Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-07-01
From the Nep York Observer.
The Declaration of Independence.

From the Neao York Observer.
The Declaration of Independence.
Many popular impressions concerning "th'
Declaration of Independence" are derived from
fourth Of July orations and pictures, both o
which are as apt to mislead as does the picture
of 1.-THE First Prayer in Congress-" Nine out o
ten suppose that somewhere about noon on the
fourth of July, 1776, Congress passed the vote
affirming the Colonies Independent, and that the
old bell-ringer in the steeple of the State House
receiving the intelligence of this event, was seiz
ed with sudden enthusiasm to swing the ole
bell to ring out the news to the people in such 6
loud joyous manner as put the quiet citizens o.
Philadelphia in wonderful excitement. Then
there was the signing Of the Declaration, we
have picture of that too, which teaches US
how the representatives of the Colonies WED
with each other IN putting their names to the
immortal instrument so that before night the
famous parchment, the original paper, which
now is seen in the Patent Office, was engrossed
and signed as we now have it!
A few facts CLEANED from various sources viii
be interesting as rectifying these impressions a.
bout this famous transaction-this crisis in hu'
man affairs On the 10th of June, 1776, Mr.
Harrison, of Virginia, reported o resolution, part
of which is said to have been literal transcript
of the instruction given by the Convention o
Virginia to their representatives in Congress
and which was moved on the 7th of June ir
Congress by Richard Henry Lee. Mr.. Harrison's
resolution embodying Mr.. Lees is in these words
"Resolved, That the consideration of the first
resolution be postponed to Monday, the first day
of July next and in the meanwhile that no time
be lost, in case the Congress agree thereto, thai
Committee be appointed to prepare declara,
ton to the effect of the said first resolution,
which is in these words: That these United
States are, and of right ought to be free, and in
dependent States that they are absolved from
all allegiance to the British Crown and thai
all political connexion between them and the
State of Great Britain is, and ought to be- total
ly dissolved ,"
This resolution was adopted.
On the 18th of June, Thomas Jefferson, John
Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and
R. R. Livingston, were appointed Committee
to draft the Declaration Richard Henry Lee
as the original mover of the resolution for de.
claring the Colonies independent would have
been named as chairman of the committee, but
unfortunately for himself, he received intelli'
gence of sickness in his family, which made it
necessary for him to be absent before tnat Com
mittee was appointed. Jefferson had the repu-
tation of being a brilliant writer, and succeeded
to the place ofhonor. The elder Adams, in his
autobiography, says that he saw and read the
original draft of the declaration, and he speaks
in terms of rapturous admiration of it, VI was
delighted with its high tone, and the flights OF
oratory with which it abounded, especially that
concerning negro slavery" &c. He further says
of the Committee. intimating that Jefferson's
paper had not been read by all the members,
1--WE were all in haste. Congress was impatient,
and the instrument was reported, as l believe,
in Jeffersons handwriting"
On the 2Sth of June the Committee reported
the original declaration, which was read for the
first time in Congress. On the 1st OF July, TINS
declaration was again read and discussed in
Committee of the Whole. 1t was carried in the
Committee by vote of the States, Pennsylvania
and South Carolina voting against it.. John
Adams says, that in the discussion OF July lst
Dickinson, OF Pennsylvania, opposed the declara,
ton, sin speech of great length.
He conducted the debate not only with grea
ingenuity and eloquence, but with equal polite
ness and candor, and was answered in the same
spirit" -,
Dickinson, brother of Gen. Philemon Dick
nson, of New Jersey, an officer whom wash
ngton frequently mentions with honor, was
strong debater, and sincere patriot, acknowl
edging the grievances complained OF, but lack
ing that stern and heroic spirit that animated
such men as Adams, Witherspoon, and Lee
Hence he shrank from an open rupture Will
Great Britain,as certain to end not only in great
er evils to the country, but to individuals prom
inent in the rebellion. In this feeling two othe
representatives from Pennsylvania shared. Blu
of this more in another place.
Dickinson's speech produced profound i'm
preston, and this is not to be wondered OF, whel
we consider the nature of the contest which j
was the object of that speech to show. JohI
Adams, one of the most fluent and powerful
speakers, answered Dickinson, and it cannot b.
too much regretted that not scrap OF tha
speech remains, except perhaps the tradition ou
of which Mr.. Webster made one Of his mos
splendid paragraphs. 1t was on the 1st OF Jul.
that the newly elected delegates from N. Jersey
of whom DR.. Witherspoon was one, took thei
seats, and voted solid vote for the declaration
The next day, July Cd, the paper was agai
read and subjected to severe process, whic
sfted out some expressions, sorre phrases, ant
some paragraphs. Some were thought too dis
respectful towards the English people, some to
hostile to the king personally, and some wer
too condemnatory Indirectly OF the institution
of slavery. During this eliminating process
jefferson was greatly excited, at times shown
his chagrin; which state of mind franklin great
ly relieved by telling to Mr.. Jefferson the crit
cisms made on the sign which halter in Phlla
delphia had over his store. About one quarter
according to the elder Adams or one-third, &C
cording to Jefferson, of the original paper, wa
stricken out, leaving the document as we nov
have it. The adoption Of this paper was warm
| ly debated through the second, third and fourt
days of July, and toward the close OF the latte
day, the motion to adopt prevailed. 1t was the
signed by nearly every member present, exceF
Mr.. Dickinson, who refused to sign. Willing an
Humphreys, two delegates from Pennsylyanlt
purposely absented themselves to avoid signing
These three gentlemen were decapitated forth
with by the Convention of Pennsylvania, the
in session, and men elected in their place VIII
would sign. Of the other Pennsylvania dele
gates. Franklin, John Morton, and James WI
son. signed the declaration at once, and RoDel
Morris, the remaining delegate was absent o
public business and had permission to sign after
wards.
1t is fact worth knowing, that the delegate
from New York were willing to sign, but walte'
for instructions from home, which they receive
and put their names to the declaration on tn
10Th of July. i.
Matthew Thornton did not take his seat i
Congress until the 4th OF November, and at tina
time he signed the declaration.
The original paper, as interlned and amends
was piyen to the Secretary of Congress to b
engrossed on parchment, and this engrossed. co
DIV. the one in the Patent Office, was again sign
ed by most of the members on the second o
August, and at different intervals afterwards D.
the rest. Gun any one tell ~hether the reat 0
riginal is get an eristenees -
These facts are cleaned principally from tn,
Journals of Congress, fuckers Lite OF Jefferson
and the Works of John Adams.
The MASSAGE ON Negro Slavery which was 9