The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-01

Virginia which promulgated constitutions.
Two OF them, known, respectively, as the
"YVheeling' and the "AleXandria' con-
ventions, were in no sense representative
of the State at large, nor can any lessons
of wisdom be learned from them; so only
casual notice Will be taken OF them in
the discussion of the general subject. Yet,
some sidelights of illustration may be
drawn from their deliberations, as Will
appear in due course.
The real conventions of Virginia were
held in 1776 1S29-1S3Q, 1S50-lS5l, 1S60-lS6l, and
18G7-1S68.
CONVENTION OF 17I6
While Virginia was still a colony OF
Great Britain's, though already In the
throes Of the great Revolution, her repre-
sentatives met in convention at WlllalnS-
hIlrp. then the capital May 6, 1TI6. They
did not meet however, for the purpose,
or even with n view, OF framing a con-
stitution In a letter. dated August %,
IT'S, to John Randolph. Mr.. jefferson
wrote Il am sincerely one OF those who
wish for a connection with England. and
would rather he in dependence on Great
RI.itain. nroperly limited, than on any
marion IInon earth, or than on no nation
Edmund pendeton, whom jefferson
pronounced 1.-The wisest man he ever
knew vas made president though
aptaGonized by the adherents of Patrick
Henry. then in command of the military
forces Of the colony.
In such stirring times there could be
no thwartinc of the logic of events. One
of the first acts of the convention was
the election Of a chaplain, whose duty
ii was to 0pen the convention with prayer.
Tho members attended fasting-day ser
yicoe Glad in mourning. and required their
families to do the same A letter of
George Msson,s. the illustrious author of
the Virginia Bill of Rights, enioined his
vices in the church near his home. ana
that his +l1rnn sons and two daughters
sbc,,16 anreaT, in mourning.
surely our fathers were in earnest!
T,ba convention was opened first at
in the morning and afterwards at seven,
when the chaplain read prayers. The
5aily routine was for the committees to
meet as soon as prayers were over, and
to remain in session till 9, when the con-
vantiou assembled. and rarely adjourned
til five. After dinner the committees
cat again ill Q or 10 at night
on the 18th of May Cthe ninth day Of the
session. a committee was appointed 20
nreDare a declaration of rights; it was
ranortrd the 9th. debated till June 18th,
| and. unanimously adopted June 15th-that
immortal document of George Mason. the
Bili of Rights of Virginia which no sub
ser1lent convention of Virginians presumed
TO alter or amend except for technical
-G0nformity,, until Underwood and Hunni-
| emit. with their black and tan satellites.
| evolved the enormity Of a constitution
| under which we now groan And it
| ought to be generally known, in view
of the impending convention that a
manuscript copy of the Bill of Rights,
| in the handwriting of George Mason, is
| owned by the State. It has been framed
and placed on the walls of the State
| Library. Let US hope that our next con-
md
| able landmark Of our history by re-eDact-
ing it as ii came from his inspired handi
| FIRST CONSTITUTION.
| On the 29th day of June. 17.6, this con-
yention OF Virginians unanimously adopted
the first written constitution ever framed
| by an independent political society. BY
/ its terms Virginia was declared free
and sovereign State six days before the
! Declaration of Independence was adopted
| by the Continental Congress at Phlla-
| deiphia In honor OF the day and the
event, the 29Jh of June was long celebrated
! as commencement-day at the University
Of Virginia, and the Supreme Court OF
Appeals has lately formally adJudge d
| that the year of the Commonwealth
| dates from June %, 1776 Smoot VS.
| Building Association, % Virginia, $50
| 1t is unnecessary TO discuss the srieT-
] ances Whfcn Ied up 10 TINS c"'!Nti.t Ton,
| psristent "Reminiscences against the
| ageressions and expressions OF the crown
had been eontemptuously lgnored' uhti,
I! the colonies were ALREADY IN an acSuiI
| state of revolution. The fathers Iiet 10
| confer ana to devise remedies Tor wrongs
| that could not be endured
The one remedy tht1t re11a llea' atSg =,
every effort at fearess li1d pe%n 49,
was TO sever a.! reiatlons with Tue Slo"h.
They met the issue HNe paI-io.S' x'iiu 80
; tine first republic IN America was
launched at Wilhamsburs' IN Ntstlila,
| Saturday, June ~ I"o' ana me iii9 800 80
| career OF Virginia as q so'elish LIN
monWealtn began o. =,