Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-10

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES. 4 Critical Discussion Of Its
Genesis, Development. and Interpreta-
ton. by John Randolph Tucker. Late
Professor of Constitutional and Inter
national Law in Washington and Lee
University Edited by Henry ST. George
Tucker Two Volumes Cauaghan &
Co., Publishers, Chicago. 1899.
This most important publication repre-
sents the lifework Of the late John Ran
dolph Tucker on the Federal Constitu-
, tion. As a literary production 1t is al
most without "A bemish. though the
editor states In the preface that the
author never revised the manuscript af-
ter having dictated it to the steno-
grapher
The distinguished writer takes the
proadest national views and maintains
his conceptions of the complicated rights
of the States and the General Govern
ment In the most fascinating way. One
cannot take up the work without recall
ing the genial personality of the author,
and the softening influences Of such a
pleasant memory is so great that he can
find nothing unkind to say Of It, In
deed, without this influence, there Is no.
thing that could be said To him all Vir-
ginians owe a debt Of gratitude for the
splendid ability with which he has pre-
scented their Interpretation of the Con-
stitution to the world. 1t is the defini-
tive statement, doubtless, of the south
ern standpoint But it should be said
that there are no politics in the work.
nor is there a shadow of bitterness.
No work OF such national character.
by a Virsinian, has been published since
the war between the States 1t is pa
triotic in every line. 1t is of far more
importance than Hannis Taylor's Origin
and Growth of the English Const-
tuition" because IL is of more originality.
and il will doubtless take rank with the
great work Of Mr.. Justice Joseph Story
on the Constitution. IL is not going too
far 20 say it is of more present value.
possessing. as il does, all the attractive
qualities Of being >up 10 date in its criti-
cisms and views Of the decisions Of the
United States Supreme Court, as well
as other live topics.
Mr.. Tucker, as we all know. was no
mere theOrist but man Of affairs. with
the most intimate knowledge OF the
workings Of both the State and Federal
governments
For four years. during the period OF
the war between the States. he was Vir-
ginia's Attorney-G General. and afterwards
he was for twelve years one of her rep
resentatives IN Congress. His father
and grandfather had both been presi-
dents OF the Supreme Court CT Appeals
OF the Commonwealth, and neither one
OF them owed his elevation TO the
bench TO anything except his native
ability. For about century OF the his
tory OF Virginia, members OF Mr. Tuck
cr's family had been called TO the SER
vice o. the public, and when he was
seated In Congress. with these great
FAMILY traditions. he at once took rank
with such men in his own party as Ben
Hill and Gordon. Of Georgia; Samuel !.
Randall, Of Pennsylvania. and Sunset
Cox. OF New York, and Garfield, Blaine
Henderson, and others OF equal note OF
the Republican party. His life was more
like that OF a representative Englishman
than an average American public man.
He had many charming qualities-none
more attractive however than his fine
sense OF humor, which made him a much
more delightful after-dinner speaker than
Senator Chauncey NJ Depew. or even
the late inimitable Sir Frank Lockwood.
one who has heard all OF them would
say that Mr.. Tucker was the best of
these gifted humorisis.
The two volumes. in the short snare
which can be devoted TO them. cannot.
OF course be infinitely reviewed. Treat
ing of the suffrage question as affected
ny the hfteenth amendment to the Con-
stitution, he says 1t is exclusively under