The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-12-10
LIFE OF OUR FIRST
NATIVE
continued from Page Four

SCIDltltltlou WAN T.
Intended for the building Of the ma
non, and that it was not 10 destroy
'Huis'uudl states. The central gov
was to be one in fact ana NOT
IN name, Yet that central government
should not interfere with the affair
of the individual states. The most
Interesting speech hat he made in
this convention was on Wednesday
July 80. 1888, when in defending the
Constitution he said:
MIR. Chairman, l am one Of those
VINO formed this Constitution. The
gentleman says we exceeded our DOW
rrs. deny the charge. We were
sent with full power to amend the
existing system. This involved every
power TO make every alteration neces-
sary to ameliorate it and render i,
perfect. 1t canno be said that we
*~arrosate powers altogether incon-
s'stent with the objections Of our dele
cation. There is a clause when ex-
IresSly provides for future amend
nlents. and 1T is still in your power.
What the convention has done is a
mere proposal. 1t was found inipos-
SlhIe TO improve the old system With
",tt changing it's very form. For by
that the system of three great
branches Of government are blended
together. All will agree that the
concession Of power to a government
50 constructed is dangerous. The
proposing Of a new system to be estab-
iished by the assent and ratification
81 nine states arose from the neces-
~ sity of the case. It was thought
extremely hard that one state, or even
three or four states, should be able
to prevent necessary alterations.
1t was therefore thought by
the that if SO great a ma
Jority AS nine states should adopt it,
IL would be right to establish it. 1t
was recommended by Congress to the
state Legislatures to refer it to peo-
pie of different states. Our assembly
has confirmed what they have done
by proposing it to the consideration
OF the people. 1t was there, not here,
that the objections should have been
made. This convention is therefore
To consider the Constitution, and
whether it is proper for the govern
n.ent Of the people of America, and
a 1t been proposed by any one
Individual, under these circumstances,
it would be right to consider whether
it be good or bad. The gentleman
has insinuated that this Constitution,
instead Of securing our liberties, is a
scheme to enslave us. he has pro-
duced no proof, but rests On his bare
astOnished to hear, after the ability
with which every objection has been
fully and clearly refuted in the conrse
of our debates. 1 am, for my part,
conscious Of having had nothing In
view but the liberty and happiness
nember OF that convention was
~actuated by motives equally sincere
and patriotic" pages 181-182.)
His reply to Judge Spencer attack
ing that section OF the Constitution
providing for the Federal judiciary
reads 50 much like a lawyer that one
hearing Colonel Spaight was not q
lawyer would at once realize h study
that he had given to this question,
when, on July IS, he spoke as fol-
lows:
THE gentleman i~nsinuates that diff
~frrences exist in the Federal conNen-
ton respecting the clauses which he
objects to. Whoever told him 50 was
wrong, for l declare that in that con-
Nention the unanimous desire of all
was to keep separate and distinct
the objects Of the jurisdiction OF the
Federal from that of the State lu-
dietary. They wished to separate
them as iudiciously as possible. and
to consult the ease n convenience
of the people. The gentleman OBJ
jects of the c~OgniZance Of all cases IN
law and equity arising under the Con
StitlltiOn and the laws Of the United
States.
This objection is very astonishing
as when any government is established
il ought to have power to enforce its
laws. or else it might as we'll have no
power. What but that IS the use Of
the judiciary? The gentleman, from
his profession, must know that no
can exist without a jul
dietary to enforce its laws. BY dis
tinguishing the disobedient from the
rest Of the people and imposing
sanctions for securing the
Of the laws. AS to the inconvenience
of distant attendance. Congress mas
power Of establishing inferior trl-
Lunals in each state so as to com
mcdate every citizen"
This defense Of the Federal lu-
dietary by Colonel Spaight is all the
more remarkable as an evidence OF
his strength Of mind in being able to
have a fixed opinion, and then have
that opinion entirely reversed and