The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-06

to the second floor. OF the two rooms on this
side OF the hall, the one opposite the drawing
room was occupied by Col. Mason and his wife.
and was called In tho old Virginia parlance
" The Chamber" Tho other room was The
Nursery" in tho days Of Col. Mason's grand
children. and probably was used for tho same
purpose by tho earlier household.
Ascending tho staircase from tho main hall.
wo come to the second floor. These are small
and low pitched with dormer windows and
wide. low window seats. From one OF the2e
rooms n steep starcas SO leads UP into the attics.
where were kept. fifty years ago. old spinning
wheels and spinning machines that had seen
service in colonial days. 1t may interest those
who would like to see so well-rreserved relic
OF colonial times to know that tho steamboat
plying between Washington and Mount YER
non touches at Gunston Cove. within short
distance of the Hall.
George Mason made his first appearance in
Virgiria's Revolutionary councils at the July
Convention. 1775. He at first opposed all vio-
len. measures. md exerted himself to pre-
vent the conflscation Of the Kings quit rents.
and 1t was not until after tho rejection by the
King OF the second petition OF Congress that
he believed in the necessity of declaring indie
the non. expectation resolution. which. after
long debate. was carried by a large majority.
George Masons friends now urged him to ac-
cept seat in the Continental Congress-. and
eventually two-thirds Of the Convention
waited on him to bog him to take tho
nomination. He persisted. however. in refus-
ing the office. on the ground that his family
required his care. Tho same objection applied
to his serving on tho Committee OF Safety: but
he was constrained to accept place in this
council. which practically monopolized oil the
powers OF government in Virginia after the
adjournment OF the Convention.
The nth and last Of tho Virginia Colonial
Conventions met on May a. 1716. Col. Mason.
who had been returned for Fairfax county. ar
rived at Williamsburg on the 18th Of May. and
was at once added to the committee appointed
to prepare a declaration Of rights and Con-
stitution. The declaration of rights and tho
plan Of government framed by this committee
and adopted by the Convention werc from the
pen OF George Mason. fact which Of itself
demonstrates his right to stand BY the side OF
Patrick Henry. Richard Henry Leo. and George
Washington in the front rank OF NirGinia's
Revolutionary patriots. II Patrick Henry was
the orator George Mason was tho writer OF the
Virginia Convention. and the master builder
Of the new political structure. 1t is true that
the authorship OF tho Bill Of Rights has been
denied to George Mason. and that his claim to
having written the first draft Of the Virginia
Constitution has been impugned. On the other
hand. we have the deliberate statement OF
George Mason himself that he wrote the Bill
Of Rights and inferentally that he wrote tho
Constitution. as the two papers arc to be con-
eidered ono instrument, and they are so
denominatcd by Edmund Randolph. where lie
p ha tycp hnr
posed by George Mason
In regard to the establishment OF religious
freedom in Virginia. George Mason pursued
consistent course. The first Legislation on tho
subject in the Virginia Assembly may be
traced to him. as he was named first on the
committee appointed to prepare an act in con-
formity with the religious section Of tho Bill
OF lights The second section OF this act.
which was undoubtedly drawn up by George
Mason. begins with the following significant
preamble: And whereas. there are within
this Commonwealth great numbers OF dis
senters from the Church established Ivy law
who have been heretofore taxed for its sup
port. and it Is contrary to the principles Of rea-
son and Justice that any should BIO COM
PEELED to contribute to the maintenance of the
Church with which their consciences will not
permit them to Join and from which they can
derive no benefit: for remedy whereof and
that equal liberty as well religious us civil
may no universally extended to nj! the good
people OF this commonwealth. be it enacted.
&c" The act suspendin. the salaries of cler-
Eymen. passed in l7Tli. was renewed each ses-
sion. until. in l77G. all laws providing salaries
were finally repealed. The question Of Il gen.
era assessment for the support Of religion
Still! remained opon 1t came ,ip for discussion
and determination in 1894. Madison. Mt the
suggestion Of George Mason and George Nich-
olas. drew up II remonstrnnce against tho as
sessment which was extensively circulated
and signed throughout the State. Under
the influence OF tho public sentiment
thus created tho bill establishing religious
freedom was enacted into permanent barrier
against any future attempts on the rights Of
conscience. 1t is noteworthy TINT while
George Mason proceeded uniinchingly to the
disestablishment OF the Anglican Church In
Virginia. Patrick Henry. on the other hand
nine yenrs after the PRONUNCIATION OF the Bill
OF Rights. employed all his oratory and his in i.
fuence In support OF a law taxing tho people
for religious PURPOSES.
The year 1877 brought George Mason into n
wider field OF action than he had ever before
entered. He had come forward ut the call OF
his State to serve in tho Federal Convention
which met in Philadelphia. His first impress.
sions are recorded in letter to his son /:
THE most prevalent idea In the prln.
cipal States seems to be total alteration Of
the present Federal system md the substitu-