Show 1 U. U S. S to Observe Birthday of Bill of Rights Rights' WASHINGTON While armies are engaged in the dea death th struggle to determine whether the democratic r I ideal or totalitarianism ultimately I Is to rule rille Europe and Asia the I American people are preparing to observe the anniversary of the I Magna Charta Chart l of their liberties the liberties the Bill of Rights The Office of Civilian Defense at atthe atthe atthe the request of Archibald MacLeish librarian of congress through its state and local defense councils throughout the land and with the collaboration of national state and local agencies will lead the nations nation's observance of Bill of Rights day dayon on December 15 As requested in ina a joint resolution of the senate and the house of representatives President President President dent Roosevelt's proclamation fixIng fixIng fixing fix fix- ing that day as the one on which the whole nation pays pas its respects to the the source source of Its liberties liberties gives gives the event special significance In schools throughout the United States there will be exhibits demonstrating demonstrating demonstrating demon demon- the participation of the school in the observance of the an an- Local celebrations are to tobe tobe tobe be under the auspices of the local I defense councils Js and will demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate demon demon- strate that the ceremonies in commemoration commemoration commemoration com com- of the Freedoms guaranteed guaranteed guaranteed guar guar- under the bill of rights could be achieved only in a free tree society society so so- The Library of Congress is I II preparing a syllabus telling of the I origin of the Bill of Rights defining the liberties it guarantees and conI contrasting contrasting con con- I the position of the American Ameri Amen I can people with those of the occupied occupied occupied pied countries which once were democracies as well as those in the totalitarian states Special Program Outlined Director F. F H. H LaGuardia of the theOffice theOffice theOffice Office of Civilian Defense has suggested suggested suggested sug sug- that each local defense council initiate formation of Information Information II mation committees to get the facts I about the total defense program to develop local interpretation of the facts to make them more meaningful meaning meaning- ful Cul to develop locally programs and campaigns important to defense de de- de- de tense and to provide speakers on defense subjects for local za In his statement requesting the collaboration of the Office of Civilian Defense and local defense councils Mr MacLeish said The precise event signalized by these ceremonies will be the ratification ratification ratification tion of the Bill of Rights by the State of Virginia whereby the assent of the necessary three-fourths three of the States was secured and whereby it became a part of the Constitution The Constitution written at the Federal convention in the summer I r 1 I i George Mason Iason the Father of the I Bill of Rights Living In hi his home Gunston Hall only five miles below I I the home of his friend George Washington Wash Wash- ington he wrote the Virginia Bill of Rights and was largely responsible for Cor the drafting of the national Billor Bill of or Rights I I of 1787 did not contain a specific declaration of individual rights In InI Inthe Inthe Inthe I the opinion of the delegates such a aI aI I declaration was unnecessary it would either reaffirm rights already existing existing or it would merely prohibit prohibit pro pro- I hibit the national government from fromI I interfering with them Nevertheless less when the draft was submitted for Cor adoption it was discovered that many shared the view of Mr Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jef Jef- ferson that a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth general gener gener- al alar or particular and what no just government should refuse or rest reston reston reston on inference Massachusetts Virginia Virginia Virginia Vir Vir- ginia New York and other states ratified the Constitution but with the recommendation that a 1 Bill of Rights be added This recommendation recommendation recommendation dation was accepted by the first congress in the form of 12 proposed amendments which were passed on September 25 1789 Of these 10 were declared ratified on December 15 1791 They relate to 1 the freedom of religion speech and the press 2 the right to establish state militia 3 the quartering of troops In private private private vate houses 4 the security of persons per per- sons Eons against unwarrantable sear searches hes and seizures 5 capital crime 6 criminal prosecutions 7 trial by jury in law common-law cases 8 6 bails fines and punishments 9 the relation of constitutional and natural rights and 10 the powers powers powers pow pow- ers reserved to the states They are today ingrained in our American natures |