Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-29

1t was my purpose when this body assem-
/ bled on the 18Th Of Jure, the 10th ami
vsrsIy Of the adoption Of 'the Declaration
| OF Rights" to have moved its recognition and
adoption here as Il Was conceived and ex'
presst d by its frau ers, bat whom gazed upon
| the splendid represents tion In this assembly
\ OF the Common Keslth's morsl and intellectual
powers and realized what q mino- part l 1ss
| to play in these oeliberations tho resolution
vanished.
Since then hsye at in Con m tics OF the
Whole all through O. G lengthy and interest
| ing debate which ensuei unon the report OF
the Committee OF the Presmbls and Bill OF
Rights, cherishing toe hope that, moved by
the sppeas. the psthos, ths logic and argu-
ment Of the venerable delegate from Flu.
vanis, the committee, impe.led by q common
impulse, would vote all amendments down
and report the messure ss 1t originally came
from the hands Of patriot drausntsmen.
That hope rose and ebbsd with esch ses.
sion OF the Committee o. the Whole, and fin
ally persisted with report.
And now, today, We stand upon the brink
Of great and grave responsibility, aud l csn-
not permit thss report 20 receive the sane
ton and hacome The act Of this Convention
without entering my solemn protest and hsv.
ing that protest psTpe,uated IN an endpipg
and permanent manner.
Sir, it was never contemplated or intended
that the Bill OF Rights should have the force
or form Of lsw-lhst like municipal law 1t
should be q rule OF civi conduct prescribing
what Is right and forbading what is wrong.
1t Is sn enumeration OF the inherent rights
OF man eKpres.e N abstract principles, de.
sigued as a chat ard guide for all lOvets OF
liberty and er to be kept in view 10 fran
ing organic law for States living under con-
stitu,ional form Of gOvernmcnt 1t was con-
eeIved ia a Ieriod Of pub le excitement and
zgitstion when revolution begets great men
and gteGt principles or is bezotien OF thtm;
when the colony, having just thrown OF the
yoke of despotIc mOnaIch, stool toidy to
receive the msnlle OF Statehood.
1t was at such m)mont that the declara-
tion of rights had ITS ongio.
II was p aced at ito entrance TO the path
way OF liberty by the patriot fathers as 8
beacon, as lighthOule which The poet has 90
beautifully compared to hope
That star Of life's tremulous ocean"
Sir, it is the Pole star Of the constitutional
armament Let US not seek to obscure its
radiance, but let us rather be guarded by It's
perfect light along tie difficult road oil
present duty. Let it remain where the
fathers placed 1.-THE fxol star of constiru-
tiOnsl liberty.
Sir the Bill Of Rights is an historic name.
The chief munimsDts OF the Brltsh ConsLitu-
ton as q growth Of liberal representative
government are "the Magma Chsrts" and Its
successive extensions 'the Hsbeas Corpus
Act" and chs II OF Rights" the principles
Of which have besn incorporated In all the
written constitutions Of the speaking
race.
The original Bill Of Bights Is an English
statute OF 1899, in the re'gn Of William and
Mary, declsriIg the rights aud liberties oi
the subject. an its bIo>def sceeptation II
means those rights which belong TO humsn
be ngs as such, And are Usually accC unted IN
he tbree-tbe right Of personal security, q
personal liberty and Of private property
The right Of freedom of consc eacs, II not In.
VOWED In these three, should bs added. In q
word, they set forth the personal rights Of
individual citizens over aga nst tho govern.
meni.
Sir, We live during An era OF great and
rspid changes. The literary. scientific, me-
chaniesl and industrial worlds are advancing
with giant strides along the course Of pro-
gress, bat the inherent, inslensble and God.
given rights OF man are the sams ''yestcr.
day. To-Day snd forever"
(Applauss.)