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

hiblted I'm his character all the virtues
and all the wisdom of which humanity u
cauable. his reward was the UNIVERSAL
esteem and affection Of his countrymeh'
and an irresistible esCendancy over thelt
inclinati0ns and opinions. Ills Judgment
was their oracle: his will their law. Inc
French Minister declared that IN deter-
mining the nation 20 stronger system
bia word was o. more weight than the
collective influence Of all other authority.
Forese-ing the vanity of all he had ac-
complished. and the relapse OF the couh-
try under depotism. unless the Union
ycere recognized. he cTerted himself with
indefatigabIe activity % inculcate the ne
cessitv of a new Constitution. This OBJ
iect he pursued unremittngly, by per
sonal discourse and private correspond
euce: and with commensurate ehect.
But his GROWING act IN disposing the ma
ton 10 q reform Of the Constitution was
bIs circular letter to the Governors OF
the States on retiring from the COMMAND
of the army; IN which. with importunate
patriotism, he pressed the need OF
STRONGER government They all made re-
sponse in the spirit Of Trumbull, Of Con-
necticut. who extolled this last address
~ Washington as exhibiting the funda-
mental principles Of an indissoluble
uniou Of the States under one Federal
head" Communicated 10 the several
legislatures. the appeal fired the heart OF
the nation 20 a passionate clamOr for a
new Constitution.
As In every crisis OF American history
virginia had advanced TO the front; so
now she again took the lead I'm the marcn
toward renovated government. stimuli
taneously. with her cession Of territory,
she impaired 20 the Congress the power 70
impost thus. in the language OF Mr.. Ba~-
croft. "marshalling the United States on
their way 10 better union. sun more
decisiyelv. Virginia summoned the con-
vention 10 recast the Constitution; and
Virginia first commissioned delegates 10
that suspicious assembly.
Thue, on review Of the successive
stages I'm the development OF the re-
publican system in America, we observe
that 1t was Virginia who set the example
of representative government ana Colo
NAL autonomy: that II was Virginia who
gave the first signal OF resistance TO
British aggression that II was Virginia
who initiated union in the common cause;
that ii was Virginia who first abJured al
legiance 70 the English Crown and in
stituted q republican pollty by the act
Of her sovereign will: that 1t was Vir-
ginia who first proposed TO the sister
colonies a declaration Of independence;
that for the sake even of an imperfect
federation, she surrendered 81 domain Of
imueriaI magnitude that she opened the
way for that career OF progress and eX-
pansion which the republic has since
so gloriously pursued: that on the col
lapse of the Confederacy she rescued the
country from chaos by summoning the
States to the reconstruction OF It's funda-
mental law; I'm short. that Virginia slim
A III fH.4r ms
and prompted the effort, and furnished
the ideal for the Federal Constitution Of
l7S7. We are now to see her in the act
OF making lt-mouldlng It's form and
fashioning its features. by her cOnsumate
craftsmanship.
a SIGNIFICANT FACTOR.
Forecastine. on the eve of the con-
vention, the probable influence of Vir-
ginla on It's action. her commanding at
titude in the Confederacy was signiti-
cant factor. In Difference TO her superior
wealth, her greater population, her his
toric primacy among the States, and her
foremost part in the achievement Of in
dependence. the initiative and ascendency
were accorded to her without dissent.
"As the convention had met" says Hill
dreth, ION the invitation of Virginia, II
! seemed to belong 10 the delegates OF that
0kNlt 10 SltIi tiiF liO@NfNAhS0s
The group OF distinguished men at the
moment eminent in her councils. certi-
! fled her fitness for the great undertaking.
Washington, jefferson, Madison, Mason,
Henry, Monroe, Marshall, and other
names OF hardly inferior note, formed a
galaxy of genius that would have lent
iustre TO any age and any country.
The approved abilities and ripe expert
! ence OF the men whom she specially COM
missioned for the work. gave assurance
that IL would be done by them, and well
! done. Washington. In whose unerring
wisdom the nation reposed its surest
| trust, II know" wrote Knox. your per-
/ sonal influence and character Is the last
! stake which America has 10 play"
Randolph. delegate In the Congress OF the
| Confederation. and successfully Attorney
| General and Governor OF the Common
wealth; Blair. long Burgess OF the
! Colony. member OF the convention OF
! I776. and OF the committee which re-
ported the plan Of State government.
| member OF the Court OF Chancery. and
| Chief Justice OF the General Court;