The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-06-28

FfNm Tue FouhFyY
sfTHE PuRER DAYS OF OUR NATIONAL EXIST.
ENrF.n

ssTHE PuRER DAYS OF OUR NATIONAL EXIST.
ENCE."
One Of the prQesed articles in The know-nothing plat
form Is passionate attachment the history of our eoun-
try but that the members OF the know-nothng organiz
ton either amenaby ignorant Of the history Of she
para days of our national existence or wekedy bent
upon peryerag H. has been made apparent enough to sat-
isfy all intelligent minds We still fear that mummcry
rather than intelligence Is the capital which the leaders Of
the secret order consider most available COR future opera
TONS There is ray Of hope however In the declaration
of the national council Of desire cultivate aud develop
admiration for the pnrer days of national exist
ence and of vencraton for The herosm that procpiad
our revolution This declaration ynriant from all the
prior course Of theorder may be dodge--a new
cheat devised by Of their grand saehems for high
sounding purposes. Yet it APPLY expresses the real
Of those Of whom the order is chief composed that
inclined to treat il, for the time least AZ a ser-
acknowledgment Of their ignorance add desire Tor In
structon, We shall, therefore, continue charitable
mnisra,ons her benefit by occasional references 10
the history of the revolutionary epoch and the herosm
that precpated that glorious event II the lessons of the
herols and OF the purer days OF national existence
shall be found 10 be in unmsakable opposition to the
hehenish distinctions and prescriptions which know
nothingsm has introduced into American politics much
the worse for the order
In Congress on the ls Of July lTTG when the vote
taken in Committee Of the Whole upon the resolution dec
tive or the Of her delegates present on that day.
four voted against the resolution and three In favor OF it
The latter Benjamin Franklin, John Morton the I'm
mediate descendant Of Swede, aud James Wilson, born
in Scotland and who would be called in the slang Of
the know-nothings foreigner. We proud, however
that the 4th OF Juy The vote Of Pennsy yaa
corded in favor Of the Declaration Of independence Frank
lin, Morton, and Wilson voting for it, Willing and hum
phreys against II and their colleagues ahsentpg therA-
selves The Of Wilson cast the other way would have
changed the position OF Pennsylvania that important
point Of time but be among the earliest and stapne
est friends Of Independence Afterwards one Of the
trainers Of the constitution of the United States and sub
sequeny, when Washington appointed ths torsgny as
judge Of the Supreme Court he rendered valuable ser
vices to bis adopted country.
Pennsylvania had been misrepresencd BY maiory Of
her delegates 10 the Continental Congress upon the great
question OF independence The convention assembled on
the 18th Of Julyt eleven days after the vote had be
iaGenand that convention composed Of the flower Of
Pennsylvania patriotism and Intelligence On The goth
they elected benjamin Franklin George Rose George ely.
Iaer Robert Morris James Wilson, John Morton Benjamin
Rush, James Smith, and George Taylor delegates to
Serve in the Continental Congress- in which body they
took their seats The convention resolved In favor Of in
dependence and in selecting delegates Congress they
made choice OF such only known be The fast
friends Of the and Of the country whose denies
were involved In t. OF the delegates thus selected 81 that
eace and o dispay The "herossn that precipatcd
revoutionP Robest Morris born IN Etgtaad James
Smith and George Taylor in Ireland Thus, with James
Wilson four Of the gners Of the Declarations OF ndepeud
enee on the part of Pennsy Of foreign birth
They were sound republicans however and 1mai-
cans--fonr men whom America had just reason 10 bs
proud Of and whose will shine brilliantly in the
galaxy Of her patriots when the sacems OF knoBnoh-
iagism shall have passed into everlasting oblivion.
The Declaration Of Independence was signed the ID
" August lI7d by al the members thea present aud BY
vho members AZ the time Of lbs adoption
Among the latter were Messrs Ross Smith, Clymcr and
Taylor who had been elected haze stated n DE
place Of Mcssrs Dckenscn, Willing iIunphfeys Bddle
and Aka, who had opposed H.
Pennsy yanians win end it peculiarly refreshing 10 these
days o. stupid bigoty and prescription occasionally 70
breathe little Of the atmosphere Of ahe pure days Of
our national existence The malaria Of know-nohingsm
cannot live ia il for day.