The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-08
TO STATE DEPARTMENT.
Alaanf of University of Virginia
Present q Fac Sfmile of Declara-
eminent.


Hay, of Virginia, called at the state
department today in company with
Judge J. B. Senior. of Virginia. and
presented TO the department an su-
thenticated fac simile reproduction OF
the declaration Of independence. Judge
Sener is president Of the alumni asso-
citation of the University of virginia.
founded by Thomas Jefferson and he
presented the document to Secretary
Hay in the name Of the institution OF
learning with an appropriate speech,
bringing out the illness Of the time
Ichosen for the presentation-the eve
lof independence day and at the close
tof the 125th year Of American iadepen-
idence.
Secretary Hay responded briefly, ex-
pressing the qualification of the de-
partment for the interesting and val
uable present which was especially
timely in view Of the fact that il had
recently become necessary on account
of the rapid deterioration OF tie ink
and parchment of the original dec:ara-
ton itself, to withhold it entirely from
public exhibition. He said hat the
gift would be especially cherished as
looming from the University cf Vir-
ginia, one of the principal monuments
III Gil " > ldIilc, anu OIle o. TIE III
Istitutions dearest to his heart.
The fac simile bears the signature &c
columbus Delano, secretary Of the IN
Iterior and NJ. D. Leggett, commission
Ier of patents, and the following IT,
lscription:
Presented to the department of
state, of which Thomas Jefferson was
the first secretary. by James B. Sener,
president of the general alumni asSo-
- =.
lat the close of the one hundred and
lt~wenty-fifth yea of American inde-
lpendence, July 8, 1902"
Judge Sener's remarks were as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Secretary: On this the third of
1902, at the close Of the n hun
dred and twenty-fifth year of Ameri-
can independence the original engross-
ed copy of the declaration of indepen-
dence, now in you office, being illegi-
BILE n not shown to visitors because
of its general bad condition, r am in
your presence as president of the gen.
leral alumni association of h Univer-
sity of Virginia, and by 81 of
previously obtained permission so to
do, to present the department of state,
over which you so worthily preside a
fac simile ~photo-litho copy of the de-
I~claration of independence. This copy
was made more than a quarter of a
century ago, whilst yet it was possible
to reproduce it. Mr.. Jefferson was
your first predecessor as prime minis
ter of the United States, and though
he served as Vice-preSident and presi-
dent of this great republic, yet in his
old age, when his end was approach
ing, he left the request hat if it were
deemed desirable to erect any monu
Iment over him. it SHOULD be a simple
with the inscriptions:
THOMAS JEFFEDSON.
Author of
Declaration of Independence
of the
Statute of Religious Freedom
and
Father OF the University OF Virginia
The stone over his remains a been
'erected with that simple inscription at
Monticello, where it stands today in
sight of the great university which he
founded and loved so we'll.
1T seems to me, Mr.. Secretary, sinc
the great declaration has faded from
view, that it is peculiarly appropriate
that a fac simile copy of it should be
placed in some big department Of this
government, which Mr.. Jefferson did
$50 much to establish. and to develop
and of all the departments of the gov
Iernment, that of the department OF
of which he was the first secre-
ldTy, Is the one wherein SuCn a copy
SHOULD be kept, that the people of his
own country, as of the world, may if
they wish, be enabled to look upon a
reproduction of hat great original
state paper, and as Mr.. Jefferson re-
|garded the establishment Of the Uni
Iversity of Virginia, as one of the three
greatest accomplishments of his life,
lit is BETTING for the alumni of that
institution, through it's president, to
bring to N present, through you, this
offering to the state department of our
great republic and to ask that it may
be accepted as the university's tribute
to it's great founder and to the republic
whose birth the declaration Of indie
|pendence proclaimed