Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-07-13

4NCAg . poAtl VI UAAeC AhSA Aoo Ao-h0u
upon them in the night, and Killed his
companions, together with the poor de-
fenceless prisoner who lay bound hand
and foot. unable either to escape or re-
sist.
The DECLARATION OF ISDEPENDEScE.
in the June number of Graham's
Magazine we ind the following descrip-
ton of the debate which preceded the
Declaration of Independence, the ankle
ty which obtained during its progress,
and the general JOY with which the
first stroke of the bell announcing the
passage of the Declaration, was receiv-
ed:
While events were thus passing around
New York, Congress, having assembled
in Philadelphia, were engaged in the
momentous question of a Declaration
of Independence. Many of the sepa-
rate provinces had already acted on the
subject. North Carolina took the first
step, and took a vote instructing her
delegate to concur with the other col
Onies in declaring independence. Mas
sachusetts followed. Virginia next
wheeled into the ranks, then Connecti-
cut and New Hampshire. Maryland op-
posed it; while the delegates from the
remaining provinces were instructed to
unite with the majority, or left free to
act as their judgement might dictate
Thus instructed, the representatives of
the people assembled in solemn conclaye
and long and. anxiously surveyed the
perilous ground on which they were
treading. To recede was now impossible
Ito go on seemed fraught with terrible
consequences. The struggle had not
been for independence, but for the secur-
ity of rights. in which they had the
sympathy and aid of some of the wisest
statesmen of England. To declare
themselves free, would cut them off
from all this sympathy, and provoke at
once the entire power of England
against them. The result of the long
and fearful conflict that must follow,
was more than doubtful. For twenty
days Congress was tossed on sea of
perplexity. At length, Richard Henry
Lee, shaking off the fetters that CALLED
his noble spirit-June 7th--arose, and
in clear, deliberate tone, every accent
of which, rung to the farthest extremi-
ty of the silent hall, read, Resolved.
that these United Colonies are, and
ought to be, free and independent
states, and all political connection be-
tween us and the states of Great Britain
is and ought to be totally dissolved
John Adams, in whose soul glowed the
burning future, seconded it IN a speech
so full of impassioned fervor, thrilling
eloquence, and prophetic power, that
Congress was carried away as by re-
sistless wave before it.
The die was cast, and every man was
now compelled to meet the dreadful
issue. Still weighed down with fear,
Congress directed the secretary to omit
in the journal, the names of the bold
mover and seconder of this resolution,
lest they should be selected as the spe-
cial objects of vengeance by Great Brit
ain. The resolution was made the spc-
cial question for the next day, but re-
manned untouched for three days, and
was finally deferred to the first Of July,
to allow committee appointed for that
purpose, to draft a declaration of inde-
pendence. When the day arrived, the
declaration was taken up and debated
article by article. The discussion con-
tinued for three days, and was charac-
terized by great excitement; at length
the various sections having been gone
through with, the next day, July 4th,
was appointed for final action. 1t was
soon known Throughout the city, and in
the morning, before Congress assembled,
the streets were filed with excited men,
some gathered in groups, engaged in
eager discussions, and others moving
towards the State House. AL business
was forgotten in the momentous crisis
the country had now reached. No
sooner had the members taken their
seats, than the multitude gathered in a
dense mass around the entrance. The
bellman mounted to the belfry, to be
ready to proclaim the joyful tidings of
freedom as soon as the final vote had
passed. A bright eyed boy was sta
toned below to give the signal. Around
that bell. brought from England, had
been cast more than twenty years be-
fore the prophetic sentence, proclaim
liberty throughout all the land unto all
the inhabitants thereof" Although its
loud clang had often sounded over the
city, the proclamation engraved on its
iron lip had never yet been spoken
aloud 1t was expected that the final
vote would be taken without delay, but
hour after hour wore on and no report
came from that mysterious hall, where
the fate of a continent was being settled.
The multitude grew impatient-the old
bell-man leaned over the railing, strain
ing his eyes downward till his heart mis-
gave him, and hope yielded to fear
But at length, at two O'Clock, the door
of the hall opened, and voice ex-
claimed, "It has passed" The word
Ieaped like lightaing from lip to lip, fol-
lowed by huzzas that shook the build
ing. The boy sentinel turned to the
belfry, clapped his hands and shouted
1o.-o,Iinr h,1ll-