Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-02

ton, Henry Wisner, William Floyd, Francis Lewis,
and John Alsop, as appears by a letter Of that
date to the Provincial Congress, asking for nstruc
tons on the question Of Independence. Neither
Philip Livingston nor Lewis motifs were present
on that day Yet their names are found on the
Declaration Of the 4th, while those OF Clinton and
Wisner and Alsop are not found there.
As the New York delegates had no authority to
vote on the question Of independence on the 4th
of July, they were not authorized TO sign the Dec
laration on that day On the 10th, however, when
the new instructions were received, they had full
authority to do so and on the I'd of August such
of the delegation as were in the Congress sub
scribed their names, to wit, William Floyd, Fran
els Lewis, and Philip Livingston, the latter of
whom took his seat In the Congress on the 9th or
9th of July; having, on his representing to the
Provincial Congress ON the 26th Of June that his
attendance at the Continental Congress was neces
sary, received permission 10 leave the Convention
| after the goth.
| Lewis Morris probably signed in September. On
the 26th of August and on the Sd of December he
| was in his seat in the New York Convention. In
September and October he was in the Continental
Congress.
| OF those who were present on the 4th of July
and who did not sign the Declaration, II is suff-
Gent to say, that when the New York delegates
received authority to sign It, and before the order
for the signing of it by the members, George Gin
ton, like John Dickinson, had joined the army,
and was in command in the Highlands; and Henry
Wisner and Robert r. Livingston were in their
seats In the New York Convention. John Alsop,
as already stated, resigned.
| Samuel Chase and Charles Carroll were neither
Of them in Congress on the 4th of July both were
ON that day in the Maryland Convention, then in
session at Annapolis. They were in Congress by
the middle of the month, and signed with the other
| members on the I'd of August, as directed by the
resolution of the 10th Of JIly.
And it was under this order Of the 10th Of July,
| that the Declaration be signed by every member
! Of the Congress" that Mr.. Thornton subscribed
| bis name as late as November.
| The signing by the members was discontinued
at the close Of the year l776. On the 18th of JAN
uary, TIT, the Congress-
Ordered, That authenticated copy of the
| Declaration of Independence, with the names of
the members Of Congress signing the same, be
sent to each of the United States and that they be
| desired to have the same put on record.
In compliance with this order, it was printed
| with the names of the subscribing members, and,
authenticated by the autograph signatures of John
Hancock, President, and Charles Thomson, Sec
retary was semitic the several States for record.
One signature only, that of Thomas M'Kean, was
afterwards added to the Declaration Of Independ-
! ence.
So much for Lord Mahon's History" of the
Declaration Of Independence. II he has not vim
dicated the honor" of England, he has endeavor-
ed, with apersevering earnestness of purpose, to
throw discredit on the principles and the men OF
the opposite cause" In his efforts to accomplish
| this, (which with him appears to be labor Of
love,) his pen guided not by the honest histo-
rian, but by the less scrupulous partisan, with
whom the truth of history is at best but second
airy consideration. What excuse can be offered
for him9 While a few of his variations from the
truth may be attributed to an imperfect knowledge
of the American side of the question, there are
others for which no such excuse-nor any excuse
can be admitted. 1t might be considered great
discourtesy to say that some of these variations
are wfu, and intentional, and studied; and yet it
is difficult for the ingenuity of courtesy to find for
them milder and at the same time strictly appro-
pirate epithets.