Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-07-20
IGt@GegsIMge
TWO SCENES IN INDEPENDENCE
HALL, PHILADELPHIA.

Nearly seventy-three years ago-a band of
| patriots were assembled in what was then
called Carpe. ,r's Hall, out now better known
as Independence Hall, in the city of Phila-
delphia. The oldest of the number verged
| on eighty, and the youngest was not thirty
years of age.
Thirteen colonies through their delegates
| were then in session-and for what purpose
To found a mighty nation and show to the
world what ''men determined to be Free
could accomplish. This assemblage was
composed OF no common materials. Men
were there-some tIllers of the soil, others
from the pulpit, and many from the w orkshop
and the profession of the law; men who had
everything to risk in what they undertook,
for if unsuccessful, treason was the crime,
and the gibbet the reward!
They were not laggards siuggards in
these days, for Congress met as early as eight
o'clock in the morning. John Hancock, the
President, took his seat regularly at the hour,
and after the roll call, business commenced.
1t was nine o'clock the morning of the
4th of July, 1776, when five men advanced
to the chair Of the President and submitted
report.
The very tall man is Thomas Jefferson, the
next person, who makes few remarks, and
every person inclIneS his ear to catch their
purpor,-in height not very tall or short, but
Inclined to corpulency, is John Adams; the
old man wlpIng his spectacies, is the great
philosopher and patriot, franklin; the tall
man with pleasant Puritanic face, is Rog-
er Sherman, of Connecticut, who was in ear
~ life a shoemaker; and the last member of
the coulmlttee-a hansome. arlStocratlc-ook-
ing gentleman, is Robert r. Livingston, af-
forwards Minister to France, and Chancellor
of New York.
These men make their report-it lis read
what is it The DECLARATION OF INDEPEN-
DENCE !-Separate from the mother country,
to be independent ?-"No! Mo-" some cry.
John Dickinson of Philadelphia, rises and
opposes the report of the committee. But
see! Jefferson touches Adams on the elbow,
and the latter at once takes the floor.
Iou can hear pin drop. Adams COM
mences speaking. Hark to the tones of his
voice. He grows more and more eloquent,
an intense silence prevails; all anxious
to hear every word that falls from the lips of
he.Massachusetts advocate. Deeply. do these
words fall upon attentive ears. AS Jefferson
said in long aitertlmes, John Adams In his
famous speech upon the Declaration, the
Colossus of Independence. He takes his
seat amid the murmur of applause-the vote
is called-and we are declared forever separ-
ate from. GREAT BRITAIN.
A few days ago a dead body was resting in
the same Hall. surrounded by ali the enblems
of mourning with which we honor the dis
tinguished dead. That remnant OF mortality
but short time before contained soul en-
bowed with patriotism, distinguished learn
and l,.-.aeesaA- lc,-a -cl1,.ztr.r.e-
This body rested on the spot where seven
ty-two years before, the father of the dead
advocated the cause of his country. The
thirteen States had grown to thirty, and a
mourner from each, stood beside the bier of
the son. Both had been Presidents of the
United States, and both died full of years and
honors, lamented by all. Who say that Re
p,l5hcs are u,agrateful2