Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-05-20
The Declaration of Independence.

In his autobiography, John Adams gives
tho following account OF the circumstances
which led TO the se,ec ton Of Jefferson to
draw the Declaration Of Independence:
The committee of independence were
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, ben]am,n
Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert N.
Iivincs,on. Mr.. Jfferson had been now
about wear member of Congress, but had
attended TO his duty in the House avery small
mart of the time, and when there had never
snoken in public. During the whole time 1
sat with him in Congress, never heara MN
utter three sentences together. IL WIN nat
urally be inquired how it happened tnat ne
was appointed on committee OF such i'hPo'-
tance. There are more reasons than one
Mr.. Jeffer son had the reputation OF "asrv' 1,.
~ men. he had been chosen delegate IN VIZ
cinia in consequence OF very handsome pup
lie nauer which he had written for the House
of Burgcsscs, which had given him the char-
,c,er of fine writer. Another reason was,
that Mr.. Richard Henry Lee was not beloved
bv tho most of his colleagues from virginia,
and Mr.. Jefferson was set up to rivai ana
supplant him. This could be done only oy
the pen. for Mr. Jefferson could STAND no
competition with him, or any one else, III
elocution and public debate.
Here will interrupt the narration for
moment. to observe that, from all nave iead
of the history of Greece and Rome, England
and France. and all have observed at nome
and abroad, eloquence in public assemblies
! il not the surest road to fame or preiermeht'
! at lenst unless il be used with caution, very
rarely. and with great reserve. Inc cXam-
nles of Washington; Franklin, and Jefferson,
are enough 10 show that silence ana reserve
in nublic are more efficaclous than argumen'
,a,ion or oratory. A public speaker VINO
inserts himself, or is urged by others, into
tho conduct of affairs, by daily exertion 10
iustifv his measures and answer the op]ec-
ition of oppoents, makes himself too famillar
with the public, and unavo'dably makes
himself enemies. Few persons can pear 10
he outdone in reasoning, or defamation, or
satire, and all these things are very apt 10
grow out of public debate. In TINS way IN
n course of years. a nation becomes iuii OF
mans enemies. or at least Of such as have
been called in some controversy, and take
secret pleasure in assisting to humoie ana
nortify him. So much for this disgression.
We will now return to our memories.
The committee had several meetings, In
,, which were proposed the articles OF when
the Declaration was TO consist, and minutes
mad, of them. The committee then appoln-
ted Mr.. Jefferson and me to draw them up
in form. and clothe them in proper dress'
Tb. subcommittee met and considered the
minutes. making such observations on them
: no then occurred, when Mr.. Jefferson de-.
sired me to take them to my lodging ana
make the draught. This Declined auo
: r,ve several reasons for declining, lst.-
That he was Virginian, and a Massaehu'
ssttensian Cd. That ho was southern
man. and northern one. 3D.. That mao
been 80 obnoxious for my early ana constant
zeal in promoting the measure that every
+, draft of mine would undergo more severe
scrutiny and criticism in Congress than one
Of his composition. 4th, And lastly, and that
would be reason enough if there were nc
I other. had great opinion of the elegance
of his pen, and mono at all of my own.
therefore insisted that no hesitation shouio
be made on his paN. He accordingly TOOK
the minutes. and in a day or two produceo
10 me his draft. Whether made or sug
pested any correction, remember not. Inc
report was made to the committee OF hve' oy
them examined, but whether altered or cor
rec,ed in anything | cannot recollect. bu'
in substance at least, it was reported 70
Congress. where, after severe critlcism
and striking out several the most orator
: ical paragraphs, was adopted on the fourth o'
: july, l776 and published to the world