Evening star., 1937-06-07
.L|BRARYD|SPLA
ON CONSTITUTION
SesquicentenniaI Marked by
Showing of Records and
Documents.

In celebrat ton of the sesquicen-
tennial Of the adoption Of the Con-
I stitution. the Library Of Congress has
! placed on exhibition some of the
richest treasures OF its manuscript
division--the documents, correspond
! ence and formal records OF the Con-
gtitutional Convention.
The display fills q series Of large
cases on the north side OF the second
or gallery floor of the Library build
Ing. 1t Is arranged in sequential
order, so 1t Is possible for 1t to be in
Spected as "a historical event in the
making"
Both the New Jersey and Virginia
plans for the Federal union OF States
are exemplihed. William Paterson S
notes for the former, including the
provision that the powers Of legisla-
ton be vested in Congress" are
shown. Also, David Brearley's copies
OF the original draft containing the
resolution Resolved, that Federal
judiciary be established to consist
Of supreme tribunal" etc.
The New Jersey proposal was sup
ported, caption cards explain, by
Connecticut, Delaware, New York in
the person Of Alexander Hamilton and
Maryland in the person OF Luther
Martin.
Randolph's Notes Shown.
Edmund Randolph's notes for his
speech OF May 20, 1887, and Brearley's S
manuscript copy of the Virginia plan
appear nearby. The next item ex-
hibited is George Washington's draft
Of the foundation upon which the
Constitution was built"-l5 resolu-
tions for "a national government"
The more remote background OF
the Federal charter is manifest in the
journal OF the Constitutional Con-
gress, February 81. 1887, in which
Congress declared the convention to
be expedent "a clear constitutional
sanction, also, in the Report of the
Annapolis Convention, September IA.
1786-"the immediate forerunner OF
the Federal Convention
OF particular interest are the Book
OF Yeas and Nays recording the votes
Of the Philadelphia meeting, includ.
Ing, in the handwriting of Maj. Will
liam Jackson, the statement: The
Constitution unanimously agreed to-,
and the Journals Of the Convention
and Of the Committee OF the Whole
House.
The debt OF the Nation OF Jane.
Madison Is demonstrated by the dis.
play OF his Notes Of Confederacies'
and his Vices of the Political Sys.
EN- of the United States" represent.
ng his historical researches in prep.
ration for the convention-"the la.
>or Of months" His Debates" II
wo volumes-"a more important
burce Of information than all the
other authorities put together"-like.
wise are included in the exhibition
A footnote says: "A frail man, hi.
self appointed task cas- historian OF
the convention) nearly killed him"
Franklin Favored Compromise.
Benjamin Franklin's speech on rep.
5esentation. June II, 1897, pleading
for good temper good sense and COM
promise" and George Mason's unde-
ivered speech on the Idea of a single
executive person" are on show in one
OF the cases With them are Frank
Inns speech moving for prayers,
William Paterson's Notes OF De-
bates" Alexander Hamilton's Notes, y
Edmund Randolph's letter of March
IL, 1887, begging George Washington
to attend the Philadelphia gathering
and George Washingtons Diary,
May 25, 1877, in an open page Of
which appears the words: Il was called
b. the chair by unanimous vote"
The exhibition also includes: Diego
de Gardoqui's letter to Washington