Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-04-17

2inia Bui OF Rights. which Glad
stone says is the most colossal doc
umcnt that ever cmanatcd from the
brain OF man" was at the head OF
II committee 10 write and did write
Gin the parlor of Gunston Hall with
Thomas j ftcrson). much OF the Dec
larat:on OF independence. But his
wife was H. and he resigned his
cha!rmansh!p. recommending Jcffer-
son 10 take his place. and jefferson
went from Gunston Han. where he
conferred with Mason. To attend at
the declaration.
The Constitution OF the Unitel
states contains a great deal of Ma
sons work.
DR.. Gaillard Hunt. Lit. D.. l.. l.. D.,
chief 81 the bureau OF manuscripts,
Library Of Congress, through whose
hands have passed more original man
uscripts than any other mans, says:
The original manuscripts in his
Handwriting in this library show be-
yond Il doubt that. more than any
other man. George Mason is entitled
20 be called the father OF the Decla-
ration Of Independence.
Thomas jefferson wrote the Dec
iaration Of Independence. and he is
its author. hut oihcr men expressed
It's sentiments and Mason expressed
them in almost the words Jefferson
used. Jefferson never laid claim to
any originality.
Mason was intimately acquaint-
ed with Washington and Jefferson.
and was old enough to give to them
the benefit OF hi. broader knowl-
edge and fuller experience in the
early days of their friendship. lie
was seven years older than Washing
ton. and Jefferson was eighteen years
his Junior and both these men
looked up to the sage of Gunston
as !. statesman OF the first order
Il iian OF clear vision and OF abso-
lutte Observation-Disclosures in his desire
for the best for his country.
Mnson'S RiiI Of Rights.
'Mason's Bill of Rights has been
described as containing the auintes-
sence OF all the great principles and
doctrines of freedom wrought out
by the people of England from ear
liest times, and which lie AT the foun-
vastly greater than the Magma Char
ter or the Petition OF Rights, and
may with truth he called the first
Charter of Equal Rights IN history.
when. in May, 1876, two months
before the Declaration OF Indepcnd-
ence, the Nirginians in their con-
vcntion at williamsburg ratified Ma
sons Bill of Rights. the Republican
world was born. y good part Of the
i'ill OF Rights did not go into the
Constitution. hut went into the first
ten amendments. In other words.
everything found in the Virginia Bill
OF Rights which did not go into the
Declaration of Independence went
bodily into the Constitution.
"fhe Virginia Bill: or Rights came
from the hand and brain of George
Mason. unsolicited"
is 1t not strange that this man is
half forgot? That tho average cit
zen hardly knows his name. when
he stood foremost in his day?
What opinion is held OF him by
modern students OF politics and his
tory? Did Justice Harlan. of the
United States SupTeme Court. and
professor OF international law. voice
thoir opinion when he said in his
lecture on George Mason"
''Thc Virginia BIZ. If I,h.hts IS
incomparably the greatest pc,.tica!
equity the mind of man has ever con-
ccived. George Mason ranks next
to George Washington as the founder
Of American liberty lie is the great
est political philosopher tho Western
hemisphere has ever produced"
Important Stnte Papers.
Strong praise. that; but II must
he considered thatSthe man of whom
1t was spoken wrote tho three most