The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-07-26
SCENES ~ rrEn oosxESEsrAs CONGRESS.

.
SCENES ~ TEE coHxESEsrAE CONGRESS.
sIGNING TIE DECLARATION.
The following is an intensely thrilling des
scription Of the debate in tho Continental Con-
gress at Philadelphia, which preceded the De-
caraon of Independence, the anxiety which
obtained during lis progress. and the general
Joy with which the first stroke of the bell an
nouncing the passage Of the Declaration. was
received:
While events were thus passing around
New fork, Congress, having assembled in
Philadep pilia, were engaged in the momentouS
question Of a Declaration Of independence.
Many of the separate provinces had already
acted on the subject. North Carolina took
the first step, and took a vote instructng her
delegate 70 concur with the other colonies in
declaring Independence. Massachusetts, fol
lowed Virginia next wheeled in,o tic ranks.
then Connecticut and New Hamphire. Mary
land opposed Il, while the delegates from the
remaining provinces were instructed to unite
with the majority, or lcf: free to act as their
Judgment might dictate Thus instructed,
the representatives of tie people assembled
in solemn conclaye, and long and anxiously
surveyed the perlous ground on which they
were treadng. To receic was now impossl-
ble--to 60 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 aid Of
some Of the wiSest statesmen OF England
To declare themselves free. would cut them
Oft from all this sympathy, and provoke at once
the entire power Of England against them
The result Of the fearful conflict that must fol
L. ~, 4 f,,I
days Congress was tossed on sea Of perplex
ity At length, RICHARD HESRY LEE. shal-
ing off the letters that CALLED his noble spiri:
June tth--arose, aud in q clear, deliberate
tone. every accent Of which rung 10 the farth
est extremity Of the silent hall, read, 'Resolv
ed, that these United Colonies are, and ought
10 be. free and independent States, and all po-
litical connection between us and tie States of
Great Britain is. and ought 10 be totally dis
solved" JoHS ADAMS. in whose soul glowed
the burning future, seconded j, in speech So
full Of mpasSienel fervor. thrilling eloquence
and prophetic power. that Congress was car
ned away Ms by resistless wave before it.
The die was cast snd 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
ot the bold mover and seconGcr cf this reso-
luton, les. they should be selected as the spe-
eal objects of vengeance by Great Britain
The resolution was made the special question
for tie next dav bat remained untouched for
three days, and was finally deferred To the first
OF July, to allow 4 committee appointed for
that purpose. 10 drAr, Declaration Of Inle-
pendeRce, When the day arrived. the De
e!aratlon was taken up and debated article by
article. The discussion continued for three
Gays, and was characterized by great excite
ment: ~ length the various sections having
been gone through with. the next dav. July
4th was appointed for final acIion Il 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 eavor discus
Sons, and o.hers moving towards the State
blouse. All business was forgotten in the
momenioas crisis tie country hal now reach
ed NJ sooner haa The members taken their
seats, than the multitude gathered in n dense
mass around the entrance. The b4uu,an
mounted the beltrv. to be ready 10 proclsin,
the joyful sidinrs ot freedom a< soon as tbs
6osi vote hal passed A b1ight-eved b.,
WAS Stationed below Is give tile signal
Aroanl that bell brought from England. ha,
been east. more than twenty years before, II
prophetic sentence: .Procl-im liberty through
out all the land unto MI the Inhabitants there
o. Although its loud clang had oftei
sounded over The city. the proclamation en-
gFaved on its iron lip hat never vet beer
spoken aloud, Ii was expected that the fna
Na'e wenid be taken without delay. but hour
aitef hour wore on and no report came from tha
mysterious hall. where the fate Of continen
Was being settled The multitude grew in,
Psleat-the old bellman leaned over TIE -ai1;r~
straininy his eyes downward III! his heart n,is
gave him, and hope yielded so fear. Bnt q
-nsth. AZ 2 o'clock the door Of the han Oman
81, and voice exclaimed. 1T has psssedp
Ahe words leaped ike lightning from lip ts