Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-27
Capital Sidelights

closer student of Virginia history,
apropos of the recent celebration at
William and Mary College. Williams
burg. reviews for us the fundamental
work of establishing this Government,
which was performed by the Virginia
convention exactly $50 years ago IN
adopting the pioneer written constitu-
ton, and quotes Thomas jefferson s
own summary of how 1t was drafted.
The Virginia convention of 1916 was
of very brief duration. 1t met on the
9Th day Of May and adjourned on the
9th day of July. Nevertheless, it was
in many respects the most notable po-
litical gathering of the Revolutionary
period.
On May 10 IL instructed the Nir-
ginia delegates in the Continental Con
gress to press for the action which led
to the Declaration OF Independence.
and on June IL it adopted the Virginia
Bill of Rights. and on June % 1t
adopted the Virginia Constitution,
which was the first written conStitu-
ton ever promulgated establishing a
complete system of government.
Among other things, that instrument
clearly separated and defined the pow
ers of the executive, legislative and
judicial departments. The adoption
of the Virginia Bill of Rights was
commemorated at Williamsburg, the
old capital OF Virginia, where the con
Vention sat, and not only was the Bill
of Rights then acclaimed by men of
eminence and distinction as IA wonder
full statement of the fundamental prin-
cipleS of free government, but the
fame of It's author. George Mason. as
a statesman OF profound learning and
wisdom was gloritied. Thus. III the
year following The 200th anniversary
of MaSons birth was celebrated the
150th anniversary of his unforgettable
contributions in that convention. in
the Philadelphia convention Of 1897.
and elsewhere 10 the cause Of civil
and religious liberty Nearly 30 years
after the convention Mr.. jefferson
wrote of the Bin of Rights and of the
Constitution OF Virginia and their
author as follows:
THE fact is unquestionable that the
Bill Of Rights and the Constitution of
Virginia were drawn originally by
George Mason. one of our really great
men and Of the first order of great
ness. The history OF the preamble to
the latter II his. | was then at Phila-
delphia with Congress, and knowing
that the convention of Virginia WAS
ged in forming II plan OF govern
ment, | turned my mind to the same
subject and drew Il sketch or outline
OF Il constitution with a preamble
which / sent 10 Mr.. Pendeton, presi-
dent Of the convention, on the mere
possibility that it might suggest some
thing worth Incorporation into that
before the convention lie Informed
me afterWard by letter that he re-
ceived it on the day on which the com
mittee of the whole had reported to
the House the plan they had agreed
to- that that had been SO long in hand.
so disputed inch by inch. and the sub
ieCt of so much alteration and de-
bate. that they were worried with the
contentious it had produced, and could
not, from mere lassitude have been
induced to open the instrument again.
bun that being pleased with the pre-
amble to mine, they adopted il In the
House by way of amendment to the
report of the committee. ana thus my
preamble became tackled to the work
Of George Mason"
X
In calling the attention of the House
10 the genesis of our Memorial day.
when. on April 20, $50, one year after
the close OF the Civil War. the women
Of Columbus. Miss. decorated with
flowers the graves of some 40 Federal
soldiers, as We'll as of the Confederate
dead. making no distinction, Repre-
sentative dohn f.. Rankin read to his
colleag the poem The Blue and
the Gray" by Francis Miles Finch.
whose sentiment was stirred by that
spectacle. lie described these verses
which We're first published in the At
lantic Monthly in September. 1867, as
mot excelled I'm the literature OF
America"
The inspiration OF this beautiful
poem based upon the action OF the
noble women of Columbus" said Mr.
Rankin. so impressed the American
people that it prompted the setting
aside vi one day in each year for the
purpose Of streWing flowers and other
wise decorating the graves OF those
who have gone before" The last two
stanzas of the poem are as follows.
Sadly. but not with upbraldiug
The generous deed was done
In the storm of the years that fading.
No Drawer battle was won.
Under the sod and the dew.
Waiting the Judgment day.
Under the blossoms the blue
ndtr the garidudS. the gray
No more shall the war cry sever.
Or the Winding rivers he red
TheA ban sd our augCr forever
When they laurel che graves OF oar dead ,
tei"r the 500 ana the dew.
Waiting the judgment daN
Love and tears for the blue
Tears and love for the gray.
X * X
That the United States Government
is the biggest business enterprise in
the world is emphasized by Repre-
sentative Guy L! Hardy of Colorado
newspaper publisher and sincere
friend of the National Capital, who
takes seriously and with pride his
duty in Congress as a guardian for
the Voreless residents of Washington
in carefully prepared pamphlet on
how the business of Uncle Sam is be-
ing conducted from the workshop in
Washington. which he is sending to
his constituents, back home.
This shows very painstaking study
of What the Federal Government
Costs. How the Money Is Raised
and Spent, "A story of Economical
and Efficient Administration, Showing
Federal Tax and National Debt Re
ductiou ITnDa ia IIele1 i'm History with