Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-06-28

her name be added to that golden scroll on
which the recording angel notes down the
noble deeds of woman! !!
The Declaration Of independence.
We copy the following graphic account of
the passage Of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, from Headley's Life Of Washington,
svritteslss ffaaY e;kahanas -
Magazine
While events were thus passing around
New York, Congress, having assembled in
Philadelphia. were engaged in the moment
Gus question ofa Declaration ofIndependence.
Many of the seperate provinces had already
acted on the subject. North Carolina took
the first step, and passed vote instructing
her delegate to concur with the other colo
MES in declaring independence. Massa-
chusetts followed. Virginia next wheeled
into the ranks, then Connecticut and New
Hampshire. Maryland opposed it; while
the delegates from the remaining provinces
were instructed to unite with the majority,
or left free to act as their judgment might
dictate. Thusinstructed, the representatives
of the people assemble1in solemn conclave,
and long and anxiously surveyed the peril
Gus gro ind on which they were treading.-
To recede was now impossible-to 90 on
seemed fraught with terrible consequences.
The struggle had not been for independence,
but for the security of rights, in which they
had the sympathy and aldr 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 en-
tire power of England against them. The re-
suit of the long and fearful conflict that must
follow was more than doubtful. For twenty
days Congress was tossed on sea fperplex-
ity. 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 farth-
est extremity of the silent hall, read Re-
solved that these United Colonies are and
ought to be free and independent States, and
that all political connection between us and
the State Of Great Britain is and ought to
be totally dissolved John Adams, in
whose soul glowed the burning future, sec
onded it in a speech so full Of impassioned
fervor, thrilling eloquence and prophetic pow
Ell, that Congress was carried away as by a
resistless wave before it.
now compelled to meet tha 80. was
Still weighed down withRfear, Congress
directed the secretary to omit in the journal
the names of the bold mover and seconder
of this resolution, lest they should be selec-
; ted as the special objects of vengeance by
Great Britain. The resolution was made
:, the special question for next day, but re
: manned untouched for three days, and was
finally deferred to the first Of July, to allow
= = a committee appointed for that purpose t.
) : draft declaration Of ofindependence. Wher
. the day arrived, the declaration was taker
up and debated article by article. The dis
= " cussion continued for three days and wa
characterized by great excitement; at lengt
:. the various sections having been gon
y y through with, the next day, July 4th, wa
- appointed for final action. 1t was sool
- known throughout the city, and in tn
~ morning, before Congress assembled, th
. streets we're filed with excited men, som
;, gathered in groups engaged in eager di'
- - cussion, and others moving toward tn
- State House. All business Bas fofgotte
- in the momentous crisis the country ha
;" now reached No sooner had the member
:" taken their seats than the multitude gathe
'' ed in dense mass around the entrance =
- The old belman mountain to the belfry,
"0 be ready to proclaim the joyful tidings
:, freedom so soon as the final vote had passe
. A brightceyed boy was situated below
" give the signal-Around that bell, broug
'eS y from England, had been cast more tht
II twenty years before, the prophetic sentenc
r Proclaim Liberty throughout aILthe td1
Oh unto all Uheinhabitants thereof Athou;
- its loud clang had often sounded over t
ny city, the proclamation engraved on lis ir
'1e ~. lip had never yet been spoken aloud
0"' was expected that the final vote would
:, taken without any delay, but hour af
os y hour wore on and no report came from Il
Ell :, mysterious hall, where the fate of contint
~, 'n was being settled. The multitude gr
ne impatient-the old bell-mar leaned over
q: % railing, straining his eyes downward, till
us LIS heart misgave him ard hope yielded
;an un fear. But at length, at two o'clock, the d
'on' of the hall opened and voice exclaim
1t has passed. The word leaped
u !" lightning from lip to lip, followed by huz
'0.I that shook the building. The boy-senti
80 turned to the belfry, clapped his hands,
EN-, :, >, shouted Ring-ringp The despond
- bell-man, electrified into life by the jo.
5"lu news, seized the iron tongue and hurle
low backward and forward, with clang
started every heart in Philadelphia Ii
;.ao bugle blast. Clang-clang' it resoun
.aRe .aY on, ever higher and clearer and more JOY
'e,e ,ne blending in its deep and thrilling vbrati
was was and proclaiming in long and loud acc
!, rosr nel over all the land the glorious motto
"a" encircled it. Glad messengers caught
as tidings as it hoated outton the air and S
" - off in every direction, to bear it onward
'' When the news reached New York,
,,,r, bells were set ringing, and the exc
r .oo multitude surging hither and thither at lei
m re" around the Bowling Green. and seizing
- - g. leaden equestrian statue Of George III "
= tbo t stood there, tore it into fragments" v
+ and X This xas aftarrard rnn into h1llats