The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-03-14
FOURTH OF July, l776!

rWe cemmend to both old and young
|lhe following string portraiturc Of the
scene which took place in the Hall al
Philadelphia, on the 4th of July, l776.
Thcre is silence in this haIl---tVeFy
voice is liushed-.-every face is stamped
with deep and awful responsibility.
Why turns every eye to that door
why is it so terribly still?
The committee of three, who have
been out allnight planning a parch-
Incnt, are about to appear.
That parchment, with the signature
oflhese men, writtenwlth the pen lying
On wonder table, will either make the
world free....or stretch these Upon the
riBbit yonder i'll Potter's field, or nail
these heads to the door posts Of these
halls!
That was d time for solemn faces
nd deep silence.
At last, lark! The door opens----
he committee appear! Who are these
hreg hien Who come walking on to
ohn Hancock's chair?
The tall man, with the sharp fea-
fes' the bold brow, and sand-hued
air, LoIdiug The PARCHMENT in
Is hand, is the Virginia Farmer,
noMAs JEFFERSON. That stout
aiItnian, witIi resoIute look aud spark.
ng eye! That is Boston mm; one
OnN ADAMS. And the calm faced
an, with hair dropping in thick curIs
his shoulders .-tllat man, dressed in
plain coat, and such odious home.
ado blue stockings----that NAH is the
hilabelphia Printer, one BE>JAMIN
RANKLISN.
rhethree advance to the table. The
.Nchmcnt is LAID there. StdIl it be
gned or not?
Then enSues a high debate, tibet
the faint hearted cringe In corners
bile Thomas Jefferson speaks out
IS few bold words, and John Adam;
DurS out his whole soul.
Then the soft toned voice OF Charles
AtToll is heard undulatingin sylable'
deep music.
But still there is doubt.--and tha
le-iaced man shrinking in one cor
7 squcOkS out something about axes
afold and GIBBET::
"GIBpET !" echoes a fierce, tolc
DlCe, that startled men from theil
ais land look yonder! A tall, sIen
! man rises, dressed, although it i,
INNER time, in a faded red cloak
pok how his white hand unduIate,
It is stretched slowly out; how tha
TX eye burns, while his words rims
rough the hall.
GlRBet! They may stretch ou
cks on all the Glbbets in tn,
ld.--they may turn every rock into
caHold every tree into gallows--'
eFy home into a grave and yet the
IdS o. that parchment can neve
Ihey may pour blood on a thou
lu sseeanolds, and yet from every droI
tdyest'S.e axe, OF drops on the saw
totthe block, new lncrtvT to Free
VIII spring inio birth ! 5
the British King may blot out liz
oi God from His sky, but he can
olot ont His words written OIL III,
chment there. The work Of Coo
perIsh-HiS word /! never!
lneSe words will go forth to tht
fla when our bones are dust. TX
save IN bondage they will speal
PES 70 the Mechanic in his work
p FREEDOM; to the coward king;
y words shall speak, but not |:
= OF iiatteryl They will speat
ule flaming syllables on Belshaz
wall; "1Ee days Of yOur prid,
etory are numbcredl The dan,
aagn'ent drGw near I
y lhat parchment will speak L
Alngs IN a language sad and terri
= 'lie trlumphs Of the Archaneel
nave trampled on the rights o
Y ,Alnd long enough At last III,
y q human woe has pierced III,
y God, and called his Judgment.
Youhave waded on 10 throne,
4 Seas g Of blood, you have trampIec
y power over the necks Of mil
= yen have turned the poor mani