e first assemblage of commissioners took place at
Annapolis, which ultimately led to a meeting of the Convention which
formed the present Constitution.

The instrument itself was in a great measure the production of one
of her sons, who has been justly styled the Father of the
Constitution.

The government created by it was put into operation, with her
Washington, the father of his country, at its head; her Jefferson,
the author of the Declaration of Independence, in his cabinet; her
Madison, the great advocate of the Constitution, in the legislative
hall._

"And each of the three," cried a voice, "left on record his judgment as
to the integral rights of the federating States."

_Under the leading of Virginia statesmen the Revolution of 1798 was
brought about, Louisiana was acquired, and the second war of
independence was waged.

Throughout the whole progress of the Republic she has never
infringed on the rights of any State, or asked or received an
exclusive benefit.

On the contrary, she has been the first to vindicate the equality of
all the States, the smallest as well as the greatest.

But, claiming no exclusive benefit for her efforts and sacrifices in
the common cause, she had a right to look for feelings of fraternity
and kindness for her citizens from the citizens of other States....
And that the common government, to the promotion of which she
contributed so largely, for the purpose of establishing justice and
ensuring domestic tranquillity, would not, whilst the forms of the
Constitution were observed, be so perverted in spirit as to inflict
wrong and injustice and produce universal insecurity.

These reasonable expectations have been grievously disappointed--_

There arose a roar of assent. "That's the truth!--that's the plain truth!
North and South, we're leagues asunder!--We don't think alike, we don't
feel alike, and we don't interpret the Constitution alike! I'll tell you
how the North interprets it!--Government by the North, for the North, and
over the South! Go on, Judge Allen, go on!"

_In view of this state of things, we are not inclined to rebuke or
censure the people of any of our sister States in the South,
suffering from injury, goaded by insults, and threatened with such
outrages and wrongs, for their bold determination to relieve
themselves from such injust