of this high court must be stopped or the liberties of our country are annihilated.

Colo. Taylor has another work in the press at Washington. It is styled "Tyranny Unmasked," and I hope it will do much good. I lost the reading of it, in manuscript, by being at the Springs; but I understand it is, perhaps his chef d'oeuvre, and that the style is popular and pleasing. This venerable patriot deserves great praise for his intrepid and unceasing efforts to preserve our beloved confederacy.

The letter you enclosed was duly sent to the Gent., to whom it related, was confirmed in his office on Saturday last.

My health is now tolerable. I thank you for the interest you take in relation to it. With great respect and esteem, I am

Your friend and servant,

To Archibald Thweatt-in great haste.

SPENCER ROANE.

SPENCER ROANE TO ARCHIBALD THWEATT.

RICHMOND, DEC. 24, '21.

DEAR SIR-I have just a moment to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 22nd. The subject of amending the Constitution, in relation to decisions of the Federal Courts, has been taken up in the Senate, as you will see, on the res. of Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, supported by Barbour. With a view to aid them, or rather to lead, on this important subject, I have prepared some amendments to the Constitution to be adopted by our Assembly. They are very mild, but go the full length of the wishes of the republicans on this subject. They will be copied by another hand and circulated among the members. I would not wish to injure the great cause by being known as the author. My name would

damn them, as I believe, nay hope with the Tories. Could you not jog your Chesterfield delegates on the subject, as also Spooner and other good republicans? Jefferson and Madison hang back too much in this great crisis-Jefferson, at least, ought to do, in regard to republicanism and republicans, what one of the French literati did in regard to the French language. Being on his deathbed and surrounded by his friends, one of them sinned against the purity of that language, whereupon the sick man corrected him with great energy. One of his other friends seeming surprised that he should do this, under his extreme situation, he replied with increased energy that "he would defend the purity of the French language with his last gasp," and instantly expired.

Yours with great truth,

SPENCER ROANE.

To Archibald Thweatt, and enclosed in letter to Jefferson.

II. R. M. T. HUNTER-BY D. R ANDERSON, A. M.

III. VIRGINIA OPPOSITION TO CHIEF JUSTICE MAR

SHALL-REPRINTS FROM RICHMOND

Enquirer, 1821.

PRICE $1.00.

ADDRESS WM. E. DODD, EDITOR, ASHLAND, VA.

RICHMOND:

TAYLOR & TAYLOR PRINTING CO.

1906.

3

HISTORICAL PAPERS

RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE.

JUNE, 1906.

INTRODUCTION.

The Branch Papers present this year the result of a careful study of the public life of R. M. T. Hunter. The importance of Hunter's position in the South just prior to the outbreak of the civil war would justify a fuller biography than is here offered. However, until such a work is forthcoming it is hoped that this may prove serviceable to students of American History and of the war between the States.

The examination of Chief Justice Marshall's opinion in the case of Cohens vs. the State of Virginia by Judge Spencer Roane is nothing less than a commentary on the national constitution in matters touching the relative rights of the States and of the Union. The bitterness of the conflict between the Virginia judge and the United States Supreme Court can be clearly seen in these articles after the lapse of nearly a century. For a complete study of this subject it is necessary to refer to the Branch Papers of 1905, in which a detailed outline of Roane's life appeared. The importance of Roane's position may be inferred by recalling the political situation in 1821. The newspapers of the South, with not a few of those of the North, discussed freely these Algernon Sidney Papers, which were generally understood to represent the views of the Virginia Supreme Court as well as the Virginia Democracy. This installment concludes the publications on Roane.

WM. E. DODD.