The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-12-16

poWSitut lSeSOuibg Vi Auecc f-Ssd > ItuNSI'
ed them very popular. He urged the ex
pediehcy aud necessity OF declaration of
Independence, and (said the lecturer) the
author of Common Sepse is allowed 10 have
rendered important service TO this country
10 mpressipg The necessity of the measure
so powerfully and successfully upon the
minds of the People.
The first legislative movement wAs on
the 9Th of April, l776, IL the Legislature
of North Carolina, when that body recon
mended the consideration of the subject OF
independence 10 their delegates in Con
eress. About a month alter, the Leglsla.
ture Of Nlrglnia instructed their delegates
TO vote for declaration OF the Iudepen
deuce OF the colonies. To Virginia, there.
fore, may be given the honor Of having ia
ken the first decisive step; for, while the
Meckienburg resolutions were in fact de
clarallon Of independence, and the resoIu.
tious of the North Carolina Legislature re.
commended a consideration OF the subject,
the Virginia delegates were instructed dis
unctly 10 vote for such a measure as the
legally recognised representatives, Of that
colony.
No order was taken on the Virginia re
solutions in Congress Until Juue, when
Richard Henry Lee moved that Congress
do declars the colonies free aud ludepen
dent. The motion was discussed, but &c.
ton upon il postponed to await instructions
from the different colonies. ln the mean
time committee was appointed 10 draft a
declaration, Of which Mr.. Jefferson was
chairman. On the Sin and 10th June the
subject was again discussed. The argu.
ments brought up against the measure were
wholly on the ground of lnexpediency al
that time. They all agreed that such a
step must eventually be taken, but some
we're Of opinion that the whole People were
not prepared for ii-lhat some OF the colo
nIes might disagree with 1t, aud that &c
press II at once would result IL division ano
disaster. TIE friends OF immediate action
argued tina, declaration only stated q
tact-that, in itself considered, il was but &
mere torm-lhal II vas in vain to look lol
entire unanimi,y Of opinion or feeling upor
the SUBJECT, and that no foreign nauon oil
friendly terms with England would render
the colonies any assistance while they were
IN the attitude Of rebellion against thai
country, or until they had formally absoy
ed their allegiance TO her. The discuesiu Of
was not at all upon the merits Of the case
but merely as 10 the exped orcy Of decIa
ration at that time.
On the 2ssh Of jane, Dir. Jefferson re
ported his draugat, and on the Is, Of JulS
! the Virginia resolutions we're passed. =
About quarter part Of the origna
draugh, WIS stricken out, and as amended
Il vas passed by unanimous vote, witt
one exception, nr, John Dickinson, Of Pa
Singular enough, while Mr.. Dickinson haC
) perhaps contributed as much as any olhe,
man 10 the declaration, he declined voting
10: II, though he was ever afterwards
warm and eiiiclen, advocate Of the interest.
OF his country. On the ith Of July, l716
The colonies were solemuly declared free
and independent. The New York deIega
ton did not vote ~ the time, they being
4 without Instructions, as the Legislature
was not IN session. They signed the de.
clnration % the Is OF July, A portion
o! tie Pennsy lyania delegalou declined 20.
ting, probably because OF the course taken
BY Sir. Dickinson. The names OF Mr
Clinton end Livingston, Of The New Yort
delegation, do not appear on the declaa
ton, although the latter was on the CON
nt.tee which draughted ii. This arosc
from the fact OF their absence at that time
Mr.. Clinton being an officer Of the ar
my, and absent on duty, aud Mr.. Living
stun vas cali hotUe by business at iht
courts.
Among the paragraphs stricken gu
from the original draught was one ceusur
ing the Importation Of slaves, and rehecun.
upon the course Of the British Governmen
, ia thai particular. The paragraph wa
understood to be left out mainly through
the inAuence Of the delegates from Soutl
Carolina and Georgia,
! A:'eF tbs Declaration was signed, 4 CO
py was sent to each Of the Colonies, TO b.
read plbhcy 10 the People. The reading
vas generally accompanied with the ring
ing Of bells aud the firing Of cannon. Tn,
Continental Army was ihen ia New York
and Washington ordered the Declaration
10 be read on parade, where i, was receive,
with marked demonstrations Of appreciation
o. the % Of August the Declaration wa
engrossed 90 parchment and signed, whicl
IS the copy 10 the Department Of State, an,
from which the common fac SMILES ar
taken.
Ia concluding bis lecture, Of winch VI
have above gwen brief outline o. the pro
mlnen, points, Mr. Sparks said that IT seem
ed 10 BE- specially ordered BY proyldenc
that the Declaration should be made 10 ius
the npht lime. A few days after, the Bn
tish Commissioners arrived with offers O
reconciliation, and, had the measure beef
delayed, IT is impossible 70 tell what nigh
have been the result. When we consider
too, the series OF disasters which for lon;
time clouded our prospects, the thousand
Obstacles which presented themselves OF
every side, and the natural feelings which
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