Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-06
THO Truth Of History.

Remarkable was the foresight OF sone VI
the statesmen VINO IN the several State csn-
ventIons OF 17Ss discussed the various iea-
lures Of The proposed new Constitution. we
have recently quoted from the speeches
made by number OF these statesmen. A
day or two ago we came across the following
remarks OF Mr. LINCOLN in the South caro-
Ina Convention that ratified the Federal
Constitution. MIR. LINCOLN said he bad us
tened with eager attention TO all the srgu-
rnen,s in favor Of the Constitution, and the
more be beard the more he was convinced
OF It's evil tendency. We quote:
lyon commended ten years for liberty.
What ia libertyf The power az governing
yoursef. II YOU adopt this constitution, 90
YOU have the power? No. You give II to
men who live thousand miles from you.
Whist security bsys you for republican
form OF government when IL depends upon
the will and pleasure OF q lev men t1h an
Grmu. q aasy and O rich tred Sa'ry AZ MeT
back 10 alter and change II al Their 'ctH ~
These words describe so exactly the man.
ner in which the thirteenth. fourteenth ana
fifteenth amendments were ratified, or Iather
underwent the forms OF ratification, that
they r, al more like history than Ike pro-
phscy. IL was the force which stood De-
hind the pretended "submissiou OF those
amendments 10 the action OF the several
States that secured their ratification. The
army. the navy, end the unlimited resources
OF The Federal Government enabled THAp
STEVENS aud his gang to alter and change
the Constitution "at their will
GorygRNEUR MoRRrs also foreslw in 1888
that the Constitution would be altered at the
will OF the majority or else totally disregard
ed. ms letter TO TIMOTHY PICKERING he
said:
"The Legislature THAT IS, COngtes'l will
always make the power which 1t wishes 10
exercise unlesS be so organized a. to con-
tain within itself the sufficient check. At
fempts 10 restrain IT from outrage VIII only
render il more dangerous. Ihe ldea oI
binding legislators by oath Ii puerile'
Having sworn 10 exercise The lowers grant
cd according to their true intent aud mesn~
ing they will, when they desire 10 go iur-
Their, ayoic The shame If not the guilt OF per-
inry bv swearing the true intent and mean
ing 10 be, according 10 their comprehension,
that which suits their purpose"
This prediction also reads as il II had been
written since TIE war between the states
ended. Having sworn TO support the Fede-
raj Constitution, the Republicans in Con.
cress and in the Executive chair declared
that the Constitution which bound them to
protect the rights OF the several States Al'o
contained "war powers" which justified
them in totally disregardIng the peace pow
ers OF that instrument. We believe, how
ever, that old TBAD STEVENS admitted that
the reconstruction legislation was oil outside
OF the Constitution.
We cannot understand how it is possible
for wel.iniormed northern men to deny thai
the work OF restoring the Union, as they
are fond Of phrasing 1t, was all done in viola
ton of the Constitution. It's absolutely Ger
tain that Virginia, New York, and others o
the ratifyfng States, would have refused to en-
ter the Union il they bad not understood tina
they would be at full liberty to resume thelE
independent status whenever the power
grated under the Constitution should h
perverted 10 their injury or oppressiOn-tht
States, OF course, to be the Judge.
The Warrenton Index has the following
striking remarks as to the power TO amend
ths Constitution:
1.-The papers, particularly the Richmond
Dispatch aud Chicago Tribune, are discuss
ing the right OF secession. The editorials o
the Dispatch are clear. a0le, and convincing
The Tribune uses hsekneyed phrases. harp
upon the csteh-word 'the people, advance
no new ideas, and brings forward In rather
weak terms the old ones. We have an ide
that where sovereignty resides there is TIT
controlling power, aud that the States dix
not part with their sovereignty; and that 4
Is not 'the people a. people who mad
the Constitution, is evidenced from the fac
that under the Constitution three fourth
OF the States may alter, amend, or abolisl
II. and there IL no power to prevent u, ever
though three fourths of the states may no
comprise more than one third OF the people
The Constitution OF the United States rs no
the sovereign power. IL IS supreme only s.
far a. powers haye been delegated, while III
sovereign power remains unimpared IN eac
separate, independent State, most ccrtaiul
so far as regards the thirteen original STATES
Now what Is right may not be expecte'
under all circumstances. and the late w'r de
tefmined the insxpedisncy OF secession
while the right remains unimpaued. IL l
well perhaps that II Is So but State soYeT
elgnty eau never be destroyed without dc
structiou 10 our form OF government by IN
destruction OF the states"