The constitutional revision requires a moral and intelligent elite circle

(Part II of a series on “The Right Constitution”)

Do not be surprised to see such young senators, congressmen and mayors qualify as candidates at the minimum age of 35, and 25, because the 1987 Philippine Constitution Section 3, Article VI provides for this. You may also be outraged as well that these positions of high accountability to the public merely demand that these candidates “be able to read and write Filipino, English or any local dialect.” Our society has always demanded that professionals have a college degree, more so since the work of these elective government officials involves legislation. Therefore, they must be well acquainted with our Constitution. A glaring example is the lengthy debate on the constitutionality of the RH bill or the Reproductive Health law which had to be elevated to the Supreme Court for its decision.

Jefferson’s career as

a civil servant was unique

As schools open throughout the Philippines, three countries celebrate their independence successively. The Philippines on June 12, the United States of America on July 4, and France on July 14.

One of America’s Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, was according to editor Lawrence A. Cremin, a devoted 18th century philosopher and statesman, who perceived the crucial role education plays in a free society. In 1816, Jefferson wrote to his friend Du Pont de Nemours, “Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppression of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of the day” (Classics in Education: Thomas Jefferson, Columbia Univ., N.Y.).

The influence Thomas Jefferson wields upon American tradition and education can be explained by the man’s genius interest and childhood upbringing. Jefferson’s career as a public servant was unequaled: Member for Albermarle County of the Virginia legislature (colonial and state), delegate to the Continental Congress, Governor of Virginia, Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice-President and President for two terms. This was followed by nearly two decades as an elder statesman, from whom Europe and America sought advice, opinions, and support.

Jefferson’s lifelong love

for books helped American civilization in its infancy

The imprint he left upon America, a civilization in its infancy. As the Marquis de Chastellux wrote in 1782, “It seemed as if from his youth he had placed his mind, as he had done his house (Monticello, “little mountain”) on an elevated situation, from which he might contemplate the universe.” His Monticello Estate is stamped on the 5 cent nickel coin of America.

Jefferson’s lifelong love of books was evidenced by the three separate libraries he built. He started with a collection of 42 volumes that Peter Jefferson, his father left when he died. Thomas then aged 14 recalled, “My father’s education had been quite neglected; but being of a strong mind, sound judgment and eager for information, he read much… he was chosen by Joshua Fry, professor of Math in William and Mary College, to run the boundary-line between Virginia and North Carolina…” Indeed, Peter Jefferson was well-known surveyor and map maker, part of Virginia’s gentry and friend of the Indians. (Fawn M. Brodie, Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History).

Remarkable family upbringing

Like all responsible fathers, Peter Jefferson taught his son “to sit his horses, fire his gun, boldly stem the Rivanna when the river would swell…” Having read Addison, Swift, Pope and Shakespeare, he wished the best for his children so that as early as five years, Tom, the oldest, was given a tutor and later on his brother and sisters. Sensing the rich intellectual promise in his son, he let him inherit his “mulatto fellow (servant), Sawney, my books, mathematical instruments and my cherry tree desk and book case.”

Although he had a strong widowed mother, Jefferson acted as titular heir of the family until the age of 21, when he inherited the 2,300 acre family plantation, Shadwell and 30 slaves. He provided for the education of the younger sisters and meticulously noted details in his accounting books.

Jefferson’s writing skills

and book collection helped

establish the Library of Congress

His skill and artistry with the written word resulted in a carefully filed collection of 26,000 letters at Monticello, his plantation. Julian Boydes estimates some 50,000 letters he wrote to his tutors, intellectuals and loved ones both at home and abroad.

When Shadwell was destroyed by fire in 1770, he replaced this library collection. After the British burned Washington in 1815, Jefferson’s private library of 6,000 volumes, twice the size of the lost government collection, became the nucleus of the National Library of Congress. A third library was laboriously collected for the University of Virginia which he founded close to Monticello.

Jefferson’s boundless interest and talents was unmatched by any of his contemporaries, except for Benjamin Franklin. As vice president, he carried a box of mastodon bones to present to the American Philosophical Society, of which he was president (a post he held for 20 years); He played a miniature fiddle which he designed for use on his travels, noting that “Music is the passion of my soul.” He stood transfixed before the Maison Caree at Nimes, marveling its beauty and recommending it as the model for the new capitol of Washington D.C.

Jefferson’s god was

the God of ‘Enlightenment’

Jefferson’s god was the God of “the Enlightenment,” the master mind, the Creator, Natural and human history were unquestionable demonstrations of God’s infinite wisdom. Social progress was but the inevitable working out of the divine plan, set in motion at Creation by this holy author of Nature.

“All men are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, and among these rights are…liberty…” When in 1769 he demanded of the Virginia assembly the right to free his own slaves, he was actually seeking a sovereign right. The fight to free a black slave was bound with the right to be free of the tyranny of the British king. Most Virginians adhered to the legality of enslaving blacks in all of the 13 colonies.

The number of delinquent clients of lawyers in 1773 Virginia was extensive. Few paid in cash, and fewer paid at all. Jefferson and five other lawyers, including Patrick Henry, announced that they would give no opinion on any case unless “the whole fee” was paid; nor would they “prosecute or defend any Suit or Motion unless the Tax and one half of the Fee were advanced, except for gratis cases.” Jefferson had 941 cases in seven years, but the law was never his passion. He abandoned it cheerfully for politics and the revolution.

It is astonishing that Jefferson became a revolutionary at all. He was a young aristocrat, the master of over a hundred slaves, and the owner of thousands of acres. He was adored by an amiable and deferential wife and yet he chose to risk hanging, even if the revolution held no promise for him.

Jefferson wrote the July 4, 1776

US Declaration of Independence

at age 33

The US Declaration of Independence, adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776, and skillfully penned by Thomas Jefferson states “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

The Declaration was written by Jefferson at the age of 33, an artistry in words, a consummate expression of the philosophy of politics and morality and a thrilling call to arms.

(Email: precious.soliven@yahoo.com)