The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-07-19
HISTORICAL FACTS.

The National Intelligencer, in an article on the
4th of July, states some facts about the Declare
ton of Independence which not generally
known at this day and which may prove interest
ing to our readers. 1t says:
GAS the years pass By it is probable that the
causes and circumstances as we'll as the spirit OF
the great event which the day commentaries will
become liable to more or less of that perversion or
misconception which is to be incident to what
ever depends on human testimony. We have rea-
son to believe that already Measurements per-
tanning to the surroundings of the great Declara-
ton have become deeply seated in the national
mind. For instance, it is common to read IN near
" all the histories which recite the successive steps
of the Declaration made in 1776, {" that 1t was
finally adopted on the 18th July, and signed by ev-
cry member of Congress then present, except only
Mr. Dickinson of Pennsylvania" In point OF fact
the real "Declaration of American Independence"
was not made in connection with the paper which
passes under that name. The real Declaration
was uttered in the shape of series of Resolutions
to that effect, which, having been introduced into
Congress on the 7th of June, 1776, by Richard
Henry Lee, of Virginia, formed the rallying point
around which this great contest was waged. The
nominal Declaration was entirely subsidiary In ITS
purpose, as it was wholly secondary in its origin
when compared with the Resolutions we have
named. These Resolutions were as follows:
sResoved, That these United Colonies are, and of
right ought be- free and independent States that
they absolved from all allegiance to the British
Crown and that all political connexion between them
and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally
dissolved.
Resolved That it is expedien forthwith to take the
most effectua for forming foreign alliances.
Resolved That plan of Confederation be prepared
and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their
consideration and approval"
~ Dec ol,f1o u,h1o fret hrOl,c
to a focus the scattered rays of revolt and formed
the nucleus not only of the subsequent paper known
under the name of the Declaration, but also of the
Articles Of Confederation to which they pointed.
How entirely subsidiary and secondary the pa
per draughted by Mr. Jefferson will appear from
the very terms of the resolution under which the
committee appointed to draw it was raised. That
committee nominated the llth of June,
and was instructed to prepare declaration 'to the
effect Of the resolution introduced by Mr. Lee
four days previously, and for the assigned reason
"that no time might be lost an case the Congress
agree thereto" The debate and the div sion in
Congress upon the question ofindependence turned
entirely upon the Resolutions Of Lee, as it
only their adoption that any occasion could
arise for the formal declaration drawn up from "a
decent respect for the opinions Of mankind" and
not for any purpose eff bringing about the great
result which it commentaries. The resolutions
were cOISluereu Ill congress Oh otI, anu Oh the
10th Of June, when they were postponed until the
lst of July. On the 2Sth of June the draught of
the Declaration which the committee was appointed
to prepare, and have ready in the resolutions
should pass reported and laid upon the table.
No vote and no debate had upon its adoption
but the LIST of J uy the Resolutions of Lee came
up, according to order, and were discussed in
Committee of the Whole, when, the journal
records, "the determination thereof was, at the
request Of a Clony, postponed till tomorrow"
That Colony was South Carolina, whose delegates,
being authorized generally by their instructions to
vote for every measure which they, ";ogethcr acih
a majority Of the Continental Congress, shall
judge necessary for the defence, security interest
and welfare of this Colony in particular and of
America in general" asked, on the eve of this
vote, that its final determination might
be put off to the next day." when, MIR Rutledge
explained, "he believed his colleagues though they
disapproved of the resolutions would join in it for
the sake of unanimity" Accordingly, the I'd
ofJuy, 'the Resolutions respecting independence
were put upon their final passage and adopted.
Then and there the great step taken in this
forward movement. John Adams, writing on tho
3D. of July, truly sad, "Ycsterday the greatest
question was decided which ever was debated in
America, and greater perhaps never and never
will be decided among A resolution was
passed, without one dissenting Colony, that these
Cnlteu ColohleS arc ana OF riShG OuSnb 10 De Tree
and independent States He added to his CORES
pondent-as follows: You will see in few days
a Declaration setting forth the causes which have
mpelled us to this mighty revolution, and the
reasons which justify it in the eyes of God and
man." To meet this popular demand, and in
conformity to the proprieties of the OCCASION the
Declaration of Independence was appointed to be
framed, and how we'll the work was performed is
seen in that imperishable document
But it should not be forgotten Gas has been well
remarked by our learned townsman, Peter Force,
Esq, in his historical memoranda on this topic) |
hat it only ''the universal diffusion of the
Declaration that made the Fourth of July the |
great festival day Of the nation, instead of the I'd
lay of July, whih is the real birh-day of
american Freedon,."
We have not time to trace through all it's
Vndings the historical error which represents the
declaration to have been signed on the 4th of July |
Mr. Jefferson asserts in his Diary, but the Journal
If Congress shows that his ''Contemporaneous
Notes" are notalways reliable, and that the document
vas signed only by the President and Secretary of |
congress at the date of its first publication.
LocUsTs.-Next year, 1885, as certainly as the
car rolls around, will the country be infected
With locusts,- Whether they are of the family of
ocusts which prevailed in Egypt we do not know,
Tor does it matter. There is one thing certain;
hey will appear a general thing in the United
states in 1860.
Ii is too late to ask how this return can be spoken