Evening star., 1952-09-17
By Edword Boykin

By Edward Boykin
TT WAS SEPTEMBER II, 1887, 165
years ago today. The Great Work
Fathers realize its greatness. The 4
page document, freshly engrossed on
parchment, lay on the desk in front Of
George Washington, President Of the
Convention. 1t lacked only the sigma
lures of the 80 immortals. who at the
moment had no dream they were COM
mitting themselves to Immortality.
First to take up the quill and sign his
name was George Washington without
whose towering influence there would
have been no Constitution. Next, after
him, came John Langdon of New Hamp-
shire, who could of course not look be-
yond the veil and see that, for all his
qualms, his State would give the ninth
ratification needed to establish the Con-
stitution as the supreme law Of the land.
One by one. in the traditional order Of
the States from North to South, the
deputies came forward to Washington's
desk and signed the document whose
virtues and lasting qualities they
doubted almost to a man. There is no
record that, after the custom Of today,
anyone sought the goose quill with which
the Constitution was signed as q Souve-
mir of tremendous event in American
history Not one Of the signers believed
they had hammered out an enduring
plan of government. Most of them felt
quite otherwise.
Asked Nathaniel Gorham, deputy from
Massachusetts. Can it be supposed that
this vast country will $50 years hence
remain one nation?" If we can believe
Abraham Baldwin, delegate from
Georgia, even George Washington him
self did not expect the Constitution
would exist more than 20 years."
Nor did banter and humor now so
freely as when the Declaration OF In
dependence was signed in this same
chamber in the State House at Phila-
delphia IL years before. AS, far as we
know single sally enlivened the occasion
and even that fell fiat. It came from the
aged yet irrepressible BENJAMIN Frank
lin. In tactful appeal to the delegates
to sign the Constitution Franklin asked
each man present to doubt his own IN
fallibility and sign for the common good.
He then related the story OF the French
lady, who, if quarrel with her sister,
said. "I don't know how it happens. sis
ter, but meet with nobody except my
self that's always in the right.
In the House wing Of the Capitol there
is a massive painting by Howard Chand-
Ter Christy, supposedly depicting this
mighty scene, 1.-The Signing of the Con-
stitution." Artistically, this canvas is
superb: historically, it is too fashy. too
posed. There is no record that WASH
ington stood over his desk, as shown IN
the painting, poised like race morse
waiting for the crack Of the starters
whip. There is, however, well-founoeo
tradition that while the deputies came
forward to sign the Constitution WASH
ington sat for long moments with his
head bowed as if in prayer
The convention had assembled IN May.
Fifty-fiye deputies, representing IL OF
the 13 States, had showed up. Only 4!
were faithful to the end. OF the IA
who went home disguised and convinced
the convention would get nowhere one
was a future Chief Justice of the United
States. Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut.
This handful of earnest men, "the col
lective wisdom of the continent" had
met to revise and strengthen the weak,
worn out Articles of Confederation.
Without hesitation they had resolved to
scrap the old plan of government and to
create a new one In so doing, though
they knew it not, they had in four months
brought dorth a document destined to
become one of the most potent written
instruments in all the world.
Shaping a strict seal Of secrecy on
their proceedings and setting q Gordon OF
armed sentries around the State House
they went to work with will. Now they
were done. The greatest talkathon In
all history ended on Saturday evening.
September IS. 1887, towards z o'clock.
The candles were lighted wlfen the con-
ventiofl voted unanimous mo" on
Edmund Randolph's motion for second
convention. Then came the last parlia-
mentary move, the actual adoption OF the
Constitution. The indefatigable James
Madison jotted it down with amazing
brevity in these momentous words, ION
the question to agree to the Constitution.
all the States, aye" Today that seems
as simple as ABC. but that little AYE"
carried the mightiest meaning in the
worlds history.
AS the weary delegates filed out Of the
State House-they had been at 1t for
hours without recess or food-word
sped through Philadelphia that Consti-
tuition had been agreed on.
Over Sunday a penman, sometimes
identified as Jacob Shallus. was found.
who engrossed the final text on four
sheets of parchment. It cost $50 to have
this done. How well it was done you may
Judge for yourself by looking at these
same four sheets. still quite undimmed.
in the shrine in the Library Of Congress.
On Monday morning. September II.
1887, the convention met for the last
time. The engrosSed document was read
to the delegates and then laid on WASH
ington's desk Rumor had it that many
delegates. fearful of political repercus-
sions at home. would refuse to indorse
the document.
Franklin spoke first. Teo infirm to
stand and speak for himself his speech
was read by his colleague. James Wilson
of Pennsylvania. There were. admitted
Franklin, parts Of the Constitution of
which he did not approve. but II con-
sent. Sir. to this Constitution because ]