Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-07-10

brilliant and overpowerirg oratorial effort,
saying that the brave patriot-orator spoke
right on, and that the torrent of his man.
ly reasoning carried conviction along with
it. Mr.. Webster, in giving what we may
suppose (and what many persons after
wards did really suppese) to be a portion
of Mr. Adams speech, concluded as fol-
lows: "Sink or swim, live or die, survive
or perish, l am for the Declartion Liv-
ing. it is my living sentiment, and, by the
blessing of God, it shall be my dying sem
neutrality-suspicious. NOW. and Indepen-
dence FoREyER!"
We mentioned above that the declara-
tion did not pass without opposition. The
facts, as stated by Judge MKean and quo
ted by Watson, are in substance these: On
the lst of Jdly, the question Of Indepen-
dence was taken in committee Of the whole
when the whole seven representatives Of
Pennsylvania voted against it, and Della
ware, which had but two members present
divided. Caesar Rodney, who had been
sent for by express, soon after arrived, and
voted for independence On the 4th Of
July, five representatives from Pennsylva
MIA the two who before voted against it
being ABSENT gave their votes three TO
two.
Noperson actually signed the Declara
ton on the 4th of July. Mr. Kead, whose
name appears among the signers, was on
that day actually against it; and Morris,
Rush, Clymer, Smith, Taylor and Ross,
whose names also appear, not being ap-
pointed delegates by the State Convention
until the Goth Of July. The Declaration
was only ordered to be engrossed on parch
ment on the 4th, and it was not until many
days after, that all the names were affixed
AS a measure TO prevent the presence of
/ spies and informers, a secret resolution is
said to have been adopted by the House,
that no member of the first year should
hold his seat unless he signed the Dcclar-
ton.
The Declaration was first publicly read
on the 9th of July, (in the presence Of
many thousand spectators) from the plat
form of "Tbe Observatory by Capt
Hopkins of the Navy. This observatory
had been previously erected by Rittcnhouse
for the purpose Of enabling him to observe
the transit of Venus. 1t was about twenty
feet high, and from twelve to fifteen square;
and was situated from fifty to sixty feet
south Of the State House, and from fifteen
to twenty west of the main walk. Capt.
H. who read the Declaration, was at the
time commander of an armed brig. part
of his fathers squadron of three vessels.
Previous to the erection of the State
House, the ground towards Chestnut street
was more elevated than it is al the present
time, and was covered with whortleberry
bushes. On the line of Walnut street the
ground was lower, and built upon with a
few small houses, which were purchased
and demolished, for the purpose Of enlarg-
ing and beautifying the State House Square.
The yard at first was only about half is
present depth from Chestnut street. 1t was
irregular on its surface, and no attention
was paid to its appearance. On the Sixth
street side, fifteen to twenty feet from the
then brick wall, rested long shed. which
was the common shelter for parties of In
dians occasionally visiting the city on busi-
ness. Among such party, the late Thom-
as Bradford saw, about the year 1857, the
celebrated old King Hendrick, not long
before he joined Sir William Johnson at
Lake George, and was there killed. This
shed afterwards became an artillery range
having its gate on Chestnut street. In 1860
the other half square, fronting on Walnut
street, was purchased. After pulling down
the houses there, the whole space was pro-
tected by high brick wall; and at the CEN
ter of the Walnut street wall was ponder
GUS high gate, and a massive brick struct-
ure over the top of it, (placed there by
Joseph Fox, which was heavy but orna-
mental. Opposite this gate. on the south
side of Walnut street, was large space of
vacant ground About 1884, the father Of
the late John Vaughan improved and taste
fully adorned the yard. by profusely plant
ing great variety of trees and shrubbery.
Thus improved. it became place of gen
eral resort as delightful Promenade
Windsor settees and garden chairs were
placed in appropriate places. After time,
however, this elegant promenade became
lounging place for loafers and tipplers by
day, and rendezvous for profigate persons
by night. This resulted in its desertion,
by the better portion of society, in spite of
efforts made to restore its lost credit, bv
the removal Of the seats ard the attempted
d;snersion of loafinu lounnare 7, l,,on