The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-04
,THEFoURTH OF JULY.
-SevmH:Ssyenth Anniversary Of American
independence.
THE CELEBRATION IN the METROPOLIS.
&C.. &C.. &c

&cs &C., 90.
We give below the few notices and prog.: g.:ammes
apf the public celebrations Of the Fourth Of Jnly
In this city wbiM are to take place today. We
also give list ofthe orators at some Of the cee-
brations in various parts Of the country. Had we
time and room for the selection we might greatly
extend this list Of orators We are inclined TO think,
however, that this great anniversary will be less
generally observed by public celebrations than
usual But there is no danger that the day and its
historical remembrances will ever be regarded with
apathy Py the American people. 1t was the opinion
OF John Adams, as expressed in the wellknown
letter which We now republish, that the day ought
to be soemnized from one end Of the continent to
the)other forever W.
JOHN ADAMS LETTER
PHILADELPHIA, July 5, 1776.
Yesterday the greatest question was decided
which was ever debated in America--and greater
perhaps never was or will he decided among men
N.Y. "That these United States are and of right ought
TO be, free and Independent States"
The day Is passed. The 4th Of July, 1776, will be
memorable epocha in the history of America.
am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding
generations as the great Anniversary Festival 1t
ought TO be commemoaed, as the day OF deiverance,
by solemn acts Of devotion TO Almighty God. It
ought to be solernnized with pomp, shows, games,
sports guns, bells, bonfres, and iluminations, fom
Sne ed Of the continentto the other from this time
forward ro,,.ver! You will think me transported
with enthusiasm . but am not. am well aware Of
the toll, and blood, and treasure thar i will cost to
maintain this declaration, and support and defend
these States; yet through all the gloom can see
the rays Of light and glory. can see that the end
ty win triumph, although you and may rue, which
f' W 'Al NV "5' JOHN TfS ADAMS.
II will be observed that Mr.. Adams, in the above
letter speaks of the Declaration of Independence as
Affecting the whole continent Of America, and it was
on his motion, in the Continental Congress, that the
troops raised for the defence of the colonies against
Great Britain were styled the Continental Army"
The bills Of credit issued by order Of Congress, also
1t will be recollected, were called Continental
Money" and the word "continental' was constantly
applied in the revolutionary Congress to subjects Of
national concern. The patriots Of the Revolution, in
declaring independence and fighting to sustain it,
believed that all the British colonies on this conti
nent, including the Canadas and Nova Scotia, would
unite eventually in the measure to form great and
Independent nation, and that the Spanish colonies
to the south and west Of u.s. north of the Isthmus
of Darien, would become part Of the republic when
wanted, and thus all North America would form
great and Independent continental confederacy
This idea appears clearly in the writings, not only Of
John Adams, but Of Gouverneur Morris, DR.. Timothy
Dwight, and other men of the Revolution, and Of
the poets of the time expresses the same sentiment
in an epilogue to Addison's Cato, adapted to the
American stage,
s'No pert up Utica contracts vour novara
But the whole bound.ess Contiuens il osrs."
The subject of independence was debated Tor coma
time in Congress before unanmity could be secured
for Its adoption by that body One year before the
declaration and even later the idea of independence
was dfavowed by leading men, and it was not gen
orally popular among the people when first discussed.
The necessity for the measure was, however, early
foreseen BY a few Of the most knowing ones, among
whom was DIR. Timothy Dwight, of Connecticut, but
In his writings he says he found few or none in l775
to countenance it. In Congress it was at length felt
that no diplomatic arrangements with foreign powers
could be made for assistance until independence was
declared, and thus national existence commenced
by the United States Independence Of Great Rritan
was first asserted at meeting of the people in Neck
.lenburg, North Carolina, in May, ITO, more than
one year before the declaration by Congress, and
soon after that time the question begun to be pub
hcly discussed throughout the country. AS we have
mentioned, the idea at first encountered strenuous
opposition, but in short time was everywhere
making rapid progress. The Pennsylvania, New
jersey and Maryland Colonial Assemblies instructed
their delegates in Congress to oppose independence
IN November, 1775, ard January 1776. But at this
time, the publication of the pamphlet called Com
mon Sense" by Thomas Paine, which had wide
circulation snrough the colonies, gave a powerful
impulse to the cause of independence. Paine was a
recent cmigrant from England, and editor of the
Pennsylvania Magas,ne. His celebrated pamphlet,
above referred to, written at the suggestion Of
DR.. Benjamin Rush, then young and ardent
patriot, of Philadelphia, argued in plain and con-
vincing style the folly of any longer attempting to
keep up the connection with Great Britain and the
absolute necessity Of final separation.
In April, 1776, the North Carolina Provincial Con-
yention authorized their delegates in Congress to
Join with the other colonies in declaring indepen-
dence The Assemblies Of Rhode Island and Con-
nectcut indicated similar inclinatons while in May,
1776 the delegates from Virginia were instructed by
the Convention Of the Coonyto propose in Congress
declaration of independence. At the annual election
in Massachusetts, the month"; instructions in IA
vor Of independence were voted by the people. In
Congress the subject introduced, June 7, l778,
by Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, in obedience to
the instructions of the Provincial Convention De-
bated the next day in Committee Of the Whole, the
resolution in favor of independence was sustained by
Lee and Wythe, OF Virginia. ana py john huams' vi
Massachusetts,. 1t was opposed by Dickinson
and Wilson, of Pennsylvania, Richard r. Living
ston, Of New York, and Edward Rutledge, OF
South Carolina, not as bad or improper in.
itself, but as premature OF this important
debate, which, like all the other proceedings Of the
Continental Congress- took place with closed doors
we possess only the merest outline. John Adams, in
1917, wrote thus to a friond-"0f all the speeches
made in Congress, from IVA to l777, inclusive Of
both years. not one sentence remains except few
periods Of DR.. Wthcrspoon, Of New Jersey, printed
In his works. l consider the true history Of the
American Revolution and the establishment Of oui
present constitution as lost forever And nothing