Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-19
Show
Men Who Were Born and Who Lived the Nghborhod of Washington
and George Mason Were Selected Among Delegates
toA ttendCo nventon-An Interesting Lives.
let the Rambler insist
. again that It is not his object
to write q history OF the in


Of these was Henry Lee. nicknamed
Light, Horse Harry. who was born
at F,reestone point, where Neaosco
creek flows into the Potomac, thirty
miles below Washington. The other
was George Mason. who was
born. on the Prince William SIDE OF
Occoquan creek, near the point Where
the railroad bridge spans that stream
and who built for himself and briae
the splnedid house On Mason neck
which he called Custom Hall.
In pointing out the eminent serv-
ices Of these men the Rambler
thought it necessary, or at any rate
desirable, to trace the outlines OF
why. how and when action came
to be taken for the replacement OF the
Articles of Confederation by an IN,
strument which made the national
authority superior in a number OF
ways, to that OF the several states.
That Instrument, which we call our
Constitution, infringed the sovereign.
" of the states in many ways not
possible under the Articles OF. Con.
federation, but the Constitution OF
17S7-1789 did not take from the states
a small fraction Of the authority or
sovereignty" which by amendments
and construction under the doctrine
Of implied powers 1t takes from the
states today. - 80
~ X
AS the Rambler develops this story
or this series, he hopes to snow you
why so many eminent men OF unques-
toned intelligence and PATRIOTISM IN
Massachusetts, in Virginia, In Mary.
land and in other states, argued
Of them admitted that the union OF
the thirteen states was breaking up
because the Articles OF Confederation
done at Philadelphia in the state OF
Pennsyiyania on the 9Th day OF July
in the year Of our Lord 177S, ana IN
the third year of the independence OF
America" were inadequate, but they
could not bring themselves to ap-
prove such a naturalization OF the
union Of the states as gave to q
central government the right to tax,
not the states themselves, but the IN
habitants of the states: the right 70
maintain navy and STANDING army
OF which. a President was to be the
commander in chief: the right to
maintain fortifications, arsenals and
navy Yards within the states and to
have exclusive jurisdiction OF such
areas, and the right to erect su-
preme court, the judgment OF. which
could reverse the decision OF the
highest court in any state.
Many of these old patriots saw
danger in the Senate being given the
power Of altering appropriation bills.
Of originating appropriations OF mon
ey and Of fixing the salaries OF Of
ncers Of their appointment In con
junction with the President. They
whereby the President and the SEN
ate should appoint ambassadors. VA
fious public officers, making treaties
and trying impeachments. L.
The arguments for the Constitution
were many. and, to most OF us TODAY
It is tiifficult to understand why they
were not convincing when made. The
ARGUMENTS against the Constitution
were just as numerous, and they made
a strong appeal. Before We get
through the Rambler will take you to
the constitutional convention at Rich
mond and report to you what George
Mason. Eatrick Henry. James Monroe
and william Grayson gave as. their
reasons for opposing ratification. ana
also the reasons for ratification pre-
sented by Henry Lee. Edmund Pendle-
ton, James Madison. John Marshall
and Coy. Randolph. The weight OF
1.idenee appears .; 70 ma nave ~, o oe;ca
tory OF the ratihers was exceedingly
slender. One should remember that
the influence Of Washington. thun
private citizen, was for ratthcation:
It should. also be recalled that one or
the strong objections to the Cdnstitu-
tfon. as. submitted to the states was
that 1t contained no de claration OF
rights. and on this point George Ma
son said: 'Nor are the people secured
even in the enjoyment OF the beneht
Of the common law. which stands here
upon no other foundation than it's
acts forming the constitutions OF the
several states"
It was only by a s'Eentlemen's agree
mont" that this defect OF the Constt-
tuition would be remedied by amend-
W Win ana sn1t this deciSrnt,on o. 1 ri.hts
il 70 be found in tho flrst ten amend
ments to the Constitution, which were
proposed to the legislatures Of the
several states by the: First Congress
on the 25th OF September. 17ss. Those
amendments you are familiar with.
but let us read them again. They fol-
low:
1-Congress shall make NO Law respecting an
establishment Of religion, Or prohibiting. the
free exefcise thereof; q abridgtng the free.
the people peaceably to assemble. and to pc
tition the goverument for redress Of griev-
ance.
to the security Of q FREQ state. the right Of
the people to keep and bear arms shall not be
pNo soldier shall in time Of peace be quar-
tered in any house. without the consent Of the
owner. nor in time Of war, but In manner to
EpT i hight Of tho people to be secure in
against unreasonable searches and seizures
:ae not b ,oasss ..s e. NO shs ~
oath or Affirmation and parttculariy describing
the place to b searched snd the persons Or
GNo person shall be held to answer for a
capital. or otherwise infamous crime. unless
ON a preseatment or indictment Of . grand
Savsi forces, Or in tie militia. when in actual
service in time Of war Or public danger; nor
shall any persun Be subject for the same or
fence to be twice put In jeopardy Of life or
limb: nor shall he be compelled in any criminal
cad to be q witness against himself, nor Be
deprived Of fe: nosrs. 2. prHgsy, watheqs
BE- taken Soe public nee. without just sconpen-
s@in all erinin.i prosecutions, the accused
shall have the right to speedy and public
trial, By an Impartial Jury Of the state and
district wherein the crime shall! have been
eemnittsd rsiea sss - sna ,d :. BEN
Tossed Of ne nature and eause Of the aecn.
sstiG: to Sc tcsnfrontsd with the Witnesses
h n ss fvca .pd .
tie assistAnce Of counsel for his defence.
I'm suits at common law. where the value
the right to trfal 81 jury shall ie preserved
and no fact tried b. jury shall be other
Wiss re-examined in any court Of the United
states. thsA according to the rules Of the COM
"g GExcessive bail shan not be required. nor
excessive fines imposed. nor cFuef and unusual
punishments inflicted.
RThe enumeration In the Constitution Of
certain rights, shall not BE- construed to deny
Or .dispsrsse others retained b. the people.
state. bs a: coastitutisn nse erosissted ' sS
ito the states. are reseryed to the states re-
speetiveiy ~ 70 the people. 80