Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-18
LIBERTY'S CONSTITUTION.
PREPAR ATIONS FOR THE CEN
TENNIAL CELEBRATION.

seven Governors and OffiCial RepreseD-
t'tives from Three of the Other OriGI-
nal 1hirteen States Meet at Phiiadei-
phia-The Three States not Repre-
sented Announce Their sympathy with
the Movement.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. l7.--As a result
of the movement on the part of the chief
magistrates of the thirteen original States,
seven Governors of as many common
wealths met here to-day to arrange for
fitting observance Of the centennial an
niversary of the PRONUNCIATION of the con-
stitution of the United States. This Gen.
tenary Will occur onSept. II, 1887. Ten
States were represented. New Hamp-
shire, Massachusetts and North Carolina
were not represented, but probably will
be by tomorrow.
THE GOVERNORS pr ESENT.
The following Governors We're present:
PattisOn, of Pennsylvania; Lee, OF Vir-
ginia; Lloyd, of Maryland; Stocklev, OF
Delaware; WetmOre, OF Rhode Island;
McDanlel, of Georgia; Sheppard, OF
South Carolina. New York was repre-
sented by Lieut.. Gov. Jones; New Jer-
sey by a committee of the State Legisla
ture, and Connecticut by eX-Gov. Bige
low.
At the Continental Hotel Coy
ernor PattisOn delivered brief
address of welcome. There were present
also many distinguished visitors from va
rious States and a citizens committee of
entertainment. After Gov. Pattson's
speech the party divided into pairs and
marched down Chestnut street to the old
State House. There the party halted in
the room where the declaration of indie
pendence was signed. and standing under
a canopy of red, white and blue listened
to the address of welcome by Mayor
Smith.
CARPENTERS HALL,
Carpenters Hall, the old hall where, in
IVA, the first colonial Congress met,
eleven provinces being represented, was
next visited. Here also a meeting was
held. The Governors arranged themselves
around large table near the centre of
the hall. Richard X, Belts, one of the
oldest members of the "Carpenters' Com
pany of the City and County of Philadel-
phia," welcomed the visitors and briefly
reviewed the history OF the time-worn
meeting place. Hampton l.. Carson then
delivered the OrHtiOn.
THE BUSINESS MEETING.
A business meeting of the Governors
was called to order by Gov. Pattis0u.
Gov. Lee, of Virginia, was invited to take
the char. Mr.. Carson was elected secre-
tary.
Letters We're read from the Governors
of North Carolina, New Hampshire and
Massachusetts Tegretting their inability
to be present and assuring the Governors
they were IN sympathy with the move
ment.
Col. J. e. Payton, who originated the
idea of the celebration, and who has
charge of the arrangements, was invited
to the stand to make any suggestions
which might have occurred to him.
REPRESENTATION IN UNIFORM.
He said 1t would be a good idea to have
every State in the Union represented at
the celebration next September by regi-
ment OF soldiery. 1t seemed to him that
young men would avail themselves of this
opportunity to participate.
On motion OF GOV. PAttisOn, the Organi-
cation was made permanent. The Gov
erDor suggested, also, that committee
consisting of the Governors of tue thirteen
States, and representative citizens from
those States, be appointed to prepare a
plan for tue celebration.
On motion OF Gov. Stockley, the chair
appointed a committee of five members to
draft plan. The Governors of PennsyI-
vania, Delaware. Rhode Island, Maryland
and Georgia were appointed.
recess was then taken TO enable the
committee to prepare plan.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
During the session at Carpenters Hall
resolutions were adopted that each State
and Territory be invited 20 unite in prnpa-
ration for proper national celebration
OF the adoption Of the Federal cOnstitu-
tiOn, to be held in september of next year
and that the President be invited to form
ally communicate to Congress at It's next
meeting the fact that his administration
closes the first century OF constitutional
government, and to urge upon that body
the propriety Of taking measures to rem
der the celebration an occasion Of dignity
and importance; that the Executive of
every State ana Territory be formally
communicated with and urged to press
upon the attention of their people the it,
ness of their hearty cooperation.
AresOluti0n was also passed requesting
that delegates from different States be
sent here TO meet on Dec. 2 to form an or
ganization, with power to devise plans to
secure a celebration worthy Of the event.
Resolutions were also adopted looking TO
the appointment OF a committee of citi-
zens to cooperate with the permanent
organization, extending sympathy 10 the
earthquake sufferers in South Carolina,
and thanking the Carpenters Company
for fhp ~ hn q