and intercourse. The vast extent of the Union at the present time and the many states of which it is composed, is a great security against sudden and irrational action on the part of the federal government, by reason of prejudice or excited passions.

It is not to be expected, and in practice it has not been found, that the same delusions have prevailed at the same time throughout the whole country. Now that slavery has been abolished, the many different states and the many diverse interests that are embraced in the federal bond, make it difficult if not impossible, to form a combination of sufficient magnitude to threaten seriously the integrity of the Union.

The difficulty of forming such combinations would be increased by adding more states to the Union. Before mischief makers can create combinations dangerous to the country, there must be dissatisfaction broad and deep. Such dissatisfaction never can exist so long as the federal government is administered within its proper bounds and the states are left to the enjoyment of their reserved rights. It is certain that if we can secure and maintain our existing institutions in their legitimate operation, liberty will dwell, and prosperity increase throughout all our borders; the Union will be safe, the country secure from foreign aggression, and further additions to our territory of a suitable character will add to our blessings and make them more secure. The Federal Constitution is a work wonderful in its adaptation to the situation and circumstances of the people for whom it was established.

The more it is studied in connection with the objects it was designed to accomplish the more apparent becomes the profound wisdom and statesmanship of its authors. It has long since passed the experimental stage. It has been tested in sunshine and in storm, in foreign and domestic war, and still remains firm and unshaken, a glorious monument that commemorates the self-denial and patriotism of its founders. The past, present, and prospective prosperity of the country under the Federal Constitution, plainly points out to us our duty, and calls upon us to devote our best energies to its future maintenance.

The result of the late Civil War has demonstrated the fact that

the powers given the federal government are amply sufficient to preserve the integrity of the Union. The tremendous efforts necessarily put forth by the federal government in order to suppress the rebellion, to the popular eye made federal power very prominent and greatly overshadowed the prestige of the states.

There is no doubt that the war and its results, temporarily, at least, strengthened the political forces that tend towards centralization, and weakened the home governments. But discerning minds did not fail to see that strengthening the central power by aggressions upon the reserved powers of the states was taking direct strides toward despotism. The return of peace cooled the popular frenzy, and abated the fierce animosities engendered by the war. Reason resumed her sway and the people resolved that liberty and union under the Constitution, in defence of which their blood had flowed, and their treasure been spent without stint, should not, after the battle was won, through their own folly be lost.

A conservative feeling began to prevail, and the Supreme Court of the United States met the occasion with the dignity and firmness becoming the tribunal whose vast responsibilities outweigh those of any other similar tribunal that has ever existed. That court expounded the Constitution as its framers designed it, as Marshall and the other great luminaries of the law, who have adorned the bench, had expounded it. They declared that the Union was a union of states with powers reserved to the states, and that the preservation of the Union required that the states should be maintained in the full exercise of their reserved powers.

Adjudications have been rendered and enforced with the approbation of public opinion everywhere, by which all the rights guaranteed by the Constitution have been fully vindicated.

And thus the Federal Constitution having abided the shock of the greatest civil war in the world's history, and having survived and emerged from the storm with all its guarantees vindicated, I think we may very well consider that our home is in a land where the muniments of freedom are steadfast and impregnable.

I had intended to speak further and more specially note some of the constitutional guarantees of individual rights, such as the prohibition of ex post facto laws, retrospective laws, laws taking private property for public uses without compensation, and other similar guarantees, but this would open a wide field for discussion and the time that I can fairly assume to take is exhausted.

I had also intended to say something to the bar by the way of suggestion as to their obligations- that they as guardians of the law are in duty bound to know the fundamental laws, and to be able to expound them not only to their clients, but to the people generally.

This government being a government where the people rule, every citizen is called upon to exercise the right of suffrage, and is liable to be called upon to do duty as a legislator, or he may be called upon to fill any one of the public offices of the country, even the highest. Hence, every citizen has occasion to know what the Constitution is; and where shall he get that knowledge except it be from the lawyer who advises him as to his private rights, and tries his litigated cases? This is also an important and prolific subject, but its discussion consumes time and it must be dropped.

Since the last meeting of this association, several of its members have paid the great debt to nature. William Heywood, full of years and of honors, has passed away. His name will always awaken in our hearts emotions of love and respect. Jacob Benton, almost an octogenarian, in good health, full of vigor, by an untimely accident has been hurried into eternity. He was a strong man and has left his mark. We shall not soon forget him.

John Farr, full of years and deservedly honored, has crossed the dark valley. Though he came late into our profession, he has done honorable and efficient service therein, and leaves a good name behind him.

There are also three other members of the bar, born within the limits of this association, but whose professional practice for the most part has been elsewhere, and who have died since our last meeting, viz.:

Robert I. Burbank, a graduate of Dartmouth College of the class of 1843, a lawyer and municipal judge in Boston, of good standing, and whose age somewhat exceeded three score and ten years.

Charles R. Morrison. His early practice was in the County of Grafton. He was a lawyer of ability and of indefatigable industry. After a long life of hard work he rests at last.

William Little. His life falls short of seventy years, but it was long enough to do good work in literature as well as the law. Appropriate memorial addresses for each of these deceased brothers will be delivered at this time, and will go upon our records the last tribute of respect that we can pay to their memories.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

DELIVERED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GRAFTON AND COös BAR ASSOCIATION, IN LITTLETON, N. H., FEBRUARY 14, 1895.

Gentlemen of the Association:

If you will now come to order, we will open the exercises. The first on the programme is an address from myself. I have been in bad health, in fact housed up with sickness for the last few days. I have been unable to formulate any landmarks to guide me in an extended discourse upon any of the numerous topics that might be suitable for consideration on the present occasion, and I do not dare, without chart or compass, to launch an extemporaneous craft on the wide, open sea of indefinite discussion, for fear that I might never see land again. I shall therefore content myself with a very few words beyond what may be necessary for the discharge of my formal duties. By so doing I doubt not I shall oblige you, as well as lighten my own burden.

Gentlemen, I welcome you to the twelfth anniversary of this association. I welcome you to all that the occasion affords of reminiscence for the past, of festivity and good fellowship for the present, and of bright hopes for the future. In so doing I

am conscious that I stir up memories which must awaken in your bosoms varying and conflicting emotions.

We may well indulge in feelings of proud satisfaction as we look back upon the history of this association, and contemplate the work it has done in connection with what it is doing and what it promises to do. Already it has done much towards rescuing from that oblivion, which fain would bury all alike in forgetfulness, the names and lives of many worthy men who aided in laying the foundations and rearing the superstructures of the glorious institutions that insure protection to life, liberty and property, and guarantee to us perfect freedom to seek our fortunes and pursue happiness along the ways of our choice. This association also records the names and doings of the men of our own day and generation, memorials to be transmitted to posterity for its reference and emulation. It has attained an age and acquired a stability which promises that it will endure, and continue to be an inspiration to wholesome ambition, and that those who shall come after us must apprecate its usefulness and permanently maintain it.

Looking upon this association as our own work, our bosoms swell with spontaneous emotions of pride as we contemplate what it has done, what it is doing, and what it promises to do. Like Nebuchadnezzer of old, who gazing on the mighty city of Babylon, its lofty walls, majestic palaces, and beautiful structures, said: "This is my Babylon. I built it." So we, looking at this association, may say, "This is our work. We built it." But alas! the images of those who were once with us and wrought with us, and are now gone out from us forever, rise up before the mind's eye of each one of us and rebuke us. This work is theirs as well as ours. In its institution and maintenance some of our brethren, who now sleep their last, sleep, were among the foremost and the strongest. This association links us to the memories of our departed brothers, and we now hold it in trust for those who have gone before us, for ourselves, and for those who shall come after us. The pride which we have in this work is chastened by our sorrow for the lost ones whose memories are indissolubly connected with it. It is meet that at the anniversaries of our association we recognize the tie which links us to