Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-29
BILL OF RIGHT5-COL. SMITHS
SPEECH.
10 the constitutional convention Ia

10 the constitutional convention las
Tuesday during the debate on the Bill 0
Rights Col. FL. Smith, this city, said
Mr.. President, the substitute / hsv,
proposed fer the report of the Com
mitsee of the Whole on the Presmable
and Bill of Rights is the Declaration o
Rights adopted 10 1776.
/ have been prompted to take this
step by the changes suggested in tnit
instrument and embodied ia that re.
port; by amendments startling to thos,
who have ever regarded 1t as the mos
striking declaration ofrighls OF man snC
endeared to Vrginians by reason of III
associ iions and intrinsic worth; by
notifications more pronounced thar
any ever proposed or incorporated in j
Os any convention since its adop'
tion, aud by alterations that will change
It's character from that OF chart o
liberty into q code of oenal laws.
The Declaration OF Rights was not in
tended TO be eugrafted upon the organic
aw aod was not part Of the coDstitu'
100 of the State prior to the consti'u-
ion framed by the convention of 1857
That body, composed, In a measure, o.
Aliens and strangers, could not feel oil
xpress the ve0eration and affection
o. tsrtained by Virginiaus for the evil
dences Of her past and brilliant career
II the changes in the law such as are
proposed are deemed advisable by this
convention, let them be placed in the
appropriate articlts in the body of the
Constitution.
Mr.. Preside5t, | revere my native
State, Tidewater. the Valley, South
vest Vf1iols. the South Side and
Piedmonl-VIrginia, the Northern Neck +,
,he Peninsulsr and the Eastern Shore.
each possessing its peculiarities and dis
tlnolive attractions, all having place
in my admiratioD; but as in all things
pertaining & to the affections comparisons
exist, SO IN this respect with me there
is preference, and whilst loving all
sections and parts of the Common
wealth, ray heart Is in the foothills
Of Virginia, where every breeze that
blows over its pine and cedar.cspped
oils comes lede0 with perfume and the
spice of life.
But, sir, mere physical beauties,
though pleasing to the senses, do not
constitute State-that invisible and
ever enlsrging web OF human affairs In
whose structure every mesh Ia some
striking and prominent event in the his-
lory OF the body-poilic, the elimination
II af hfon xxyil nf nnIn mi q y
the symmetry and beauty OF the whole,
out end in its destruction.
A State ss political entity is COM
posed Of its present Inhabitants, but
"rhe State" is not only what it Is to-
day, but what 1t has been, embodying
all the suferines, the trials, the con.
fcts, the victories OF the past; Inherit
log the memory of the great and good
men who have Inhabited it and the good
and virtuous deeds by them performed; (;
Illuminated by the splendid valor of its
warriors, the martyrdom OF its patriots,
the virtue Of It's women, the wisdom OF
it's ssges and philosophers and the poll
tcal triumphs Of its statesmen.
Virginia has been called 1.-The Mother
of States and of Statesman" Justly
may che be given the foremost place In
the family of the colonies and in the
Union of the States.
Her settlers were an adventurous
and hardy band, actu ited by the free,
independent and robust spirit which
has descended to and ever characterized
their progeny. Love of right, justice
and personal independence coupled
with a marked eentleness OF deport.
ment and consideration for others has
always distingus shed them as
peculiar aud distinct people.
II was VIrgin!an who kindled the
fire OF patriotism in the hearts of the
colonists; il was Virginian who COM
manded aud led the armies OF the revo'
luton to victory and to freedom; II was
a VirgiDisn who framed the "Declara.
ton of Independence, announcing
the birth OF what has grown to be the
miRhtiest OF all civilized nations; 1t wss
a VIrginian who framed the "Declsra-
tion OF Rights" drawing his Inspiration
from nature; it was Virginian who
enjoyed the distinction OF bsing the
greatesl jurist OF the century; in fact.
Osarly every station and post OF houor
10 ths federal government, civil and
military, hss been occupied by Virgin.
isns who adorned the positions.
In glaucipg back upon this history oi
this Country and its early struggles we
will remember that our success in the
French aud Iodisn war was the fact
that decided the Eoglish instead oil the
French WAS to be the ruling race in the
new world. l. was the imperial de-
main acquired 10 this war that Vir'
einis presented to the general govern.
ment.
This great area OF land was known al
"the Northwest Territory" Ou Tues
day, 2d January, 1871, In the House o
Delegates OF Virginia, resolution was
passed, afterwards agreed to by th'
Senate, which opens as follows:
"The General Assembly OF Virgini'
being we'll satisfied that the happiness
strength and safety of the United
states depend. under Providence, up
on the ratification OF the articles for
federal uuios between the United
States, heretofore proposed by Congress
for the consideration OF the said States
and preferTing the goodof their country
20 every object of smaller importance