The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-08
1915.
Few More Words About the Declaration of
Independence.

A Words Declaration
Independence.
The regular annual meeting of the American
Philosophical Society was held yesterday after
noon at their rooms, Fifth street, below Ches-
nut. The society was established in 1744, with
Benjamin Franklin as Secretary. After few
years of prosperity, the members, with the ex-
ception of its Secretary, were overcome with
apathy, and continued in that state until 1867,
when it was rejuvenated What aided to secure
its prosperity then was the patronage of John
Penn. The use of the Council Chamber in the
State House was granted it. On the 10th of De-
cember this association and rival one, under
the name of the American Society,"" were
merged together, under the title-"The Ameri-
can Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia
for Promoting Useful knowledge" During the
Revolution the meetings were rare, for in Phila-
delphia the enemy was stationed great portion
of the time, and the meetings were stopped.
This society thenceforward continued prosper
ously until the present time. Its membership
has embraced the most learned OF Americans,
and its aid to the prosperity of science and art
has been very great.
The rooms of the society are upon the second
floor of the building occupied by the Water
and Highway Departments. They are warm and
coZy apartments, with all the comfort and plain
ness appertaining to Quaker residence. Abou
the walls hang many fine and valuable por
traits--one, of Jefferson, worth to the Uirtuos0
almost its weight in gold. Then there are
others of Peter Duponceau, Chief Justice Thigh
man, DR.. Chapman, Alexander Dallas Bache
and Robert Patterson.
About the walls are arranged many invaluable
relics. There is here gravestone from Car
thage, evidently cut about the age when the
Christian era was dawning. 1t symbolizes what
is known as the Astartic worship.
Here also is to be found the document called
the Declaration of Independence. A few weeks
ago an article in THE TELEGRAPH gave history
of two repositories for this piece of man uscript
and now the original itself appears. 1t is the
original draft of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence as 1t came from the hand of Lee, when
Aa had do alf off Taff
had drawn it up. This document is remarkable,
in that it presents that paragraph which was
stricken out. 1t reads thus:-
''He (the present King of Great Britan) has
waged war against human nature itself; violat-
ing its most sacred rights of life and liberty in
the persons of distant people who never
offended him. Captivating and carrying them
into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur
miserable death in their transportation thither.
-Phis piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infdel
powers, is the warfare of the Christian King Of
Great Britain, determined to keep open market
where men should be bought and sold, he has
prostituted his negative for suppressing every
legislative attempt to prohibit or restrain this
eXecrable commerce, and that this assemblage
of horr0rs might want no fact of distinguished
dye, he is now exciting those very people to
rise in arms among us, and to purchase that
liberty of which he has deprived them by muir
dering the people upon whom he also obtruded
them, thus paying off former crime committed
against the liberties of one people with crimes
Wnlcu uO urges tucm w COhAlh1b hSdlusb INC
lives of another"
This document, yellow from the influences of
time, is preserved in strong frame. Jefferson
was not Journalist, or he would not have writ
ten upon both sides Of the paper. In this same
room, too, we see the chair which he almost in
variably used. Here, too, can be seen the old
astronomical clock, made by John Rlttenhouse,
one of the Presidents of the society, and which,
for forty years was the standard by which to
set Philadelphia time pieces
1t is expected that the society will soon
evacuate the present building occupied by them,
and go westward This property Is owned by
it, but the city will require it, If the new public
buildings go up. This subject is now under con-
sideration.
Yesterday afternoon, between 2 and o'clock
an election for offices to serve for the ensuing
wear was held with this result
President-George b. Wood.
Wee e-Presidents-John Q. Cresson, Isaac ant
Frederick Fraley.
ecretaries-Charles B. Trego, E. Otis Kendall
John l.. lie Conte and j. p. Lesley.
Curators-Franklin Peale, Elias Durand
Joseph Carson.
Counsellors-Alfred l.. Elwyn, John Bell, Ben
jamin II. Coates, Benjamin V. Marsh.
TgeGlureT-C Charles =. TTego.