Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-07-11

who bear every appear
NTH ance of being "well up
WIVHHM in years, and the child
MgHbMI instinctively thinks Of
MA M II them as old. Almost
NMW4 flM4 superhuman wisdo m
was required to dis
charge their almost impossible task, and
it consequently seemed as though they
must have possessed the requisite wisdom
and experience of the world. II the
question were asked which OF the two
bodies, the convention of 1877 or the
United States Senate of 1888, showed the
highest average of age, doubtless nine
persons out of every ten would answer
that the trainers of the Constitution were
much the older.
Forty-one deputies from the various
States subscribed their names to the
Constitution on the 18th of September,
1887. The birthdays of all but four are
known. OF these thirty-seven there
were but five who were as old as 60, and,
in truth, one of these five did not COM
plete his siXtieth year until the month
after the convention dissolved The
Nestor of the body was Benjamin Frank
lin, who was more than 81 when it met.
Roger Sherman came next in seniority,
at &c. Then followed two members each
in their siXty-fourth year, and the dep
uty who was just turning 60. But only
one-siXth of the whole number were en-
titled to be called old men.
Turn now to the other extreme. JON
athan Dayton, of New Jersey, lacked
several months of being q when the
convention met; William Jackson, of
Pennsylvania, was but %; Charles
Pinckney, OF South Carolina, only 30;
Alexander Hamilton, of New York, was
but few months past 80; Rufus King,
of Massachusetts,, 80; Gouverneur Nor
ris, Of New York, 35; and James Madi-
son, of Virginia, 36. Twelve of the
thirty-seven were under 40, and twenty
less than As years old. A full third were
thus within the class which, in speaking
of age nowadays, we call young men.
The average age of the whole number
fell just inside IS years
1t would be waste of space to argue
that the young men of the convention
did their full share of the work. It is
enough to have cited the great names
just mentioned and to add that the COM
mittee to which the instrument was re-
ferred for final revision consisted of
Johnson, aged 60; Hamilton, 80; Cow
erneur Morris, 35; Madison, SO; and
King. 80. Bancroft calls Madison "the
chief author of the Constitution. Ham
ilton's work in the Federaltst is conceded
to have been the most potent agency in
commencing the instrument to the coun-
try and securing its adoption. Marshall,
then only 80, furnished the powerful as
sistance without which Madison could
not have secured the narrow majority
by which their State was persuaded to
accept it.
The Constitutional Convention was
not unique as field for youthful
Jefferson was only 33
years old when he wrote the "Declara-
ton of independence. Hamilton was
made Secretary of the Treasury by
Washington, and began his career as
financier at the age of 80. At the same
time King, who had become carpet
Dagger" to New York-since he repre-
sented Massachusetts in the Constitu-
tional Convention-was elected United
States Senator at 81. Thirty had been
fixed as the minimum age for Senators,
and half of those first elected were be-
tween 80 and 35 A few years later
Henry Clay came to the Senate and was
admitted without thought that he was
not eligible-the fact being that he did
not reach the age of 30 until more than
three months later.
No limit of age for the judiciary was
fixed in the Constitution, but il there be |
any place in the Government where ma |
turity is demanded, it is on the bench of |
the Supreme Court Washington ap-
pointed as one Of the early justices |
James Iredell, who was but 80 years old; |
John Adams gave a place to Bushrod /
Washington at Sc, and Jefferson named
William johnson at only 80. This was
simply the adoption by the Federal Gov
ernment OF the same principle which the
States had applied to the choice Of
Judges. John Jay, who was made first
Chief Justice of the United States at AZ,
had been appointed Chief Justice of New
York when but 81. Iredell had been
Judge Of the Superior Court of North
when only 81.
The truth is that what we have come
10 consider the especial era of old men
was really the most remarkable period
u our history for young men. They en-
loyed chance century ago such as
rouna men have never had since the war
,foke down temporarily, some of the
barriers against youth in public life, but
he controlling forces were welded by
men whose average age was number of
Tears greater than that of their grand
'athers, who held sway during the revo-
period.
@Slow-going, we are won't to call the
Ways of the eighteenth century; "a fast
lge" is the common description of our
'wn period. Both expressions are mis-
eading. Our conservative ancestors
'ushed their boys through college dur
ng their teens; two members of the
Convention had graduated
8 16, one at II, and three at 16 New
York College will not admit q boy until
ae has completed his fifteenth year, and
ne average age of graduation at both
Harvard and Yale is between 90 and %
p. Clark.
PRINCE BARrENIEFF, the young Rus
dan officer of hussars who was con-
few weeks ago to q term of
light years penal servitude in the
mines of Saghalien for the murder Of =
ovely and popular young Polish act