The Washington herald., 1907-04-14


ocrats, representing every section of the
country. gathered here tonight for the
annual Jefferson banquet Of the National
Democratic Club.
1t was a decidedly hopeful gathering,
and the prevailing sentiment was that
the conditions in the United States are
becoming more and more favorable for
Democratic success at the coming ma
tional election.
The venerable United States Senator
John T. Morgan. of Alabama, furnished
the sensation Of the night in a letter Of
regret from Washington, in which he
pleaded for the protection from violation
of the Constitution by the negro race.
great corporations. and the Federal gov
eminent.
In his letter, Secretary Morgan said:
Il sincerely regret that the state Of
my health will not permit me, person
ally, To attend the celebration of the
164th birthday of Thomas jefferson.
Are AT Parting of ways.
In no period OF our history has there
been greater necessity for careful study
and courageous support of the principles
Of government established by Mr.. Jeffer-
son. We are, indeed, at the parting Of
the ways and whether we are to lapse
into the degeneracy of absolutism or inn
perialism, or to maintain the sovereign
rights Of a free and self-g0verning peo-
PIE, viii be finally settled in the Presi-
DENTAL election of 1888.
The day We celebrate in honor Of the
birth of Thomas Jefferson bears a strong
resemblance in its environment to those
days of the period in which his inter
probation OF the Constitution of the
United States was thoroughly and anx-
1ously discussed. and was adopted by the
people and the States and made part
of the organic law in maintaining the
first ten amendments 10 the Constitution
The regulation OF. commerce among
the States was then a question of serious
Importance. but it did not touch the
question OF control or regulation OF the
interests or contracts, or the conduct OF
common carriers among the States. OF
within the states. That subject was
not considered or thought of.
Fhe situation that led 10 the war Of
the Revolution and tie adoption OF the
Articles of the Confederation was pecu-
liar and important in the highest sense.
IN Europe. especially. for more thar
TWO centuriei. conflicts of the most des
perate nature had developed the fact tha
The most enlightened people of the greai
white race refused 10 accept the GOctrin'
Of the divine right OF kings to rule viii
arbitrary authority,
White Race Supreme.
Thomas Jefferson was the most con.
spicuous and courageous of the Ameri
cans who established the universal su-
premaey Of the white race in the Con,
stituuon of the United States, after he
had blazed the highway that made il
possible IN the Declaration of Independ
ence.
The grants Of power in the Consti
tuition 10 the United States were ample
and are still ample, for all national pur
poses. but the great residuum Of powers
not so granted. covered every other ele
ment of sovereign power, and this wa.
50 expressed 81 the ninth and tentl
amendments.
The sovereignty Of all governments il
based upon the natural separation O
races, and that Is the distinct basis upol
which the sovereignty of the people Of tn
United States is rested in the Constitu
tion. That sovereignty was assumed b!
the white people in the United States, a
definitely as il is in England. France
Germany. Italy, or Greece. A dynast,
composed Of the white race was thus de
creed in the name OF The people of tn
United States. and to them was commit
ted the sovereign powers of government
as q distinct people in a country Wit
definite boundaries. The Indians, VIII
were here ana the negroes. who wer
imported as slaves. had no part or con
eern in the sovereignty OF The people o
the United States thus created ana de
hned-
Excluded in Constitution.
''They were excluded from this neV
dynastie power because they did not be
long to the white race. They were no
ourselves, or our posterity,' to who1
was confirmed. by the decree Of the Con
stitution. that new and immortal soy
ereignty that was proclaimed in tina
grand utterance We. the people of tn
United States.
The people Of the United States ma.
degenerate into mixed multitudes. draw
from all She races Of the earth II thi
Is to be their fate, il would be a CO ward
~ abandonment of the noblest inner
AtultD NNNt bNsAS4AAANG ~ etAiF A1lNU y
men.
by Mr.. Jefferson and his contempt
raries, men of the highest order Of abil
fly, questions Of commerce between TIA
United States and foreign countries
were ralegated to the Federal govern
ment That was a ney ana separate sub
5eet OF eonsideratioDI as a new and orig
inal grant of poFer to the new soy
ereignty.
Power Grant QuRliaed.
This grant of power was qualified b
several express restrictions in favor G
the States.
"To regulate commerce among III
states was a separate grant Of powe
although, unhappily. it was part Of I'll
same text in the commerce clause OF tn
Constitution. The power TO regulate con
nerce among the States can only be e
ercised by Congress as a lawmakin
power, or as a power 10 ratify compact
between the States. It cannot include I'll
treaty making power. 1t cannot ineiuo
the power to regulate commerce With
the states. or with the States, or betwee
the states. It was only a power 10 regI
late commerce among the States whlc
was far less comprehensive and distinctly
COyTINUED - ~