Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-08-22
rRUMBtLL COUNTY, oHro, WEDNESDAY
.SIGNEas OF THE DECLARATI0N OF
INDEPENDENCE.

1t would be difficult TO lind more
striking picture of true moral sublimity,
than that presented in the Declaration of
independence of the North American
Colonies, with the ffty-six appended
signatures. Never before did human
mind and hand give to the world doc
ument pro lucing such results upon the
physical, civil, intellectual, and religious
world. Immediately prior to the date
of this instrument, Bejamin Franklin had
been exerting to their utmost his unri
vailed diplomatic talents 10 allay chose
feelings OF animo,ity-which subsisted be-
tween Great Britain and the infant colo
nies-- mutual animosity, Occasioned by
the former toward the latter. Notwith
standing Franklin 5 righteous cause was
SO ably and eloquently advocated by
Il ose two far. sighted British peers, CHIT
ham and Camden, parliament was mex
orable, unyielding. Franklin's unsuccess-
fuI embassy was closed, and he directed
his course homeward. arriving in Phila- |
delphia in May I775; he found that
/ hos ilities had broken out between the
colonists and the British forces. 1t was
in the spring of 1776 that the leading
l statesman of America resolved to close
this unhappy contest by an absolute and
final severance of the colonies from the
mother country-the colonies shall be
placed under an independent government.
Nc sooner than had this been determin-
ed, thau the following members of Con
gIess are appointed a committee to draft
Il Declaration of Independence, viz JEFF
ferson, Adams. Franklin, Sherman and
Livings on. This committee was ap-
pointed under the 70 lowing resolutions {:
" Resolved, That these United Colonies
are, and of right ought to be, free and
-Indep pendent States that all political
connection between them and Great Bri
tam is, and OF right ought to be totally
dissolved" Some discussi was had
thereon and when the vote come TO be
taken Tor lis adOplien, Pennsylvania and
South Carolina we've against it. Della
waIe was divided, and New York did
not vote on account of some infolmality
in the instructions of her delegates. But
by the the final decisive vote was to be
taken, the delegates from all the colonies
had either received fresh intelligence, or
more clear and distinct instructions, so
that there were at least concurrence of
all the col )nies and on the 4th of July,
1776, all the members present, with one
exception, immortalized their names by
appending them to this now most re.
nowned of all political documents.
We hav, seen that a committee of five
Were appointed 10 draft this paper ; but
lis actual execution was by the nervous
and energetic zen of that man of present
intellect and unparalleled acumen ;
Thomas jefferson. After the author has
listened with some degree of impatience
to the criticism offered by his colleagues,
and submitted TO few not very material
alterations, the instrument is adopted
substantially as first presented.
We need not here quote, in whole OF
in part, the production now before US for
on each return of the "Glorious Fourth u
We all listen with rapt attention to its lib
erty breathing sentiment, its soul-stir
ring strains, its spirit thrilling language
Lea ing the document, allow us few
woIds about the intrepid men who sign
ed it, while English cannon were boom
ing in their ears, British steel glittering
before their eyes. and Jack Kertch'.
rope dangling over their heads.
If we count the names before US, We
shall find then fifty six in number. FIJI,
ty Sir! The number is significant =
Some one has said of it, :" The creates
fiftysix the world ever saw-all Europ,
could not lift it." Foremost of thi:
grand galaxy, is the firm, undaunted
and massive signature of "John Han
cock" Some wiSea res would have IL.
believe that character may be read BY
an inspection of Handwriting Perhaps
tbs would be no difficult task if, as il
the instance now before us, there wer,
circumstances sufficient to compel til,
writer ''to throw his whole soul on tn,
point of his pen" That such was tn
case on the occasion here brought Il
view, is sufficiently evinced by the ora
Iemark which Immediately succeeded
this bold act. 1t is well known histor
ical TACT, that in consequence of his reso
lutte and unceasing efforts to rouse ,h
cOlOniSts TO war against British tyranny
John Hancock had SO much incurred tn
resentment of the home government
that a reward of one thousand pound
had been offered for his apprehension
1t was in allusion to this, when, havin
in such mammoth characters affixed hi
name to the Declaration, he threw dow
his pen with the remark "There
4 Johnny Bull can read that without spec
tacles let him double his rewarI-.I de
t fly him p His grateful country is, an
2 ever will be proud of him.
{ Farther along the list we meet wit