The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-08

Revolutionary " ar, Virginia ihet ana
solved AN the difficulties attendant upon
the adoption OF the Federal Constitu-
ton
I'm the interests Of peace, she freely
gave away the great northwest tt'il-
tory. and created a huge common prop
ertv. i'm which all could participate With
great foresight, sne secured tne open
navigation OF the A'6sisslppi river ana 80
made the western empire possible. W non
the peace with Great Britain shower the
utter weakness of the confederation, WI
piuia threw an her influence In fnNor or
better union and carried .he day.
She called the convention 10 60 isider
tho creation Of q stronger organization.
her great wealth and prestige TUNED
the scales in favor OF our present gov
ernment and made IFS adop-'cA loi 81
Judge Pryor then pointed out exha"s-
tivelv the vast influence that Wasf .ra-
t,,r. rnd other illustriOus Nirgi 'ans, had
welded in behalf Of more eliclelt y
ornment He further showed tax ID ife
work Of the convention Virginia WAS - III
I'm the 'front.' and tiiat the scheme St a
Constitution as outlined 10y James MAli-
SON. was followed in prefrence 10 All
others The relations between the states
and the Federal pow Wer was ilNcd Iof
an times on the lines suggested py Nlr-
gini1ns.
THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
ON the question Of the adoption OF
the Federal Constitution Dy the states
Tho voice Of Virginia was raiSei pa us
behalf. and when finally adopted the
early amendments were obtained uy Nir-
Judge Pryor then rapidly reviewed the
prOm.pent part Virginia had taken IN
aiding the young government anu also IN
making enaranicts on ga 'ue'use
The proceedings Cf the JniicaN bc
clarirc legislative acts Illegal nrd void
for repugnauCe 10 written constitutions
had originated i'm Virginia in -. ana the
value Of this great saie-scari 70 itce ~
sfitutions discussed IN an able manner
Thc claim made for RHODE Island Ia this
rosrect was not well founded.
rre speaker then srok" % "a" Work
Of Judge Marshall. that Virginia lurist,
Ga irfusiue Efc and power into tie Fed
graI Government. which be fOunl weak
and iuanimate. and ne placed upon "a
firm and stable basis WIN the wen 9e-
fined powers judge Pryor. IN cioslns
hts admirable address. rems -Eei that lie
authorship of the United stat - tDnsil-
tution was Justly due 20 N.tg.nit. 70 hcr
potent influence. - her Conceptions, 40
principles that she set IN notion 10 the
wisdom of her sohs.
~ fhe conclusion of his spcecn. q unar-
imols vote of thanks was tc-d-fen Judge
pryor in most iiatter.ng terms Al ;he
election ~ officers Iof me Lar ASsoe a
ror for the comirg year. 'lr S1hfft VI
HueLes. OF Norfolk, was elected presi-
dent.
MR.. PERKINS.
At the evening session AIR George Per
kins delivered a most instructive adj
Mr. George Perkins. of Charlottesville.
read q paper eniitle'' lHe La"9oI
Xfter a brief Introduction Mr.. Perkins
SAID that the object OF his paper was
10 present a view. IN some scft, or the
lawyer Of the past: 70 observe ms VIC
tories as well as his defects; 20 note ms
preseut status as compared with nus past
career and an 20 the end OF finding, II
may be. some rule Tor bis future guid-
ance. .
ouita a list of authors. presenting the
nrofession I'm comic as wei as serious
nfase. and this was done Tor the phr-
nose of contrasting what these authors
said hostile In the mann WIN what q"
was claimed was and Is the iact
Tho raper preceded &c say that by
law Of human intellect sacn man chose
that pursuit In life most suitable 10 ms
mental mower. and this IL so 10 such an
,xt@nt that we Judge men by what they
do as well as by the company tney keep.
Hence 10 decide the lawyers place IL
must be known what Is the law.
Law was defined &c he tine perfection
of reason" and II was claimed that
the law..er q. the leader Of his race-that
his place is IT the fore front OF the
mighty host which IL advancing 10
splendid destiny.
rTs BEST.
trcnce IL was contended that as this
..ta,e. offors fuU employment 10 the
most complete development OF intellec-
tual power. and as the mind OF man
seels fthoss fields most congenal to its
capacitv. the race has delegated to the
Temple OF the Law It's best representa-
tives.
AZ THE fRoNT.
I. was claimed that the lawyer stood
q, 90. fr,nt i'm the past: that he MAIN
,ained the same position to-day. In every
hing affecting the welfare OF tie public
and the advapcement Of his race-that
this must be SO. for the lawyers are the
,actinn of the reason" and they are the
expounders OF those rules which regulate
tHe mechanism OF social order and point
out the path CT political prosress
In closing Mr.. Perkins said: The great