The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-29
rnE DEcLAsArIos OF rvprprsnrSo.

THE DEFAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE
From nie Salem Register, Jaiy7.
What gave peculiar novelty to the per
| formapces IN the meeting house, on Frida,
last, was the novel, interesting and candle
remarks OF the venerable Col. PIcKERiyG
preparatory to the reading Of the declara
tion Of Independence. The colonel com
menced by stating that he had acccded t,
the call of his fellow citizens to read III,
declaration OF independence, in order thai
he might lay before them some interesiin,
information on the subject, in his posses
sion. He first commented on the proprie
ty of anniversary celebrations, and tteil
early origin with the feast of The passover
| observed by the Jews, in commentator
of the delivery of their offspring from thai
destruction which overwh lined the chill
dren OF their opprcssors tie then gave a
concise statement of the motives which led
10 that declaration, and the measures that
were taken first to avert its necessity and
next, tn prepare for its hearty adoption and
support. That petitions aud reihonstran-
ces, were exhausted, without producing
any suspension of the determinations of the
arbitrary councils of England, TO " bind US
in all cases, whatsoever, without our con-
sent fhat these, though unavall'nE at
St. James, had their effect at home: That
then the public mind was gradually pre-
pared for this declsive measure, and foreign
auXllanes sought. That no foreign state
was willing TO aid us, unless with the view
to lessen the power of Great Britain, and
that therefore every step short of ind open
dence, would have precluded foreign as
sistance. The colonel then proceeded to
give an account of the manner IN which
this subject was introduced into congress :
He stated that there was no man living,
ableto give so good an account of it as the
venerable john Adams that he had writ
ten tn him in the last OF August on the sub
Jet, and he now gave the facts obtained
from'hifn. The motion which produced the
declaration, was made on the 10th June,
l776, by Richard Henry Lee, from Virgin
IN, the largest of The Thirteen United Colo
MES, who Was authorised TO make ii by the
votes OF his constituents, the assembly of
Virginia. Dir. Adams seconded The mo
tien, Massachusetts being al that time the
second state. The colonel here alluded to
carrying through this measure. lie obser-
we'd of him, that he possessed that bold
and daring spirit" without which no revo-
luton could be successfully accomplished.
A committee of five was appointed on the
subject, consisting of Mr.. Jefferson, Mr.. a
dams, Or. Franklin, MIR. Sherman, DIR. Ii
kingston. Mr.. Jefferson, though the youn-
Sest ON the committee, was chairman, he
having one vote more than Mr. Adams
That Mr.. Jefferson had come into congress
win great reputation az wriier--ana
although silent member oil that hody' yer
he was most useful on committees, ana
iehcltons IN his writines. mat VT Au"t''S
h"d made use OF every exerflon 10 procure
voices Tor Mr.. jefferson, aud IN oruer 10
place him at the head OF the committee
me committee met ana apP"'i'eo Hr
Jeiefsnn anu BIT ADAMS SUD con, 'iiil'e''
ihat Mr. Jefferson ulgeo NJ haa'hs W
Wfite the declaration, ana nf. Adams u'-
geo Mr. >. 10 DO II; mat MI 'ehe' sou d,
i,st consented ana 't't next u"y su'.i'' sunni,
the Original ntai'' az IL was Prese'',e" !"
congress iha' 'ir. ADAMS tlio"sn' ~
only ohtee'ion",he part oi II was 'ha' u,
"n,ch ueo'se ,'s n''u was D 'u 80" -
Thar ne considered 'hai as 100 PeIson"'
w. and that h. was deceived and misled
by his cabinet He did not. however
site any objection to Mr.. J. as il was after
wards 70 br suhmitted 10 the whole com
mittee. and the feelings and temper of the
peonle were fully up to the tone of the dc
c,ara,;on That he thought some of tn,
most beautiful passage. were afterwards
strickeo out by congress, particularly tina
in winch it was enumerated as one OF til,
evils ofo colonial state, that the pa,lia