Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1910-10-03
These constitute a state,

dare maintain,
#*#
These constitute a state,
And sovereign law, that states col
lected will,
Der thrones and globes elate
Sits empress, crowning good, repress-
ing ILL.,
With this quotation, Thomas B. Cat
ron, of Santa Fe, concluded his ad-
dress opening the constitutional con-
vention in the Hall of Representa-
tives.
1t was exactly high noon when he
arose. A hush fell over the hundred
delegates and the audience that
crowded the galleries as Mr. Catron
said:
Gentlemen of the convention you
will please be in order. / have been
designated as one of the members of
the convention, to call it to order" !"
OeVen 0IILS OF F1OIy SfOSt.
The seven gifts of the Holy Ghost
were asked to descend upon the con-
vention, by Rev. Jules Deraches, chap
lain of San Miguel church, the oldest
house of Christian worship in the
United States. All stood with heads
reverently bowed as he spoke as fol-
lows, his rich voice filling the hall.
Opening Prayer.
God of our Father and Lord of
Mercy, hear the prayer that I offer
Thee in the name of every soul in our
land. These, thy servants, have been
chosen by the people to lay the foun-
dation of a new commonwealth in the
nation. Out of Thy Holy Heaven send
them Wisdom to be with them and to
labor with them; for the thoughts OF
mortal men are fearful and their coun-
sells uncertain.
Heap upon them treasures of I'm.
derstanding that their work may be
acceptable to Thee as well as to their
fellowmen and to the higher powers
of the nation. Pour forth upon them
the spirit of Counsel and Fortitude
that they may work in harmony as
brothers, sinking their individual in
terests for the sake of the common
prosperity.
Cause o Lord, the spirit of Knowl
edge and Goodness to rest upon each
one of them. For none is like Thee
among lawgivers, o God, and unless
thou build the house, they labor ir
vain that build it; but bearing the
stamps of Thy knowledge the result
of their deliberations will put to con
fusion those who have striven tt
bring discredit on our capacity ant
delay our admission into the Union
Above all, fill them with the spirit o.
the Fear of God which is the begin
ming of wisdom. May that confidence
which the people have placed in then
be fully justified. May they ever re
member that before the Supreme
Judge of the living and the dead W.
must each give an account Of ou
stewardship, for power is given by thu
Most High who will examine ou
works and search our thoughts
Therefore, O King of Kings and Lort
of Lords, hear the supplication OF tn,
servant. Incline Thine ear and heal
because Thy name is invoked upol
Thy people, and especially upon tn
delegates to this convention. Hell
them to leave unto men an everlast
ing memorial of their wisdom an
civic integrity.
Lift up their hearts to high ideal
SO that with noble pride they ma
fasten to the glourious banner of ou
nation, the bright star of New Mez
leo. there to shine with even increas
ing radiance.
Hear my prayer, o Cad, IN who's
hands are both we, and our words an
all wisdom.
Mr., Catron Continues.
Mr. Catron then resumed eloquent
and to the point saying that the Col
vention had gathered for the creates
purpose for which any people coul
meet. He reviewed briefly the histor
of republican government, toward
which, he said, even the monarchie
are gravitating. "Your task Is
formulate a republican form of go
ernment under the great constitutio
of the United States. The constit1
ton you are to draft is required to b
republican in form. 1t is not to di
criminate between or against any one
every one is to receive its protection
We will draft constitution that wi
not be antagonistic to those beyor
our borders; one that will invite in
migration, one that will encourae
capital to develop the great resources
of the commonwealth; one that wi
be just to all. We have the prece
ents of the constitution Of the Unite
States and of 46 states to guide ,
and we will come in as an intelligen
commonsense state"
Mr.. Jaffa Calls Roll.
Territorial Secretary Nathan Jaf