Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-06-30
FOR THE ENC UIRER.
GEORGE MASON OF '76.

the head OF Sketches of the public services OF
Thomas Jefferson, find, on farther examination,
'hat nave ialIen into an error in rels ion to a
J0ct, which hasten to correct. / hall do so
with great pleasure, nothing was more foreign
from my views or feelings, m making those re-
marks, intended as a just tribute 10 the exalted
merits OF Thomas Jefferson, than o award 10 him
the credit OF any OF the revolution, which
properly belonged 10 another. TO do 20 would be
az painful TO me as l am il would be TO this
great benelactor OF his country. In The Sketches
referred to, l have stated that Mr. Jefferson was
the author of the Bill of Rights, attached to the
Con -titution of Virginia, which had uuderst stood
he had prepared before the Constitution was adopt
ed. And, OF course, gave him The credit OF pro-
posing, TO the United States, the principles OF the
first republican form Of government which had
been adopted in this country. The Bill OF Rights
o. Virginia contains the grea, fundamental princi-
Piles upon which all our republican institutions in
the United States have been founded, and upon
which alone they can rest. The Constitution OF
Virginia was the first toritten republican constu-
ton which has ever been adopted in the world -
AT all events, history gives Us no account of any
other being previously adopted. /, was the model
OF iniaIo for all the other colonies in the United
States, and may lhei efore be called the original
from which ha been copied all the free govern
ments that have been established in the world
since the period OF its adoption. In this point of
view 1t becomes matter OF most interesting en-
quiry, who was the author OF this Immortal docu-
ment! had always under stood until lately, that
George Mason was the author of the body of The
Constitution, snd tina, Thomas Jefferson was the
author of the Bill of Rights, containing the prin-
clpies upon which It puTpor;s 10 be founded. In
this opinion / tindI am mistaken George Ma
son was the author OF both. Mr. Jefferson wroie
the preamble to the constitution of Virginia,
which l, IN common with many others, | presume,
have COMPOUNDED with the Bill of Rights The
error have fallen into, believe, is not an uncom.
mon one with many at this day; for l have not
conversed with single gentleman, since have
turned my attention to THIS subject, who had not
the same imp esslons that I had. The late meet
ing OF he citizens of Fredericksburg, for the relief
OF Mr.. Jefersor, seems o have fallen into The same
error. In Mr.. Wirt's Life of Patrick Henry, page
1876, there is the following note:
=" The striking similitude between the recital of
wrongs, pre6xed 10 the Constitution of Virginia,
and that which afterwards prefxed to the De-
claration OF Independence of the United States is
of itself sufficient to establish the fact, that they
are from the same pen. But the Constitution OF
Virginia preceded the Declaration OF Independence
by nearly month; and wholly composed and
adopted, whist it is known MIR. Jefferson was out
of The State attending The Session OF Congress oil
Philadelphia. From these facts alone, doubt
might naturally arise, whether he was, as he has al
ways been repured, the author of that celebrated
instrument, the declaration OF American Indepen
dence, or, at least recital OF grievances which
ushers it In, whether this part OF it, least,
had not been borrowed from The preamble to the
Constitution of Virginia. To remove this doubt
is proper 10 state that there TlOiU EXISTS among
The archives of this state, an original rough
draft Of a Constitution for pnginio, in the
hand ,oritmg of Mr. Jcferson, containing this
identical preamble, and was forwarded by him
,laI.e
PeudiefOn) to be submitted to the Committee of
he House OF Delegates. The body of the Con-
stitution is taken principally from u plan pro
posed By Mr.. George Mason, and had been adopt
ed by the Committee before the arrival OF Mr.. JET
lerson's plan HIS preamble, hOUeUer, was pre-
fixed TO the instrument; and some of the modifica
tIons proposed by him introduced into the body
of it''
l had supposed, from reading this note, that
what meant here by ''Me body of the Con-
stitution,' was that part of it simply which or
ganizes the different Departments afthe government
and that that alone was the work OF George Ma
son, whilst every other part OF il was written by
Thomas Jefferson. l have, however, now conclu-
sve evidence, tha' the declaration of rights
and nearly every article of the Constitution
written by George Mason, and that, therefore
the distinguished honor belongs 10 him of having
given to mankind the first plan of q toritfen re-
the annals of the world. When we contemplate
the mighty consequences which have resulted
from this act, united the works of Jefferson and
other deeds OF our ancestors, how great should be
gratitude Tor their services, and veneraton for
their characters, and how inadequate is language to
do justice to their merits! The free institutions
which they have established, are not only dispens
ing their blessings at this time to upwards Of 10
millions of happy freemen in the United States,
Nt,f II l.aaK xio Ii
condition OF msa in every quarter OF The civilized
world! Tbs following letter addressed by Judge
w oodward TO MIR. Jefferson, With the reply of the
latter, here iTanscrbe for the amusement Of your
readers. l take Item from Mes Weekly Regis
ter believe they were formerly published IN the
Enquirer. and may have read them at the time
they appeared, but it had escaped my recollection,
as presume il has that OF many Others. They
establish the fact, beyond all doubt, that George
Mason vas the author not only fthe body OF the
Constitution of Virginia, but also Of the decla1a-
ton Of rights which has been attached to it.
Letter from Judge WoodDard to President
Jefferson.
Sir have the honor TO enclose fac smile
copy OF letter received from President Madison.
lie couects an error into which, he conceiyes,
have fallen, In ascribng 10 you the first modern
written Constitution. President Monroe who
! carefully compared the Constitution of Virginia
with other documents known TO have preceded
from your pen, was originally of opinion that my
statement was substantially correct, being under
impression that though the draft was offered by
Mr.. Mason at Williamsburg, ct i, was derived
from manuscript furnished by you from Philadel-
phia. Since the perusa of the letter from Presi-
cent Madison, President Monroe wavers some
what from his first sentiment. Written Constl,u-
tons are great moral levers. Those Of America
undoubtedly produced the revolution of France o.
/ They are emancipaling the Southern Continent OF
the Western Hemisphere. They afeeven pervsd-
| ir.r. h. IL