The Shasta courier., 1860-02-18
SHASTA COURIER.
The DeeIaration of Independence e.


The Declaration of Independence.
Below we give description of the exciting
events Immediately preceding and accompany
ing the declaration of independence, July 4,h,
l776, taken from HeadIey's Life of Washington.
The narrative, always exciting to the American
patriot, may prove doubly so that disso-
luton of this Union is coming to be talked
favorably Of by the degenerate and traitorous
decendents Of its Heaven inspired authors II
there be one reader OF the Courier in whose
breast, a sentiment of indifference 10 the per-
petuity Of this Union has found Judgement, let
him read this narrative Peradyenture it may
arouse feeling Of patriotism where treason viii
else shortly take the place of Indifference
For twenty days Congress tossed on a sea
of perpexity. At length Richard Henry Lee,
shaking of the fetters that CALLED his noble
spirit June 7th, arose, and in clear, deliber-
ate tone, every accent of which rang to the far
thest extremity of the silent hail. read
/" Resoleed, That these United Colonies are.
and ought be, free and independent States, and
that all political connection between us and the
State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally
dissolved
John Adams, in whose soul glowed the burn
ing future, seconded it in Il speech so full OF
impassoned fervor, thrilling eloquence and
prophetic power, that Congress was carried away
as by resistless wave, before it.
The die was cast, and every man was now
compelled to meet the dreadful issue Still
weighed down with fear, Congress directed the
secretary to omit in the journal, the names OF
the bold mover and seconder of this resolution,
lest they should be selected as the special objects
of vengence by Great Britain. The resolution
was made the special question for next day, but
remained untouched for three days, and was
finally deferred to the first of July, to allow q
committee, appointed for that purpose, to draft
declaration of independence.
When the day arrived, the declaration was
taken up and debated, article by article The
discussion continued for three days, and was
characterized by great excitement; at length,
the various sections having been gone through
with, the next day. July 4th, was appointed for
hnal action 1t was soon known throughout
the city, and in the morning, before Congress
assembled, the streets were filled with excited
men, some gathering in groups engaged in eager
discussion, and some moving toward the State
House. All business was forgotten in the mo-
mentous crisis the country had now reached
No sooner had the members taken their seats
than the multitude gathered in dense mass
around the entrance. The old bell-man mounted
70 the belfry, to be ready to proclaim the joyful
tdings offreedom so soon as the final vote had
passed. A bright eyed boy was stationed below
TO give the signal. Around that bell, brought
from England, had been cast more than twenty
years before, the prophetic sentence Pro-
CLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO
ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF" Although its
loud clang had been sounded over the city, the
proclamation engraved on its iron lip had never
Jet been spoken aloud. 1t was expected that
the final vote would be taken without any delay,
out hour after hour wore on and no report came
from that mysterious hall, where tie fate of
continent was being settled. The multitude
grew impatient-the old bell-man leaned over
the railing, straning his eyes downward, till
his heart misgave him and hope yielded to fear.
But at length, at two o'clock, the door of the
hall opened and voice exclaimed " II has
passed" The word leaped like lightning from
lip to lip, followed by huzzas that shook the
building. The boy-sentinel turned to the belfry,
ciapped his hands, and shouted - RNG-RIyG !"
The desponding bell-man. electrified into life
by the joyful news, seized the iron tongue and
hurled it backwards and forwards, with a clang
that startled every heart in Philadelphia like
bugle blast. Clang, clang" it .resounded on,
ever higher and clearer and more joyous, blend
ing in its deep and thrilling vibrations, and pro-
land, the glorious motto that encrcled it. Glad
messengers caught the tidngs as it foated out
on the air and sped off in every direction, to
bear it onward. When the news reached New
York, the bells were set ringing, and the excited
multitude surging hither and thither, at length
gathered around the Bowling Green, and seiz-
ing the leaden equestrian statue of George H.,
which stood there, tore it into fragments When
the Declaration arrived in Boston, the people
as the last sentence fell from the lips of the
reader, a loud shout went up and soon from
every fortified hight and and battery the thunder
of cannon re-echoed the Joy.
Washington drew up his army and had the
declaration read to- each brigade in turn. The
acclamations with which it was received, show
ed how thoroughly the troops were penetrated
with the principles of Liberty.
CEBEsFIAN NCPTIALs.-On Thursday. a Chi