Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-28

Of Mr.. Rodney had decided the wavering OPT.
MON Of Delaware, and by reason Of the alb
sence of the members from the Pennsylvania
delee ation. who considered the declaration, at
that time, premature, the majority Of the mem.
bers of that colony were in favor Of the mea.
sure. The resolution was reported from the
committee Of the whole TO the Congress, and
agreed to on the I'd Of July: not having time
TO 90 through the whole Declaration, the fur
,her consideration Of that instrument was post.
poned TO the Sd. On that day the subject was
again debated, and for the same reason further
referred 10 the same committee. On The 4th,
the committee reported that they had agreed
TO that declaration, whose authorship is we.1
known, which was by order of Congress pass.
ed, to be engrossed, and signed by the members
of that body. No signatures were affixed 70
the instrument on the 4th of July. Indeed, the
late hour at which it passed, and the length of
time which would be consumed by the Clerk
in preparing copy so fair as is that original,
still preserved in the archives Of the union
improbable. IL is well known that il was sign
ed by many at different times, long subsequent
to the period of its adoption Mr.. Carroll,
now the ouly survivor Of the 6fty.fve subscrib.
ers, was absent on mission to the Catholics
of Lower Canada, who, it was hoped, might b.
brought over 10 the cause Of revolution. He
returned twenty one days after the promulga.
ZION, and then placed his name among those Of
his fellow patriots Messrs. Rush, Clymer,
Smith, Taylor and Ross Of Pennsylvania, and
Mr.. Thornton of n. II. were not members at
the time The FIVE first took their seats the
goth Of July, and Mr.. Thornton presented his
credentials on the 4th Of November Of the same
year. Mr. Read OF Delaware, was opposed TO
the declaration at the lime offts adoption
In the printed public Journal Of Congress,
Vol. II. page 232, the names OF the gentlemen
above mentioned are inserted, while those Of
Thomas Mexican Of Delaware, and Henry
Wisner of New York, are omitted as subscri.
bers, although both were present in Congress
on the 4th July, and gave their votes for the
declaration. The former gentleman, MIR. Nc
Kean, was actively and zealously engaged in
the contest, and on the occasion we have men
toned, sem, al his own expense, an express to
Mr.. Rodney, residing at the distance Of eighty
miles, who arrived in the morning of the 4th,
in season. to give the unanimous votes of the
colonies, by deciding in the affirmative on the
division in the delegation OF Delaware.
The explanation of the incorrect admissions
and omissions above mentioned, is given by
Mexican himself. in an interesting letter to the
late President Adams, bearing date January
1914, on which, and on the Journal we have re.
lied, as authorities for the facts we have stated.
After the declaration was voted, it was engros-
sed and signed by those then present. few
days after, resolution was entered on the Sc.
cret and yet unpublished Journals, that no per-
son should have seat in Congress during that
year, until his name was inscribed. MIR. Nc
Kean, after the 4ih July, left Philadelphia, and
marched in the command of regiment Of vo-
lunteers, TO the support Of General Washing
ton. Returning at the expiration of several
months, his name was signed to the original
parchment, and has been transcribed in the en-
graved copies, since made, of this document.
1t has been recently stated that the final vote
was taken in Congress, on the declaration be-
tween the hours OF twelve and one, and that it
was publicly proclaimed at FIVE o'clock on the
same afternoon. Mr. Jefferson, therefore, it is
asserted, had lived a half century from the a.
doption, and the years Of Mr.. Adams were fl.
ty after the PRONUNCIATION Of the document which
pledged life, fortune and honor, on the altar Of
liberty. .Egis.