous philanthrophy
to get power and wealth and so form a
plutocracy out of its merchantable
ideas by wAging an unprovoked, cruel,
bloody, and barbarous war against peo-
pie who had never harmed them and
whose civilization and domestic peace
they have disturbed, if not destroyed, by
negro suffrage. All this they did, as MIR.
Depew blandly informed his southern
guests the other day, in defiance and by
virtue of that very Constitution which
they had never respected and had done
their best to destroy.
No wonder he exults, as he did in
late interview. in "the elasticity of tho
Constitution in virtually granting to Con-
gress by the Interpretation of the courts
any powers which the people deem ne
cessary for their welfare. "
This is what "the march OF century
that could not be halted or reversed
has done for the States of this Union
under the "ideas that ruled the hour !
This is the way that posterity keeps
faith with the States that made the Con-
stitution and makes Benjamin Harri-
son the successor Of the austere sim
plicIty and the unpurchasable integrity
Of George Washington.
Unwilling to detain the reader by
showing that Bishop Potter was equally
at fault in what he said OF "Jacksonian
vulgarity," | pass on to the evident
sheer in which he clothes his denuncia-
ton. Mr.. Jefferson was not a man
to be sneered at, though one can under
stand how he may have been hated by
men who did not share his confidence
in the capacity Of the people, and by
some other men who knowing that he
had contributed to destroy the Church
establishment in Virginia, try to be-
lieve that he thereby stabbed Chris
tianity. His heresy has excused those
men to themselves for assslling him ; as
We see them doing down to this day.
But q very simple fact authorizes the
inference that not religious zeal alone
nor Odiug heOtOgtcune prompts
the attack Mr.. Jefferson is rather
a favorite with the Baptists. And as
that very respectable denomination has,
! suppose, as much saying-grace as the
Episcopal clergy, and dissents as much as
they from Mr.. Jefferson's religious views,
may not the inference be that those re-
gard him as the spoiler of their Church (;
these as the author Of the Statute of Vir-
ginia for religious freedom?
One word in conclusion: Bishop Pot
ter, in an interview held with him a day
or two after his sermon, says the "social
tendencies in the great cities, outside of
politics, are most inspiring, most ele-
waiting. But the spoils-system and its re-
lated vice, the purchase of votes, are
things to be afraid Of, to be jumped upon
and strangled."
1 might leave him to reconcile this
view Of the social tendencies in the great
cities with the very opposite one ex-
pressed not a great while ago by the
Rev. Morgan Dix, a clergyman in the
Bishops diocese, and who L suppose
may be called one OF the pastors OF
"Ihe Four Hundred" But prefer 10
inform the Bishop, of what he ought to