Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-05

A. remarkable exhibition Of historical
documents showing evolution of the
Declaration Of Independence was opened
to public view today at the Library OF
Congress.
Grouped in a case adjoining the
shrine OF the original declaration itself,
the papers show. among other things.
that the declaration was signed not on
July 4, rs many persons suppose, but
on August 2 or later; and how the i'm
strument had its origin in George
Masons Bill of Rights, Thomas Jeffer-
sons preamble to the virginia eonsti-
tuition and Richard Henry Lees motion
for independence in the Continental
Congress, June Z, 1875.
There are eleven documents in the
display all but one of them being
brought together from other collections
already in thes Congressional Library.
The exception is the original first fair"
copy of Jefferson's plan for Virginia
constitution, just received at the library
from William z. Benjamin of New
York, authority on American historical
manuscripts and founder of the library's
William E. Benjamin Chair of Ameri-
can History.
1t was Mr.. Benjamin'S suggestion
that the library make q special group
ing of the related manuscripts so as
to show the path of independence from
the old Virginia Convention to the Con-
tinental Congress in Philadelphia.
This is what visitors to the library
will have the opportunity of seeing:
/. Instructions from the Virginia
Convention to the Virginia delegates in
the Continental Congress. May IS, l776:
| AS result of the deliberations of the
committee of the whole, the convention
voted unanimously to instruct the Vir-
| ginia delegates in the Continental
Congress, then sitting in Philadelphia,
to propose that the Congress declare
the United Colonies free and indie
pendent states. absolved from all alle-
| glance to or dependence upon the
crown or parliament of Great Britain. -
The convention further resolved that a
| committee be appointed to prepare 4
| eminent for the State.
Thomas Nelson, jr.. member OF the
convention, Immediately set out for
| Philadelphia with these resolves. He
arrived In that city and the resolves
were read in Congress May ~, 1776.
| Thomas Jefferson, one of the Virginia
| delegates, at once set himself to the
| task of devising a plan of government,
or constitution, for his native State.
2. The Virginia Bill Of Rights-George
Mason was appointed by the conven-
ton a member of the committee just
mentioned and drafted the Bill OF
Declaration of Rights, which was SUBJ
mitted to the convention on May a.
| the very day on which the instructions
| mo. II were read to the Congress In
| Philadelphia. The manuscript shown
Is the earliest known draft and Is in
the handwriting Of George Mason and
| Thomas Ludwell Lee. A copy OF THU
draft, also in Mason's handwriting, Is
! in the Virginia State Library. 1t was
from the first three propositions in THU
jefferson drew the important funda-
meptals of the Declaration of hide
| pendence.
8. First publication of the Virgins
Bill of RightS-The Virginia Gazette
published in Williamsburg June
| printed Mason's Declaration Of Rights
as submitted to the convention. 1t wat
| through this publication that Thomas
jefferson, then in Philadelphia, OBJ
tanned his first knowledge of George
Mason's ideas.
4. Thomas Jefferson's FIRST ideas for
constitution of Virginia-As a pre-
amble TO his plan of government for
, Virginia, Jefferson felt the need OF
stating the reasons for abruptly sever
ing all political relations between his
native State and Great Britain. In
fulfilling this need, and thereby justi-
flying the momentouS step, Jefferson
presented reasons in a formulation OF
charges against King George III. These
charges are the first presentation OF
the indictments later incorporated in
the Declaration of independence.
5. The first fair" copy by Jefferson
- l.. -. - r..
until it was fairly satisfactory Jeffer-
son next made a fair copy, from the
rough, Of the FIRST ideas" The manu-
script shown is the original of this
fair" copy, but the form did not COM
pletely satisfy Jefferson, as may be seen
by his later alterations.