The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-11-28
WRITES MEMORIAL
ON CONSTITUTION
Hannis Taylor Will Present
Coming Congress With
Interesting Data.
Says Pelatiah Webster
Stands Second to Wash
ington in Greatness.

After a special study Of more than
thirty years. Hannis Taylor will pre-
sent to Congress. at the coming ses-
sion. memorial in behalf OF The ar
chitect OF our Federal Constitution"
Pelatiah Webster, of Philadelphia
The purpose Of the memorial Is two
fold First, TO place IN the hands Of
Congress the data for "a new and
pivotal chapter in the history OF the
Constitution that WIZ impress upon sue
ceeding generations the all-important
fact that every basic principle which
differentiates our existing Federal sys-
tenn from all that have preceded it was
part Of a single invention struck OF
at a given time by the brain and pur-
pose Of one man. and, second, 20 press
upon Congress the long neglected duty
Of honoring. by an appropriate monu-
ment. the memory OF an American
statesman and patriot who has made a
larger personal contribution to the sci
erce Of government than any other
Second to Washington.
Mr.. Taylor says that from the data
thus presented it clearly appears that
among our nation-bufIders Pelatiah
Webster stands second to Washington
alone.
In his introduction. Mr.. Taylor says:
'Al the world understands in a vague
and general way that certain path
breaking principles entered into the
structure OF our eecond Federal Con-
sutution OF 17S9. which differentiate It
from all other systems Of federal gov
eminent that have preceded It
That invention or a new type OF fed
eral government, enbodying. as Tocque-
vile said, a wholly novel theory Is
50 unique that IL can no more be con.
founded with any preceding federal
government than modern mogul en-
CINE can be COMPOUNDED with an ancient
stage coach. Did that wonderful inven-
ton. which has produced such moment
Gus consequences, have a personal au-
thor, Ike all other Inventions. or was
Il revealed at the same moment, and
IN some mysterious way, 70 a large
number Of persons, thinking and acting
In lsOlation2 Upon that humanity inn
possible or miraculous theory historians
Of our existing constitution have at
| tempted TO explain the origin Of the
unique and prearranged plan OF Jed
eral government presented to the cen
veruon which sat at Philadelphia dur
| Ing the 10 days that interviewed be-
| tween May II and September IL, 1851.
The marvel is that the historians
! who are supposed TO have explored the
| sources have never taken the pains 20
/ ask this simple and inevitable Ques-
/ ton from what common source did the
/ craftsmen OF the four plans draw he
/ withdrawing invention which was the
/ foundation OF all Of them2 Let It be
/ said 10 the honor OF those craftsmen
/ that no one OF them ever claimed 20
be the author q that invention.
Common Source.
THE answer TO the simple and In
| evitabie question Just propOunded IS
/ this: Tho common source from which the
| craftsmen OF the four plans drew the
| path-breaking invention underlying
them all was A Dissertation on the
! Political Union and Constitution Of the
/ Thirteen United States or North Amer
I lea published at Philadelphia by Pela-
/ tiah Webster. February 16, 17S2
| Prior 70 that utterance no federal
| assembly, ancient or modern, had ever
| consisted of two chambers; no one had
/ ever suggested such an ides- II after
| a careful examination of all the facts
| Congress shall deems the architect OF pur
/ Federal Constitution unworthy OF q
| monument the undersigned prays ir
/ his behalf that this humble memorial
may be embodied in its records so thai
] succeeding generations may determine
| for themselves whether or no his work
/ has been justly judged"