Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-04
VIRGINIA . LAWYERS.
Nh rhoM DISCUSSES THE lNEvITA-
SIZE REApyusrMeNT OF LAW.
Dsmsraisrsss Efsscs Of the Fifteenth
Ansndmsns--rn Repeal Demanded
SHADING observation-disclosures
ESPECIAL telegram % the D,spa.ch.l

Especial telegram 10 the Dispasch.l
wnrrE SULPHUR spRrxos. W. Va. August
s.-The association was called TO order by
the president, and after the reading and
approval OF yesterdays minutes Mr.. Alfred
p. Thorn, OF Norfolk. being introduced,
read most interesting and instructive
paper entitled The Inevitable Readjust-
ment of Law" which received earnest At
tention and commentator.
Mr.. Thorn began by referring to the fact
the national idea was now firmly estab- |
lished rs the true theory OF our govern |
ment, OF least for the future. and he de- |
fined his subject to DO the outline treat
ment Of tho notifications. OF the funda-
mental relations between the states ana
tho Union incident to the establishment
OF the national idea" in constitutional
construction.
cis,ons Of the Supreme Court OF the
United States bearing upon the relations
between the States and the Union. The
result he states as follows The picture |
presented by those decisions is that Of an
iudissoluble Union OF indestructibte
States--of a strong Federal Government,
robust in oil its powers, confined by no
narrow or technical construction, ade-
ouate 10 all nationa; purposes, and COM
petent TO all national emergencies. and OF
State governments secure in ell their re-
served powers. protected against Federal
oppression or usurpation, and safe in the
enjoyment of an independent and digni-
fed. though limited sovereignty"
He claimed that this was the ineyita-
bic resultant from the concurring forces
of successful war and developing cIviliza-
ton" and that in fact it was :" an easy ex-
tension aud development of the principles
announced by the great expounder of tho
Constitution himself" Chief-Justice Mar
shall. -,
Mr. Thorn then proceeded: with all
its forces balanced and all its powers COM
plete this dual system of government is
our priceless heritage. IL stands before
the world as new creation, adequate TO
the wants, conservative of the liberties,
and responsive TO the aspirations of man
kind"
" But are all Its perils IN the past Does
the future contain for IL no storm or
stress a? IL there no danger that threatens
the accomplishment of its highest des-
tiny! The candid thinker must admit |
thai there is-at least one perhaps more
yet at least one not inherent in the system |
ard the outgrowth Of temporary condl- |
tions."
OUR CITIZENSHIP.
He defined our most pressing danger to |
be that we do not value our citizenship.
lie undertook TO show that immigration |
must be limited and naturalization guard |
ed by suitable restrictive regulations, and |
then took up the fifteenth amendment. |
which he sssalled as destructive of the in |
dependence OF thought on national ques- |
lions Of one great section of the country. |
and as establishing conditions diheren- |
tiating the people Of the South from their |
fcllow-countrymen. He said: They |
tlneaning the greater portion of those |
IN, ltfn IN
opportunity to think on the great national |
ques tions which concern their ccuntry. |
They desire 10 develop amid surroundings |
Congenial 10 the growth of a national
not sectional-spirit. They long TO and
in tue solution of then country's pro-
conditions differentiating them from their
fellow -countrymen. But at the South |
this has us yet been denied them"
CoNDogED.
He objected TO the fifteenth amendment,
also because its practical effect was TO
corrupt the ballot, and said that in many |
of the States the necessity to insure con-
troll in the hands OF the white race has |
caused offences against the ballot to be
condoDed, If not approved. Every rene
Triton Of this OfencJ weakens the moral
sense Of the people aud Is blow at the
safety Of our Institutions"
lie proceeded TO discuss the question OF
race autagonisms and relative race supe-
rIorIty. and entered O plea for the estab-
lishment of a homogeneous and distinct
American citizenship and for the repeal
Of the fifteenth amendment. He said:
THE government of the Union proceeds
upon the assumption that ours is a homo
gencous citizenship. IL IL government
Of equal laws, applicable to equality OF
conditions. Conditions being unequal,
equa, laws. logically justified by the
1I.~ al sob Il
prodace unrest and dlsahection. AS has
been said. unsettled questions have no
pity for the repose of nations"
DEMANDED.
He then alluded to the fact that the re-
peal of the fifteenth amendment was now
being demanded III influential quarters
not identified with the southern view of
the question. and quoted from late pub
lication By MIR. Murat Halstead to that eff
feet.
Mr.. Thom's excellent paper was re elyed |
with cordial applause and was highly COM
pllmented.
LAW REFORM.
The debate ON law reform was then |
opened by strong speech IRON MIR. CJch- |
ran in favor of his substitute and against |
the report. He was replied to briefly by |
Mr.. Hughes. OF Norfolk. After some re.
marks from others Hon. John Goode said |
for compromise. and he proposed to strike
out all in the report relating TO the ap::
pendix and the adoption of the union of |
law and equity and TO take the vote on the
several bills proposed by the committees
report. This proposal was accepted oy |
the friends of reform and was adopted.
ACTION OF THE ASSOCIATION.
The association then proceeded TO con-
slider the bills proposed by the committee |
datosl Tho saconH hill in raanopk m
pleas, was finally stricken out by close
Votes 10 As also the seventh, as to the
Judge summing up TO the jury, which the |
committee assented TO. The eleventh and |
twelfth bills, as 10 their actions, were
stricken out by the committee. All the
other hills were amended by the commit
tee and were adopted.
The question then came up on MIR. Coch-
rams substitute, which he withdrew, say
ing il had accomplished his purpose OF
having q vote on the various bills pro-
posed aud the rejection OF the appendix |
1t IS proper to say the appendix has not |
been recommended by the committee at
all.
ADOPTED.
The vote was then taken on the report |
OF the committee as amended, and was
adopted by large majority. SO the |
scheme OF reform reported was amended |
in many respects and va, finally |
adopted. The debate was able and spirit 1
ed and sometimes was marked by huDor |
aud sharp hits and repdrise, out the utmost |
good feeling prevailed throughout and the |
result reached was in the nam sstisfacto- |
~ to large majority of the association.
ROUTINE BUSINESS.
The announcement by the presidents ,loct |
OF the standing committees for the ensuing |
year and other unfinished business con- |
eluded the session, which adjourned at 2 |
O'Clock.
The Committee on Admissions reported |
the following new members elected |
Thomas J. kirkpatrick. Lynchburg viii |
liam w. Wallis and Joseph l.. Kelly, Big |
Stone Gap: Morton Williams, Bland |
Courthouse; ]. Y. Whitaca and w. Roy |
son, Lexington; Graham Clayton. Bedford |
CITY; Z. II. jackson. Front Royal; RAJ
lcieh O. Crump. Suffolk: Joseph y. VIII |
Hams, Fairfax Courthouse; Pane Petit. |