The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-04
FAC Smile of Declaration of In
dependence Presented.
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
On Behalf of Jeferson's Dearest Chile
This Copy of His Great Declaration
of Principles Was Given TO Gov
eminent He Helped Build.
iBy Associated Press,

WASHINGTON, July %.-Representa-
tive Hay. OF Virginia, called at the State
Department to-day N company with
Gldge ]. B. Sener, OF Virginia, and pre-
rs.r,ed to the department a authenh-
Gated fac-simile reproduction of the
declaration OF Independence. Judge Sen
.r is president of the Alumni Associa-
ton OF the University Of Virginia, found
Cd by Thomas jefferson and presented
THE document TO Secretary Hay IN the
rarne of that institution OF learning,
with an appropriate speech bringing out
til. fitness of time chosen for the pre-
eertation the eve Of Independence Day,
xnJ at the close of the l25th year OF
American independence.
Secretary Hay responded briefly, ex-
pressing the era ALLEGATION of the De
y.s,t,r ent for the Interesting and Valu-
able present, which was especially time
IL in view of the fact that it had recently
become necessary owing TO the rapid
deterioration of ink and parchment OF
the original declaration Itself. TO with
. fo.d it entirely from public inspection
lie said that the gift would be especially
cherished as coming from the lrlVer-
s.ty OF Virginia, one OF the permanent
monuments of Jefferson's and one of the
institutions dearest to his heart
BEARS SIGNATURES.
The fac smile bears the signature OF
Columbus Delano. secretary Of the In
terror and NJ. D. Z. Lesgett. Commits
sioner of Patents. and the following in
scription:
Presented to the Department Of state.
OF which Thomas jefferson was the first
secretary. by James s. Sener. president
of the General Alumni Association of the
University of Virginia, at the close OF
the one hundred and twenty-fifth year
A j,1ie
Judge Sener saremarks were as follows:
MIR. Secretary:
ION this third. day Of July. 1902 at
the close of the one hundred and twenty
fifth year of American independence. the
original engrossed copy Of the Declara-
ton of Independence, now in Your office.
being illegibie and not shown to the
public because of its general bad con-
dition. am in YOUR presence as preSl-
dent of the General Alumni Association
of the University of Virginia, and by
reason of previously obtained permits
sion so to do. to present to the Depart
1nent of State, over which you so worth
sly preside. a fac smile photo-litho copy
Of the Declaration Of Independence
This copy was made more than a. quarter
of a century ago whilst Yet it was pos
sible to reproduce il.
HIS LIFES WORK.
Mr. jefferson was Your first predeces-
states and though he served as Vice
President and President of this great Re-
public vet in his old age. when his end
was approaching. he left the request that
If it We're deemed desirable to erect anv
monument over him. it should be a simple
obe1is1 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
Monticello. where it stands today in
sight of the great university which he
founded and loved so we'll
BEFRIENDLY OFFER.
TT seems to me Mr.. Secretary. since
the great declaration has faded from
view, that ii is peculiarly appropriate
that fac simile Of it should he placed
in some big department of this Govern
1nent. which Mr. jefferson did so much
to establish and to develop. and of all the
departments of the Government That
of the Department of State, of which ne
was the first secretary, is the one where
in such a copy should he kept. that the
peopie of his own country. as of the
world. may if they wish be enabled 10
look upon reproduction of that great
original State paper: and as AlT, JET
ferson regarded the establishment OF the
University Of Virginia as one of the three
greatest accomplishments of his life. Ii
is BETTING for the alumni of that in
stitntion through its president to brlnS
to and present through YOU TINS offer
ing to the State Department of our great
republic and ask that il may be accept
ed as the Universty's tribute TO its great
founder and to the republic, whose birth
the Declaration of Independence pro
claimed.