Evening star., 1925-05-10

the important part played by the
Phi Beta Kappa men In that mo-
mentous convention of 1888, called
to ratify the Constitution of the
United States. AS the largest State
in population and the center of
strong opposition, the action of the
Virginia convention was looked upon
as determining whether the new
Government of the United States of
America should be inaugurated as
unit or divided against itself. Incl
dentally, the most authoritative his
tory Of the convention. Griggsby's, was
written by Phi Beta Kappan, who
became q member Of the Alpha Of Vir-
ginia after its reorganization in 1851.
There were 40 members in that
convention, of whom were Phi
Beta Kappa founders-William Cabell,
John Marshall, Stevens Thomson Ma
son. Littleton Ayres, John Allen.
Archibald Stuart, Bushrod Washing
ton and Thomas Smith. John James
Beckley was made clerk. The speeches
Of John Marshall, in which were
shown the reasonableness of the pro-
visions OF the Constitution and the
groundlessness Of the fears Of the op-
position. were largely effectual in win
ming and holding a few waveriug
The last move Of the opposition was
to offer a motion to withhold ratifica-
tion until certain proposed amend
ments were Incorporated. There were
1913 votes recorded and the motion was
lost, 80 to So. Two Phi Beta Kappa
men voted AYE" and the remaining
six voted mo-" Had five Of these six
been opposed to ratification, serious
delay, at least, would have been
caused.
But Phi Beta Kappa members de-
termined the result In a still more
striking way, as is shown by Rev. DR..
Oscar NJ. Voorhees,. secretary Of the
United Chapters, who. since his stu
dent days, when he delved into the
original records that had been in hid
ing nearly 80 years, has been writing
Phi Beta Kappa history with the early
documents in hand.
Archibald Stuart was from Rock
bridge County, and as q candidate for
legislative honors was defeated by 13
votes. A few days later he visited q
friend in Botetourt County and was
asked to speak on public questions.
that he was urged to become a candi-
date for the House Of Deputies. That
he might be eligible, his host decided
him sufficient land, which fact was
soon forgotten, and only brought to
light when the title of the property
was searched so or more years after
ward. At this second election Stuart
was successful and appeared at the
meeting Of the Legislature as the col.
league Of the man by whom he had
been defeated. Botetourt County re-
turned him the two succeeding years,
ana then his native county. Rock
bridge, becoming aware Of his grow
Ing ability, made him her delegate for
the following two years, 1856 and 1887.
and member Of the convention Of
1888.
After being thus chosen he learned
that his former constituency In Bote-
tourt was opposed to ratification. and
tnat q movement waS on foot to
pledge Its delegates to vote In opposi.
ton. He started Immediately for the
place OF election. riding day and night,
20 miles across an entire county. and
arrived after the voting had begun.
At his request, however, the poll was
interrupted while he made q speech
In favor of the Constitution, in which
he urged that the delegates be pledged
to vote Tor ratification. His speech
was SO convincing that he won his
pointt ana as q result the delegates
from botetourt County voted for rati-
1catton. Thus these two additional
votes must be credited to Phi Beta
kappa influence" DR.. Voorhees, EN-.
John Marshall had been offered q
seat IN the convention II he would
pledge htm1e8 to vote againat rati6.
cation 6 ~ CuQf31n1ion. .Hn r
tuSo0s WA e1ecto6 q = cnn6idato