Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

How Benjamin FRANKLIN, "errone-
ously supposed by many to be an athe-
ist," called the attention Of the Con-
stituLional Convention TO the fact that
small progress had been made after
four or five weeks because I'VE have
not hitherto once thought OF humoly
applying to the Father Of Light to
illunir1e our understanding" Is pointed
out b. Representative James M Beck.
former solicitor general Of the United
States, in his standard work on 1.-THE
Constitution of the United States, Yes
terCay, Today and Tomorrow"
Mr.. Beck quotes Franklin as asking
his colleagues in the convention, do
we imagine that we no longer need His
assistance?" And Franklin pronounced
this conviction: THAT God governs in
the affairs of men. And II a sparrow
cannot fall to the ground without His
notice, is it probable that an empire
can rise without His add" Franklin
urged that "henceforth prayers implor-
ing the assistance Of Heaven, and its
blessings on our deliberations, he held
In this assembly every morning, before
we proceed to business"
An "impious" speech by Alexander
Hamilton Is also referred to by Mr..
Beck, on the authority Of Jonathan
Dayton, the youngest member of the
convention. He records that Hamilton
was confidently Of opinion that they
were competent to transact the bust
ness which had been intrusted to their
care-that they were equal TO every
exigency which might occur, and con-
cluded by saying, that therefore he did
not see the necessity Of calling in for
eign aid" Washington fixed his eye
on Hamilton with mixture of surprise
3d. fAM
impairment and tmpious speech.
81 y
Representative r. Walton Moore OF
Virginia, when his attention was directed
by Mr.. Beck to Thackeray's character
ization of Washington in THE Virgini-
ans" said he never hears the name OF
Thackeray mentioned without smiling ut
the recollection Of how that greatest OF
the Victorian noyelists, in writing Of the
Colonial era, is so far of on his geogra-
ply that. he places Williamsburg, Va.
and Mount Vernon SO close together
that the Colonial DANES rode over from
Williamsburg of an afternoon to take
tea at Mount Vernon. This couldn't be
done even in these days Of rapid tram
sit by motor cars.
- ~
Representative Moore, who Is q close
student Of Virginia history, and partic-
ularly well informed on the outStand-
ing characters of the Colonial and Rev
dictionary period, injected an obServa-
ton the other day of how haste t.
make q political appointment often
changes the whole history Of the coun'
try. He had particularly in mind tbs
appointment of John Marshall to be
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by
John Adams In the closing days OF his
administration. Mr.. Moore called at
tention that Spencer Roane, Q member
of the House of Delegates, who latel
became a Judge Of the General Court In
1887, was Q stanch adherent Of Jeffer-
son and slated to be appointed by JET
ferson as Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court had not Adams made haste tC
fill that once by appointment OF Mar
shall.
Representative Moore argues tina
Roane held the view that the Supreme
Court had no right to declare uncon-
Stitutional any act OF Congress and 81
the whole history Of the country might
have been changed had he been giyeE
the ONCE instead Of Marshall.
All the world over graduates o.
American agricultural colleges are II
demand according to specialists In tnt
United States Department Of Agr1cul'
ture who come into close contact WITT
representatives from the other nations
who are constantly on the lookout fol-
promising young men and women whC
have been technically trained in mod
ern, advanced, scientific agriculture II
the institutions throughout all the
States, q number of which are operated
with Federal subsidy. p
In this connection It Is recalled thai
former Representative Tincher Of Kan
sas called the attention of the Fedora
department to the fact that exclusive
of alumni in Alaska, 81 graduates Of
his home State college Of agriculture
are working outside of continental
United States, in Hawaii and the Phil
l Africa, the West Indies, Japan anc
Panama, in Serbia, France, Poland, Ru'
mania, Korea. Turkey. Brazil and Bel
GUM.
Jefferson Davis, president Of the Con-
federacy, one Of the most picturesque
heroes of American history, Is about te
be properly honored In Statuary Hal
at the Capitol, the where he sat Is Q
Representative when the hall was thu
House chamber. The Capitol dome Il
crowned with q statue of Freedom, the
design for which was selected by Davis
while Secretary Of War.
The statue Of Jefferson Davis has ar
lived and has been awaiting the peoes'
tai and formal unwilling ceremonies
which probably VIII be held during tn'
incoming session Of Congress.
AS a companion statue the state o!
Mississippi has sent to the Capitol 9
replica Of the late former Senator James
Zachariah George, who served IN thu
Senate from 1881 until his death tr
1897. In his earlier days he served
under Jefferson Davis in the Mississippi
Rifles, Of which Davis was colonel. He
himself was later brtgadier general 81
the State troops.
JEFFERSON Davis was q graduate Of the
United States Military Academy at Wesi
Point in 1928 and served In the Black
Hawk War, He resigned from Congress
to command the Mississippi Ridemen II
the war with Mexico, was with Gen
Taylor In the three days siege of Mon
terey, where he greatly distinguished
himself as he did later at Buena Vista
He served as Secretary Of War By
appointment of President Pierce from
1883 to 1887, and later served In the
Senate for four years until he withdrew
after explaining his purpose to aid the
Confederate cause. Of which he served
as President for six years. He was cap
tured by Union troops In IrwinsviIle
Ca, May 10, 1866: imprisoned two years
in Fortress Monroe, and indicted fol-
treason. May 8, 1865, but a nolle
proSsequi was ordered by the Federal
Government In December, 1858. He
spent the last years Of his life in writing
many articles which are of great value
to historical research students.