The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-01

from New York: King. from Massachu-
setts; and Washington. Randolph. and
Madison. from Virginia. .
THE RATIFICATION.
The work OF formulating the Constitu-
tlon Of the United States-the great law
of lpyy-was completed on the lIth day
% September, 1871. and submitted Tor
the ratification of the individual states
After much debate 1t was ratified ~
eleven. and subsequently by the TWO re-
naming States, North Carolina ana
Rhode Island. one OF the most serious
possibly the most serious, objections
urged against the Federal Constitution
was the absence ~ 4 bill or rights. Inc
speech OF Patrick Hepry In opposition 70
ratification I'm the Virginia conVep lon
produced profound impression Inc
earnest, untIring efforts OF Randoiph,
Madison. and Washington were neeled
to secure the early Endorsement py VIZ
glnla OF the great work In winch Ter
illustrous sons had borne so consplcn lus
a part The letters-scattered Dr) iccas'
through the colones-of Jay, MaulSoh'
and Hamilton were powerful ia io'S III
securing the ratification of the Goa fu'u-
ton. These papers. since complies i1i
KNOWN as Inc ftVfIdllSt, A"N~ '''f's
with the most profound STATE papers ff
any age or country For hume. ii year,
they have been the rec), Led touch
stone in the Interpretation Of the Il
In rortant provisions Of the great COM
pact.
In contemplating the hoI-il.iy Of rat
rick Henry, the matchl,ss orator Cf tic
Revolution I'm lis early opposition 10
the Federal Constitution. something. IN
the words of Burke, mast be pardSns1
TO .he spirit OF liberty" In the t0nVen-
ton of Virginia, called to taiif' sh~ Cyn-
stltution, Mr.. Henry said: YOU ere not
to inquire how your dc may be In
creased, or how you are - become .
great and prosperous people. but how
your liberties may be SIC - i.
To this great apostle OF freedom. th2
absence Of the bill Of tgl.s IN the now
compact was an insuos.li G ohlec'itn TO
It's ratification. lie demanded. as ado -
tional safeguards TO the pc ~ 9. tha- there
should be crystaiized ,h,J the Fe"ual
Constitution certd declaration Ct
iights, which should secure 10 the Deo.
p.e forever, freedom Of relis IN, freedom
Of the press-"the guardiah ;..d guide Of
an other liberties '-freedom Of commerce
against monopoiies. the right u tr.hi ty
iur.. protection OF the tc1p % in the "
persons, homes, and effects. against un-
reasonable searcn, AN lat.i &c
as INST the suspension III the writ oi
hSOeas corpus
THE AMENDMENTS.
The ten amendments TO the Constitu.
ton, submitted by the First Congress
and Subsequently ratified by the several
states. embraced. In substance. the de-
nlaraflOu RIGHTS which al tel.
Henry had I'm the Virginia Convention
50 earnestly contended. 1t forever
stands to his credit. and extenuates, il
need be. his antagonism TO the origina
draft Of the Constitution. that the per
sonal rights OF seventy millions Of free
men are hedged about by these amend
ments and the great compact rounded
out and made perfect by the declaration
in substance that the powers granted
under the Constitution are the gift Of
the people, and that every power moi
granted thereby remains with the peopi,
and a their will"
seventy nine years later. IN case
where human life was involved, the Su
preme Court Of the United States, as II
IN confirmation Of the prophetic fears oil
Patrick Henry. said. These securtle.
for personal liberty, thus embodied. wer,
such as wisdom ana experience hat
demonstrated 20 be necessary for the pro
lection OF those accused OF crime. and So
strong was the sense OF the country OF
their Importance. and so jealous were IN,
people that these rights. so highly priz-
cd mieht De denied them by Implication
that when the original Constitution wa,
proposed for adoption 10 encountered Sc
we're opposition. and but for the belief
that It would be 30 amended as 10 en-
brace them, IL would never have beer
adopted"
Tho amendments which I have lndicat
ell, supplemented by the three adopted
near the close OF our civil war, have be.
yond all peradventure. secured 20 all tn,
American people for all time. liberty
liberty IN its largest sense. We know
well the meaning Of the eloquent word.
OF Chatham: The poorest man may. ir
his cottage, bid defiance 10 all the force,
OF the Crown II may be frai. IT'S ROO
may shake. the winds may blow through
IT; the Storm may enter: the rain may
enter but the King OF England may mol
enter. All his forces dare not cross tn,
threshold Of tho ruined tenement"
WISDOM or AGES.
Time will not permit a further discus
sion. How and why the Supreme Cour
OF the United States was established: tn,
veto power given TO the Executive: al
revenue bills required TO originate in tn,
House Of Representatives: the power o.
naturalization, and the regulation Of com
merce. vested exclusively I'm Congress: how
the difficult questions pertaining to i'm
ports and exports. and the more Difficult
one relating 20 the rendition Of fugitive.
from labor, and the prohibition Of tn,
African slave trade, were AT length al
justed in the spirit Of comprolmse-al
form an interesting part OF the history o
that convention
Whence came the men who framed tbs
Constitution? In what schools OF politic,
or philosophy did they learn the subltm,
truths they imbedded I'm the great com
pact? Theirs was the wisdom OF ages
not Of an hour. Was IL Lieber who said
Truth travels slowly. What the an
clients said Of the ayenglng gods, that the,
are shod with wool. Is true also Of IN,
great ideas In history. They approach
slowly. Great truths always dwell d
long time with small minorities. anC
the real voice of God IS often that which
rises above the masses, not that whicf
follows them"
That the trainers OF that instrument
were enabled. out 81 the conflicting opin
ions and interests represented, 10 unit,
upon Constitution which nnally Sc
cured the sanction Of all the states is q
marvel. That this instrument has So
well served the purpose of its trainers
that under its wise provisions civil anC
religious liberty and the protection q