New-York tribune., 1891-05-15

hui,dny NJ The Constitution consisted IN prOposiny'
advocating and finally securing that principle py w,0a
the equal representation Of all the States IN the o
States Senate is provided fol. The Convention a"'0
very near dissolution and wreck upon this quesuon'
strong marty desired that botl branches Of the FED
ersI Congress shonld be chosen according to la,ao
of population. This. plan stubbonly opposed py
the representatives of the smaller States. as involving
their domination by the largec States. Dcknsoh a'
the time represented Delaware, and duty no less ua
conviction led him to advocate the mode OF choosing
United States Senators which was adopted Ai'cr '"o
adoption Of the Constitution, and when fierce COLI
troversy was stn raging over its scope and mean
Ing Dickinson published the Fabus' letters In when
he supplemented the expositions of tho "FederasI
papers, and earned high enoouilums from the nrse
statesmen and thinkers of tho country besides con-
trlbuting much toward the comprehension Of the new
Constitution by the people.
Th$closing years of this remarkable man are per-
haps the least easy TO explain. He fell under the IN
fuence of Jefferson, and seems, as DR.. ste admits
TO have turned his back upon the doctrines which he
had upheld all his life, even in the face Of unpop
ularty and obloquy. That a man so clear-minded
and well grounded in constitutional law should have
been seduced by the falacies and the glitterng gen
eratics Of Jcfersonianism is certainly nothing less
than astonishing his present bographcr scarcely
attempts TO explain the mystery Yet so IT was, and
what is perhaps most curious Of all, the logical con-
servave Dickinson actually shared Jeerson's purely
fancifu apprehensions of movement to change the
Republic into monarchy. 1t is true that at time
when people could be brought TO suspect Washington
OF such purpose absurdity be considered TOO
preposterous to have found advocates but Dickinson,
one would think should have been the last man TO de-
liver himself TO such illusions. In all his published
writings leading characteristic is moderation. The
age was one Of political passion, which ran riot
throughout the Revolution. Never were libel calumny
detraction and SANDER rife In the public No
of any prominence escaped the most unmeasured
abuse. No public question could be discussed with
out the introduction Of personalities, and such per-
sonaties as to-day would be shrnk from by the least
scrupulous Journals But Dckinson's arguments were
all impersonal, passonless candid and impartial. His
evident and sole object impart information to
make the truth apparent TO the most limited under
standing; and this he usually succeeded in doing.
Yet after his public had closed he became al
most fanatic Jefferson's principles, and Jeersons
own administration failed to teach him that the in
ventor OF those principles had to defy and traverse
them In order to carry the Government. Nothing
less Jeffersonian than the administration of Jefferson,
In fact, could well be imagined but Dickinson had ap
parcntly reached point at which discrimination and
judgment ceased to operate upon his views His at
ttude these closing years. therefore Is disappointing
and inspires regret and pity rather than admiration.
But. as regards his public life. think DR.. se has
demonstrated his contention that error OF 1udg-
ment, to which all liable, is really tho only
circumstance which can be brought against him. and
that for usefulness, patriotism manly courage indie
pendence and uprightness ne stands second to none
among the great Americans Of his generation. DR..
Ste gives in appendix number Of pieces 1usti-
catlfs such as the "vindcaon," the proofs of Dick
nson's authorship Of the Declaration Of Causes and
other documents which support the contentious Of the
text The biography is we'll written, in generally
excellent spirit, and should certainly effect for the
memory and reputation of Dickinson all that the His
torcal Society OF Pennsylvania hope from the pubjca
tion.