The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-18

MANY NEW MEMBERS.
Allen Watts Speaks on the Burden of
Special Dispatch 10 The r:mes.)

Special Dispatch 10 The T:mes.)
FORT MONROE. VA. July 1.-THE
twelfth annual meeting of the Virginia
State Bar Association was called to order
this morning. About ninety members
were present at the opening. and others
are arriving on every train and boat.
A new feature OF this session is the
music furnished by the ChamberIin Band.
This morning the time of meeting was
announced by the sounding of the ..as-
sembly' BY the bugler, and at appropriate
intervals various popular selections we're
rendered, adding much TO the pleasure of
the gathering.
SWEPT BY OCEAN BREEzEs.
The meetings are held in the beautiful
and spacious ballroom Of the Chamberlin,
which, like Coney Island, is swept by
ocean breezes, On the platform were
seated at the opening President William
a Anderson; Professor Charles Noble
Gregory. of the University of Wisconsin,
the annual ontor; Judge John w. Rely,
Hon. John Goode, Captain John a, Coke,
Hon William e. Petit and Mr.. Jackson
Guy.
Captain John A Coke. as chairman of
the Executive Committee, called the meet
ing TO order and announced that the chief
business of the morning session would be
the presidents address.
Colonel Anderson selected as his subject
'.Virginin Constitutions In brief terms
he SlSetched history Of the constitutions
and amendments thereto which have been
adopted by Virginia since lac. and de-
nounccd the Underwood Constitution in
han no ScpI n
discussion of the present Louisiana Con-
stitution
MIR ANDBRSONrS ADDRESS.
His address was, in part. as follows:
Among the subjects which must always
prove Of especial interest to the members
of profession none can well be OF
deeper concern than the Constitution OF
the Government under which we live. An
understanding knowledge Of its provisions
and OF the principles upon which they are
founded is important to the citizen. that
he may comprehend the true nature of the
Government of his country, tne limlta-
tions Of its powers, and the reasons for
those limitations.
However true or untrue may be the
assertion OF the Declaration of Independ-
enae that All men are created equal or
that of George AIaSpn'S Bill of Rights
that 'all men are by nature equally free
and Independent as 10 the individual
man. human experience and human his
1ory teach us that, as a rule, nations are
not by nature free. nor have they been
created equally free and independent.
Freedom has been in the history OF man
kind, as a rule, the resultant of seneraT
tons Of growth. Of development, of train
ing and Of heroic struggle. 1t is true
that it Is the right of man. and the object
Of his legitimate aspiration. but 1t has
no; been long the possession of any but
the highest races; and onty those people
can preserve it whose virtues entlte them
TO be self-governlng freemen- Nor is it
the form Of their government which deter
mines the political condition of a people,
as to whether they possess the priceless
boon of civil liberty. It is not the form.
but the substance. not the theory but
tie fact which determines the real char
acter of the political institutions OF a
country. 1t is well that citizens and
patriots should never forget the apho-
1isrn of John c. Calhoun
CORRUPTING INFLUENCE.
That great thinker. in his 'Disserta-
ton on Government. which Mr.. Glad
stone pronounced to be the ablest dis
cusSion of that subject which had ever
come from the mind of man, declares:
That which cerrupts ana dehaSes the COM
muniJy politically must also corrupt ana
dehase ii morally. =
The subjects of a despotism who rest
submissive unler oppression Will soon
become servile and degraded. Nor can
any people attain their highest moral.
intellectual and material development
unless they enjoy the blessings and the
protection of the glorious liberty OF free
dom regulated by law; nor will they per-
luanently possess such civil liberty unless
they cherish and practise the virtues of
morality. piety and patriotism. a sordid
n
iect nation. And yet, in the history OF
our race. freedom has been the handlnaid
Of prosperity.
From the earliest ages this study OF
government has enlisted the attention OF
the master minds of the human race.
But ii was left mainly TO the men OF our
race on this continent and in Great Brit
ain. during the past 80 years, To discover
the true principles upon which good gov
ernment rests, and to formulate them
into science, which. though from the
nature of things. II cannot be termed
exact, has been so far developed as TO
oe OF incalculahle benefit in the Instruc-
ton and elevation of mankind.
we cannot eliminate God from any
proper understanding OF the principles OF
human government any more than we can
leave Him out of account in any proper
consideration of mans moral and mental
constitution. duties and obligations.
ylRGIN1A'S FIRST CONSTITUTION.
In traversing the field from which /
might select topic for the address which
the hy-lawS Of orr Association require
the President 20 make at this time. IT
seemed that some discussion of the Con-
stitution of Nirgtttia-historic and propos-
ed-wo'Ild, in view of the carly meeting
Of convention TO frame new consti-
tuition for the State. as WELL as for the
reasons i have already suggested, be ar-
propriate to this occasion and to this
luncture.
On the 6th of May. 17s. an event of
signal moment in the doings OF our race
transpired in the ancient city OF Williams
burg. a sovereign convention. chosen by
the people of an independent State. met 10
frame the first constitution for the gov