Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-04-14
FIRST MODERN WRITTEN CoNsTITU-

: FIRST MODERN WRITTEN CoNsTITU-
TION.
Letter from A. B. WOODWARD to President
JEFFERSON.
Washington, March Is, 1926.
SIR: have the honor to enclose a
fact smile copy Of letter received
from President MADISON.
He corrects an error, in which he
conceives have fallen in ascribing to
YOU the first modern written constitu-
ton.
President MoNRoE, who carefully
compared the constitution OF Virginia
with other documents known to have
| proceeded from your pen, was origi-
nally Of opinion that NIX statementwas
substantially correct; being under the
impression that though the draught
was first offered by Mr.. Mason, at Will
liamsburgh, yet it was derived from a
manuscript furnished by you, from
Philadelphia. Since the perusal of the
| letter of President MADISON, President
| Monroe wavers somewhat from his
first sentiment.
Written constitutions are great mo-
raj levers. Those of America un-
doubleday produced the revolution OF
France. They are emancipating the
southern continent Of the western he
misphere. They are even peryadlng
the domains of ancient liberty. They
will, eventually, change the whole as
pect of human affairs upon this globe.
The first, which was prepared for prac-
teal use, becomes, observation-disclosures
crude, in the progress of time, its con-
structlon might, comparatively appear
AN ethic phenomenon Of no ordina-
~ interest. Like the source Of the
Nile, which has attracted the attention
of kings and nations, it is not so much
the intrinsic magnifcence Of the OBJ
iect that excites the sensibility, as the
contemplation Of the resulting majes-
ty and fertility.
/ beg you, sir, TO accept the repeat
ed assurance of veneration which in
creases with time, and will end only
| with existence.
| WOODWARD.
The Hon. PRESIDENT JEFFERSON,
| Monticello, Virginia.
Letter from President JEFFERSON to Judge
WOODWARD.
Monticello, .Qpril5 5, 1926.
DEAR SIR: Your favor Of March IS,
has been duly received. The fact is
unques,ionable, that the Bill of Rights
and the Constitution of Virginia were
drawn originally by GEORGE Mason,
one of our really great men, and of the
first order of greatness. The history
of the preamble to the latter is as fol-
lows. l was then at Philadelphia with
Congress-, and knowing that the con-
vention Of Virginia was engaged in
forming a plan Off government, /
drew a sketch or outline of Constitu-
ton, with preamble, which l sent to
Mr.. PENDLEToN, president of the con-
vention, on the mere possibility that it
might. suggest something worth in
corporation into that before the con-
vention. He informed me afterwards
by letter, that he received it on the day
on which the committee of the whole
had reported TO the House the plan they
had agreed to; that that had been so
long in hand, so disputed, inch by inch,
and the subject of SO much alteration
and debate, that they were worried
with the contentious it had produced;
and could not, from mere lassitude,
have been induced to open the instru-
ment again: but that, being pleased
with the preamble to mine, they adopt
ed it in the House, by way of amend
ment to the report of the Committee;
and thus my preamble became tackled
to the work Of GEORGE Mason. The
Constitution, with the preamble, was
passed on the 29th Of June, and the
Committee Of Congress had, only the
day before that, reported to that body
the draught Of the Declaration of In
dependence. The fact is, that that
preamble was prior in composition to
the Declaration; and both having the
same object, Of justifying our separa-
ton from Great Britain, they used ne
cessarily the same materials Of justifi-
cation; and hence their similitude.
Withdrawn by age from all otter
public services and attentions to public
things, am closing the last scenes of
life by fostering and fashioning an es-
Establishment for the instruction of those
who are to come after us, | hope its
influence on their virtue, freedom, fame
and happiness, will be salutary and
permanent. The form and distribu-
tons of its structure are original and
unique, the architecture chaste and
classical, and the whole well worthy Of
attracting the curiosity Of visit
Should it so prove to yourself at any
time, it will be great qualification to
me to see you once more at Monticello;
and l pray you to be assured OF my
continued and high respect and esteem,
THOS. JEFFERSON.
/ ,,lc