Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-08

m.
constitutional enactment was 1rst oihcl-
ally promulgated. had for pupil John Mar
shall. that I'm f7ss John Marshall repeate"
his masters lesson on the moor OF NV
state Convention: and that IN lS@ as
Chief-Justice Of the United States tne
same John Marshall. sometime law stuu-
ent with George Wythe, delivered that
Judgment In Manbury vs.. Madlsoh ~
which the principle he had learned under
the tuition ~ Virginia. was INTRODUCED
into the Jurisprudence OF the Union.
In rho face Of the authentic records OF
history. no candid critic will dispute the
Initiative Of Virginia In the development
Of the most original and the most salutary
principl. I'm the American system OF con-
stitutiOnal government.
Rut. otherwise than in framing the Con
stitution OF l7S7. and in afterwards calling
into operation the principle upon "hlch
its success was suspended, the influence
of virginia was manifest In its formation.
From the inevitable generality Of It's eH-
pressions. and is reserve in enumerating'
but not defining the powers communi-
Gated. il was open TO a diversity ~ con-
structlon: and upon this alternative or
INTERPRETATION depended IT'S efficiency a.
an instrument OF government. In "e
contemplation OF a commentator Inlnli'ai
20 its essential object or incapable Of pene-
trating beneath the surface OF its text,
Impaired authority Of scarcely greater
scope and yigOr than was grudged 70 'he
defunct confederation. In the c'htemi-
plation Of a commentator sympathttl'
with Its aims and competent 70 perceive
the profound implications latent IN hs
brief but pregnant phraseology. II was
instinct with the energies Of sslf-sus-
tanning and all-suificient system. or
symmetrical form and heroic proper
tons our organic law. like the mute
statue Of fable awaited the illumination
Of Marshalrs mind. TO draw from 10 the
accents Of transcenl1nt power lie founi
the Constitution inanlmate and inartlcu-
late: he gave II life and light and voice
II sovereign command. Hence. the not
over-strained statement IN the American
Commonwealth" that the constitution Is
"the work Of the judges ana most OF all
Of one man. the great Chlef-Justice Mar
shall" John Marshall V remember. wac
a son Of Virginia; and by him she de-
yelOppl the Constitution into the full
majesty Of It's might
Upon retrospect Of tn circumstances
and conditions out Of which the COnsutu-
ton Of i7ST was evolved. and upon an i'm
partial estimate OF the agencies operative
in IT'S formation the conclusion is obvious
and incOntrOvertihle. that the authorship
Of that renowned instrument Is justly
ascribed 20 Virginia. II IS founded upon
institutions which she created; II Is the
emanatlon Of Influences which she set IN
action: she summoned the convention 90
frame 70: II was her ideal AID inspiration;
in form and substance II was her con
ception; her plastic hand fashioned IT'S
distinguishing features: she gave II th'
vigOr that has sustained and impelled the
Union along an uneXampled career or
grandeur ana glory.
The organic structure Of government 81
which Virginia thus supplied the prece-
dent, and the coincidence Of Federal SUI
premacy with State autonomy which she
first realized. are not only prevalent al
ready on the American Continent. but are
destined a no remote period 10 sublue
the civilized world 10 their liberal and
enlightened sway. Whatever fortune.
therefore, may betde Virginia in tho fu-
ture. posterity will perpetuate the renem-
brauce Of her great achievement, and 81
Ions as imperium Il libertas shall
subsst as the ideal Of government. the
Federal Constitution Of l7S Will remain
her impershable monument.
Mr.. Pr sident and Gentlemen, II I re-
vert 10 an early epoch for illustration
OF Nirgiu.a's worth. IT IS not because
her after annals are wanting IN great
names and great deeds. Down 10 1850
her sons were ascendant on the national
theatre. and her councils controlled the
policy Of government They We're Nir-
gln.ans who augmented the power Of the
Union by the acquisition OF louisiana
and the FlOridas; and the yal0r of Viz
ginians extended its empire 10 the Pa
cihc ocean. He was a Virginan who.
by establishing the independence Of Tex
as introduced the lone star into thr
constellation OF states. He was a Viz
glnian who issued the interdlct against
European conquest in America, and so
/ cOnsecrated the continent as the abode
| Of democratic institutions. He was a
Nirglnian whose strong arm upheld the
Southern Coufederacy against the pres
ure OF opposing Millions and whose
martial exploits invest the Lost Cause
with a halo u urdying lustre; ST perga-
ma dextra defendi potuit ethan hac de-
fensA fuisset
From her first born 10 her latest
from Washington 10 Lee. unequal only
I'm fortune-the old Commonwealth has
maintained the high strain Of her noble
LINEAGE.
The Virglnians are not degenerate.
Frustrated by a great catastrophe ara
stunned for a time By the stroke they
will recover their uncOnquerable spirit
and. true 20 the traditions OF their
fathers, the genius that ruled the re-
public in the days OF Us tairest Tame
may again direct its destinies.
The story Of Vrgnia's renOwn abiles
with us. not as a solace In our decline.
but as an incentive 10 emulation OF her
| ancient virtues. that so We may trans
nit her glory 20 the succeeding genera
ton without blemlsh and without abate-
mcnt.
THE SPEAKER'S PERSONALITY
Judge Pryor IL a man ot striking per-
sonanty. He j. about 90 years OF ase.
tall. straight, clean shayen. with
strongly marked features flashing eyes.
/ and long hail. slightly sprinkled win
I gray. falling on his shoulders lie would
/ attract attention in any assembly. BE
I mas always ben a man OF strong cou-
/ victions. vigorous intellect firm purpose
/ and independence OF judgment and action.
/ ana 10 these qualities his emincnce as
/ LAWYER may be attributed. The following
may serve to illustrate some ~ these
! characteristics; one evening In 49,, While
! the Confederate army was Op rating ~
Northern Virginia. the strains of d reSl-
| mental band attracted a large number OF
| soldiers and the unusual compliment OF q
serenade was rendered 10 "A private solder
in the NOttOWay troops, third
/ Regiment or Virginia cavalry. The re-
/ cipent OF this honor responded 10 the
/ cali upon him in a speech OF such fervor
! and eloQuence as 20 arouse his hearers 20
I the highest pitch OF enthusiasm. This
! speaker was r. 4. Pryor. who had been
A brigadier-general In the Confederate
army. but who had resigned his commits
/ sion to take his place in the ranks as a
/ private soldier.
! Last May. while walking along the
/ streets Of New York. the attention of the
writer was directed 10 the tall form and
/ far ~,