, 1923-09-23
CONSTITUTION WEE HOLDS SIGNIFICANCE COUNT

standing. We indeed seem to feel
our oy{n want of political wisdom.
since we have been running all about
n search of IT. We have gone back
to ancient history for models Of gov
eminent and examined the different
forms of those republics which. hav-
ing been originally formed with the
seeds Of their own dissolutions, now
no longer exist; and we have viewed
modern states all around Europe,
but find none OF their constitutions
suitable in u circumstances.
I'm this situation Of this assembly,
cropping. as it were, in the dark to
find political truth, and scarce able
to distinguish 1t when presented to
us, how has it happened, sir. tim
we have not hitherto once thought
Of humbly applying7
81 have lived, sir, a long time:
and the longer I live the more con.
vinclng proofs I see OF this truth.
that God governs In the affairs of
mon. And II a sparrow cannot fall
to the ground without His notice, is
It probable that an empire can rise
without His aid2 We have been
assured. sir. in the Sacred Writings,
that except tho Lord build the
house, they labor in vain that build
IT, I firmly believe this; and 1 also
believe that without His concurring
aid we shall succeed in this political
building no better than the builders
of Babel; we shall be divided by our
little. partial, local interests, our pro
l FarN will - ,--f4
selves shall become a reproach and
u byword down to future ages. And,
what is worse, mankind may here.
after, from this unfortunate instance
despair OF establishing government
by human wisdom and leave 1t to
chance, war, conquest. 1 therefore
beg leave 10 move.
THAT, hereafter, prayers, implor.
ing the assistance of Heaven and
Its blessing on our deliberations, to
be held in this assembly every morn
Ing before we proceed to business.
n that one or more Of the clergy
of this city he requested to officiate
in that service"
And from this time on the con.
vent'on began to make rogress in.
hHN ANA VI AAAh uOClIIltllE winch
Gladstone declared to be tho great
est piece OF work Q struck off
at n given time by the brain and
purpose of man"
on September II, 1887. the work
OF the convention was completed.
and the constitution was signed and
submitted to the consideration of the
United States in congress assembled.
In the letter of submission appears
the following paragraphs: In all our
deliberations on this subject we kept
steadily in our view hat which ap-
pears to us the greatest interest Of
every true American tho %consolida.
tion Of our union in which is involy-
ed our prosperity. felicity, safety,
and perhaps our national existence.
This important consideration ser.
iously n deeply impressed on our
minds, led each state in the conven
ton TO be less rigid on points of in
ferior magnitude than might have
been otherwise expected; and thus
tho constitution which we now pre-
sent is the result OF a spirit of amity.
and Of that mutual Difference and
concession which the peculiarly OF
cur political situation rendered in.
dispensable."
As previously stated. among the
first acts of Congress under the
newly adopted Constitution was to
take steps for the adoption OF the
first ten Amendments commonly
knowN as Bill of Rights. These
Amendments provide for religious
freedom; freedom of speech and of
the press; the right of the people
p~eaceably TO assemble; the right to
bear arms for the defense of the
state; protection Of the people in war
and in peace against undue imposl
tion on the part Of military author
tiles; security against unreasonab'e