Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-03
Hnra Il Is AOain.

The New York Tribune of Monday con-
tains an editorial which reads rs if IL had
been written twenty-five years ago. Il IL
full of "envy, malice, and all uncharita-
ness" and sometimes gives the truth wide
berth. 1t SAYS of the southern " fathers y:
These fathers not only resisted by
peaceful and legal means necessary and be-
nefcent interpretations and alterations IN
the Constitution. In q foolish effort 10
prevent such changes they rcsOrted TO re
ielhou 10 cast of the rightful authority OF
The Government. aud did what they could
10 destroy the Constitution entirely, and
the Union which IT formed, and the price
less hopes of mankind which depended
upon American loyalty to elf-goyernment.
That WAS not merely mistake II was
treason. For treason, and all It's infamous
incidents and consequences, these men are
ccnsured 10y every liberty flowing citizen of
any land"
There was no sembiance of treason in II.
They did not resort 20 rebellion. They ex-
ercised the night which they had reserved
when they ratified the Constitution and
withdrew from the Union. The fact that
they were not able 10 make good their
Withdrawal proves nothing as TO the jus
tce Of their cause. The last statement
quoted above is utterly destitute of the
truth. A "lberty-loving Englishman
sent TO Virginia the statue of JACKSON which
adorns our Capitol Square. But we need
not go to England or elsewhere to learn
what "hbertyloving people think of the
heroes Of the Confederacy. In Washington
city al the Inauguration Of CLEVELAND III
4 l.. Il l.. a
occasion even from the President of the
United States. At the centennial in New
York city. IN 1889, ne WIS the hero of the
hour, though northern soldiers were there
by thousands. In Boston years before, he
was received in like manner when he
visited that city with the Knights Templar.
No, sir. There was no faint of treason
in the rebellion" II was the effort of the
noblest people upon whom the sun eye-
shone 60 perpetuate free government rs
they understood it-that 49, as the fathers
phrased il, government with the consent
Of the governed" Senator HoAE, of Mas
sachusetts, described those people az
princes"
ave ne'er shall look upon their like again"
But the Tribune has carelessly revealed
the fact that il knows the southern con-
struction of the Constitution was the true
one. II says:
" II is a happy thing for the country that
the trainers Of the Constitution, IN their
ignorance of the future. were not permitted
To decide too precisely questions upon
which the destiny Of the nation depended.
Had that ignorance fettered the govern
ment. ~ it possibly might have done if
questions then beyond the scope Of con-
lecture had been definitely raised, the
grand nationality that we have to-day
might have been rendered impossible:"
That means that if the trainers of the
Constitution had plainly and unambigu-
ousiy expressed what they held 10 be the
true theory of our Government. the Federal
Government would not have been able TO
claim the right 10 force the States 10 re-
main In the Union. II the fathers bad
spoken with precision, too precisely
quotb tho T,i5sgse, they would have said
In the Federal Constitution just what was
said in the Virginia ordinance ratifying
that instrrment.
II Is in vain that the Tribune calls the