Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-05-05

: cate.
From the l77reGiryick 7'ozvl Herald.
Read, examine, and be at last convinced
that Mr.. Jefferson is not the author OF the
Declaration IF Iadependence.
To me it is not surprising, that Duane
and his followers, the petty printers OF pre-
sdent.al praise, should publish a ialsshood
and swear to it afaerWards--but confess 1t
is a matter of wonderful astonishmcnt, that
an assertion founded on falsehood, should
SO long have remained properly and fully
uncontradictcd, a, the one, that Mr. JEFF
ferson IS the author Of the Declafation OF
Independence especially as there are Sc
sveral gentlemen yet alive, who bore very
conspicuous part in the revolution, who are
now Justly entitled to their eountry's graft
tude, and who, from their continual practice
Of the true principles Of patriotism, cannot
be supposed friendly to MIR. Jefferson or
his pretensions. Yet | must acknowledge
that there have been several publications,
sufficiently illustrative to any unprecedented
person, which prove that Mr.. Jefferson IS
not the author. Here must dgrcss one
moment from the subject, 10 explain the
true meaning of the word AUTHOR, which,
BY the latest standard Of grammatical puri-
~, is defined 10 be the first beginner Or
mover Of any thing, the first writer oi any
thing" and have some coph lence, that IN
the course Of this essay, shall shew that
he IS neither-In order to arrive at the truth
II IS oftentlmes necessary to make careful
and diiigent search and enquiry, and for
this purpose, / shall SO as far back as the
commencement OF the revolutionary one
acquainted With the history of that revolu-
ton, and the causes which produced it,
must know. that the first exer.ions were d.
rected only 10 obtain q redress Of grieva.l-
ces, and the restoration Of the chartered
rights of the colonies, These obiectswer
alone pursued fof time, and ~llh lherat-
tainnls.t We should have been cQntentel,,
but happily Tor US, Grsat Bfi4a;n per1eyrr-
ing il her ptojecJs Of absolute subjectior.,
compelled Us 10 ADOPT mea8ures not at first
thought Of. The IDEA of inG pendrnce
arose from after circe instances. The ex-
clnsion of5tbe coionis 5 from the protection
o the crown, and the employment oi
large military and naval force aided by tner-
cenaries, decided at once the course Of our
conduct, and compelled Us to leclme cur
selves free and Independent nation. The
first hint find in the proceedings OF Con
gress, is in the resolution rePortcd 81 the
committee Of the whole, AK. passed May
10th, 1776, advising the colonies to adopt
governments. EItsars. John tlGains. Hut
ied8e, and Richard Henry Les, on the same
day were appointed d committee to prepare,
a preamble to the resolution, watch was
brought in and agreed to or the Is,!l OF the
same month, wherein are very clearly ex-
pressed the MOVES .cf The. resolution and
the notion or idea Of Independence fiIiy
declared. On the III jane, 1776, Richard
Henry Lee, seconded by John ADKINS,
moved the following resolution, VIZ. g That
these United Colonies are, and Of r:rht
ought to, Je, free and independent states,
that they are absolyed from all allegiance to
the British crown, and that all connection
between them and the state of Great Britain
is, and oaght to be, totally disso!ved.''--
Which was referred to committee Of the
whole house, who reported their agreement
on the 10Th Of the same month. This re-
solution was postponed for consideration by
the house, until the first Of July following,
and Messrs. Jefferson, John Adams, Franz
lin, Sherman, and Robert L. Livingston,
were appointed a committee to Bring in
Declaration in conformity thereto. On the
1st July Congress resolved themselves isno
a committee OF the whole, to take into con-
sidevatior the reported draft OF the Decla-
ration Of Independence, by the select com
mittee, and continued tosit, debate, and a
,,,enS - ,Ipti! the ~ e.y o,-e t,la FS0Ilfth ~