The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-22

ingless phrases they have established
a theory that the constitution is a
perfect document. divinely inspired.
and destined to remain unchanged
through the ages. This stupidity has
been dignified into dogma, and has
advocates intelligent on all other sub
jects. You are one of them, Judge,
but l shall not let you fall back on
Washington. Let me read you few
things which Washington wrote"
Col. Monroe adjusted his glasses
and turned over the closely written
pages.
had very little faith in the capacity of
the American people to govern them
selves-much less to lay down imper-
ishabe laws for futurity,' he said.
After we had won our independence,
and less than two months before the
constitutional convention was called,
Washington wrote the following dismal
prediction to John Jay: 'Notwith-
standing the boosted virtue of Ameri-
ca, it is more than probable we shall
exhibit the last melancholy proof that
mankind are not competent to their
own government without the means of
coercion in a sovereign. This was
written on March 10, 1887. Washing
ton knew that nearly half of the peo-
pie were monarchists, or if not, were
devoid of any sympathy with demo-
cracy, and he was we'll aware that this
class would have powerful representa-
ton in the convention. He was rot
mistaken. After long wrangles be-
tween Republicans and Tories, be-
tween slave-owners and merchants,
and between bankers and farmers, a
compromise was made and submitted
to the Legislators of the thirteen col
onies. That ompromise-'wrung from
"a Of 4hA 1Nt l.
present constitution. In the hundreds
of letters which Washington wrote to
the leading men in various parts of the
country, he repeatedly advanced one
argument why the reluctant states
should accept the constitution. l will
read extracts from three of his letters
written during those trying days when
the people were debating whether or
not to form a union, at the cost of an
unpopular constitution.
In October, 1887, Washington ad-
dressed the following to Henry Knox:
Is there not a constitutional door open
for alteration and amendments? Is it
not likely that real defects will be as
readily discovered after as before trial :?
VIII not our successors be as ready to
apply the remedy as ourselves, If oc-
casion should demand it? To think
otherwise will, in my judgment, be as
scribing more of love of country more
wisdom and more virtue to ourselves
than l think we deserve
"On Nov. 10, 1884, Washington wrote
as follows to Bushrod Washington: The
people (for it is with them to judge
can, as they will have the advantage
of experience on their side, decide with
as much propriety on the alterations
and amendments which are necessary,
as ourselves. l do not think we are
more inspired, have more wisdom. or
possess more virtue than those who
will come after u.s. And a month later
he wrote to Edmond Randolph and
said: There are some things in the
| constitution, l will readily acknowl-
edge, which never did. and 1 am per-
| suaded never will. obtain my approba-
ton
1T seems Jenkins. that Washington
was the original traitor to the consti-
tuition, according to your understand
ing OF the word
Col. Monroe ceased and looked over
his glasses at Judge Sawyer.
Have I proved my case?" he asked.
"I must take time to think the mat
ter over" said Judge Sawyer. II pre-
| sumo these extracts are from anthem
ticated letters?"
"Unquestionably. The originals still
exist"
"I'll bet they're forgeries." declared
Postmaster Jenkins. "They don't sound
| a bit like George Washington"
TT {e tho fep6apcU IF the dav for a