The Washington times., 1902-07-04
COPY OF DECLARATION
OF INDEPENDENCE
A Photo-litho Reproduction
Given State Department.
Gift of Alumni Association of Univer-
sity of Virginia-Judge Sener Makes
Presentation Speech.

Presentation Speech.
The State Department has received a
unique gift from the University of Vir-
ginia. in the form of a photo-litho copy
of the Declaration of Independence.
Representative James Hay of Virginia,
in company with Judge J. B. Sener, Of
Virginia, the president of the Alumni AS
sociation of the University of Virginia,
which was founded by Thomas Jefferson.
called at the State Department yesterday
and presented to the department the
copy referred to. Judge Sener made a
speech to Secretary Hay. in which he
brought out the fitness of the time chosen
for the presentation-on the eve of IL
dependence Day and at the close of the
l25th year of American independence.
Secretary Hay responded briefly, ex-
pressing the qualification of the depart
ment for the interesting and valuable
present. which was especially timely in
view of the fact that it had recently he-
come necessary on account of the rapid
deterioration of the ink and parchment
of the original Declaration itself TO
withhold It entirely from public exni-
bition.
Secretary Hays Remarks.
He said that The gifs would be ccpe-
cially cherished as coming from .ns Jpi-
versity of Virginia, one of the principal
monuments of Jefferson's fame, and one
OF the institutions Gcarcs. &c his heart.
The facsimile bears the signature of Co.
lum5us Delano, Secretary Of the Interior,
and NJ. D. Leggett, Commissioner CT
Patents, and the following inscriptions:
Presented to the Department of
State, of which Thomas jefferson was
the first Secretary. by James B. Sener.
president of the General Alumni Asso-
citation of the University of Virginia. at
the close of the 125th year of American
Independence. July 3, 1902"
Address of Judge Sener.
Judge seners remarks were as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Secretary: On this Sd of July. |
1902, al the close of the 125th year OF I
American independence. the original en-
crossed copy Of the Declaration of In |
dependence, now in your office, being I
illegible and not shown TO the public be-
cause of its general bad condition, 1 am
in your presence as president of the
General Alumni Association of the Uni |
versity of Virginia. and By reason OF |
previously obtained permission so to do
10 present to the Department of State
over which you so worthily preside n |
facsimile Photo-litho copy of the Decla-
ration of Independence. This copy was
made more than a quarter of a century |
ago. whilst yet it was possible to repro
duce it.
''Mr. Jefferson was your first prede-
ossor as Prime Minister of the United
States. and though he served as Vice
President and President of this great
Republic. yet in his old age, when mis-
end was approaching, he left the request
that if it were deemed desirable to erect
any monument over him it should be a
simple obelisk with the inscription:
Here Was Buried
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
Author OF the
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
OF the
Statute OF Religious Freedom,
and
Father of the University of Virginia.
''The stone over his remains has been
erected with that simple inscription, at
where il stands today in
sight of the great university which he
and loved so we'll.
A Peculiarly Appropriate Gift.
1T seems to me, Mr.. Secretary. since
the great Declaration has faded from
view, that it is peculiarly appropriate
that a facsimile copy of it should be
placed in some big department OF this
government. which Mr.. Jefferson did SO
mucn to establish and to develop; and
of all the departments of the Govern
ment, that Of tbe department of State
of which he was the first Secretary, is
the one wherein such a copy snosid be
kept, that the people CT his own coua-
try, IS OF the Old World. may. is they
wish. be enable; 90 look upon re-
production Of that great original State
paper; ard, as Mr. Jefferson regarded
TIE establishment OF the University OF
Virginia as one of the three greatest ac-
OF his life, 1t is befittlns
fo. the alumni OF that institution.
through itc president, 70 bring to. and
present, through you. this Offering to the
State Department of our great Republic,
AID to ash that it may be accepted as
The universlty's tribute TO lis g-eae
ounder, and TO the Republic whose birth
he Declaration of Independence pro- .
claimed