The Wadsworth-Garrett Amendment - Address by Senator James W. Wadsworth, Jr. - January 17th, 1925

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aria

“The Wadsworth-Garrett Amendment” presents a presidential-style address by Senator James W. Wadsworth, Jr., delivered at the Women’s National Republican Club in New York on January 17th, 1925. The speech argues that political institutions rest on the principle that power belongs to the people and that constitutional change should reflect the people’s judgment. It situates the amendment discussion in relation to the Constitution’s origins and the adoption of the Bill of Rights, then frames the need to consider proposed changes in a restless modern era.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time17 min

AccessFree to download

Restrictions on Use

Technical Microform Data

97-84062-10Wadsworth,JamesWolcott The Wadsworth-Garrettamendment [New York] [1925] # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD | 308
Wadsworth,Janes wolcott,1877-1952.
Z
Boz 175
The Vadsworth-Garrott anendment;address by
Senator James W.Wadsworth,jr.at the Women's
nationnl republican club .Y..January 17th
1925.[New York,Women's National Republican Club,1925
1l p.23 cm。
oNLy Eh | | --- | | | ## RESTRICTIONS ON USE: Reproductions may not be made without permisslon trom Columbia Universlty Libraries # TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: 35mmREDUCTION RATIO: 10:/ IMAGE PLACEMENT:IA IB IIIB INITIALS: B DATE FILMED: 4-2-97 23217 ## TRACKING\#: FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. BIBLIOGRAPHIC IRREGULARITIES MAIN ENTRY:Wadsworth,James Wolcott ………… …… --- - ----- - --- -- * The Wadsworth-Garrett amendment ……… -- - *- ---- - Bibliographic Irregularities in the Original Document: List all volumes and pages affected;include name of institution if filming borrowed text. Page(s)missing/not available:_ Volume(s)missing/not available:_ IIlegible and/or damaged page(s): Page(s)or volume(s)misnumbered:_ Bound out of sequence: Page(s)or volume(s)filmed from copy borrowed from: Xunpaginated -[11]pages | __ | __Othe | | --- | --- | | | | r:_______ Inserted material:_ 328 1×n5 THE WADSWORTH-GARRETT AMENDMENT Address by SENATOR JAMES w.WADSWORTH,JR. At the Women's National Republican Club,6 East 37th St.,N.Y. January 17th,1925. 8 525091925 I am very glad indeed to have the opportunity to come here and talkover one or two matters which I am sure you will agree with me areof sufficient importance to demand our attention.I think you will notcharge me with being too old-fashioned when I declare my devotionto the Constitution of the United States,nor will you insist that it is notworth while to give some consideration to its future development. I assume we are all agreed that our political institutions are foundedupon the premise that all power belongs to the people and that whenthe people set up a Governnient and confer power upon it and prescribethe form of that Government the people do not thereby surrender theiropportunity to pass upon all suggestions for extending or restrictingthat power or of changing the form of Government under which theyhave elected to live.I think that is a basic principle upon which wecan all agree. That principle was accepted at the time the Constitution of theUnited States was submitted to the thirteen original states,for as youwill recollect,when the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia hadfinished its labors and had drawn up the instrument for presentationto the States they presented it with the request that the people of eachState elect delegates to a convention for the purpose of considering theproposed Constitution,the people themselves to vote directly for thedelegates_who would compose the conventions. So I think I am not violating our conception of the origin ofConstitutions and of Governments when I contend that the people whocreate a Government are the only agency which should be consulted,when it comes to changing the form of that Government or any ofthe basic principles upon which it is founded. Since the adoption of the original Constitution there have beennineteen amendments proposed and adopted.The first ten amend-ments are generally known collectively as the Billof RightsTheyhave to d

FAQs

What foundational principle does the speaker emphasize about political power and constitutional change?

The speaker emphasizes that political institutions are founded on the premise that all power belongs to the people, and that the people should retain the opportunity to judge suggestions for extending or restricting power or changing government forms.

How does the address connect the Constitution’s origin to the role of the people?

The address argues that when the Constitutional Convention prepared the instrument for the states, the people voted directly for delegates to conventions, making the people the proper agency to be consulted when altering government forms or core principles.

Why does the speech discuss the Bill of Rights in this context?

It presents the Bill of Rights as closely tied to the Constitution’s initial framework, explaining that the first ten amendments were added immediately to guard liberties and prevent abuses in exercising power.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aria