The Constitutional Centennial Commission was organized for the purpose of providing for the proper celebration of the first Centennial anniversary of the framing and promulgation of the Constitution of the United States. The Commission is composed of Commissioners appointed by the Governors of all the States, and was formally organized at Philadelphia upon the 2nd of December, 1886. The printed matter which I forward to you under a separate cover will sufficiently inform you of the character of the programme determined upon, and I can add that every indication of a brilliant success is now assured.
In the name of the Commission I write to ask you for your kind offices in the composition of a patriotic poem commemorative of the triumph of popular institutions and a century of federal constitutional government. We are well aware that the time is short, and that we are placing ourselves under peculiar obligations to you, but we appeal with confidence to your patriotism and will highly appreciate a favorable reply. Should you be unable to read in person loc.01308.004_large.jpg loc.01308.005_large.jpg your poem be kind enough to advise us so that it may be read with due order in the programme by a skillful elocutionist.2
I remain
Very truly your obedient servant, etc. Hampton L. Carson Sec. C. C. C. loc.01308.006_large.jpg loc.01308.001_large.jpg loc.01308.002_large.jpgCorrespondent:
Hampton L. Carson (1852–1929)
was a Pennsylvania lawyer and historian. He held numerous prominent positions
throughout his career, serving as Pennsylvania's Attorney General, as professor
of law at the University of Pennsylvania, and as the secretary of the
Constitutional Centennial Commission.