Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-04

worthy enterprise for any historical society to
appoint committee, for the express purpose
of collecting perfect copy Of the printed journ-
ais of the conventions and assemblies, from the
beginning TO the end ofthe revolutionary con-
test. The unsettled state of the times may per-
haps be considered the cause the carelessness-
which prevailed in preserving papers, whether
printed or in manuscript
Another desideratum of immense impor-
lance in historical collection, is periect Do
div of the statutes Of all the colonies and states
down to the formation Of the federal constl'u-
tuition. The various editions OF revised laws are
not enough. for il will often happen, that law
which has been repealed, is more essential as
historical record. than half a score OF others,
which have been kept in force. At the period
of The Revolution, particularly, the laws which
illustrated most strikingly the state and spirit.
&c the times, were the very ones soonest out OF
dafe. The entire statutes are alone valuable
for history, and we do not believe thereeis IL
brary in the Union, which can boast OF possess
ing these for more than one ortwo states at the
utmost limit Virginia is the only state, which
has published its own laws in any thing like
perfect form. Henning's Statutes at Large, IN
thirteen volumes, is work rehecling the high
est credit on the wisdom and llbe:ality of Vir-
einia, as we'll as on the industry and good judg-
mebt of the author. With the full body Of the
laws, printed in chronological order, are ming
led historical Illustrations. he work, indeed,
mas no parallel In any other State, IN regard
either 10 It's origin and execution, its extent, or
the mode of its publication. 1t was printed at
the charge of the commonwealth, and we pre-
sumo at considerable pecuniary sacrifice, tor
i, is sold a. price hardly adequate TO It's cost
The project was designed for public benefit, and
in attaining this end it has been successful
The proceedings Of the conventions of Virginia,
at the beginning of the Revolution, have also
been reprinted by order Of the legislature.
1t may not be out oflplaoe here TO correct
prevalent error, respecting the first written
Constitution in this country. 1t has been gen
eraly supoosed. that the constitution Of Vir-
einia was the first and in Mr. Jeiferson's letter
to Major Cartwright, lately published in the
memoir Of that veteran friend OF
liberty, he writes, "Virginla was not only the
first of the states, but believe may saw the
first Of the nations Of the earth, which assem-
bled its wise men peaceably together to form
10 commit 1t to writing, and place
it among their archives, where every one should
be free 10 appeal to its text" In this paragraph
there is mistake, in respect to It's main point,
as will be perceived by referring to dates. The
which formed the constitution OF
Virginia, assembled on the sixth OF May, ana
continued by adlournments I'LL The NTH OF July,
1875 But the constitution OF South Carolina
was adopted on the twenty-sixth OF March pre-
;eding, more than two months before that OF
Virginia. at what was called the Second SEES
sion of the Second Provincial Congress- which
assembled at Charleston, on the hrst OF febru-
ary.
The President of this congress was William
Henry Drayton On the lth OF February, a |
committee was appointed to prepare plan or
orm of government, as had been recommended
" the continental Congress In the preceding
November. Ofthis commute Charles Cotes.
worth Pinckney was chairman, as would APP
bear from the journal. A constitution was re-
ported a few days afterwards, which was dis
:ussed and amended from time TO time, Till It
vas finally adopted on the day above me ntioned.
The constitution itself may be seen in the jour
,al the second provincial Congress OF South
Carolina, printed Immediately after the session
The same day on which this constitution was
adopted, that is, March Goth, l776, the officers
IF the new government were elected Joha .tu,-
edge was chosen president, or governor, and
denry Laurens, vice president From these
acts, it is evident that the constitution OF South
Carolina was promulgated before that Of Vir-
,inia, and, as far as we know, it was the first
written constitution in America.
A primary object OF historical societies should
,e to collect manuscripts, to publish The best OF
hem, and preserve those of less value in such
manner chat they can be consulted by the his
orian and curious inquirer. The country "a
historical manuscripts, IN the .
sands Of individuals and in public offices. 1t
S to be lamented, however, that few public CO.
onial manuscripts remain. In some oil the
tates, the early journals of the assemblies and
f the councils have been kept unbroken, but 1t
S fact worthy Of particular remark, that IN
cry few of the states, in none certainly south OF
lew-York, can be discovered yestige OF the
correspondence of the provincial government
Ior any Of the unpublished state papers anlerl-
n to the Revolution This can be accounted for
,nly upon the superstition, that the governors
ook away with them all the papers OF this de-
cripton The journals are barren in matters
# history, exhibiting little more than dry de-
all of daily proceedings of the Legislative and
Executive bodies. The journal OF the Council
If South Carolina, under the provincial govern