Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-17

engraving MADE from the portrait Tor
the purpose of illustrating the book. 1t is
quite possible there may be other por-
| traits in the 'HalP not properly marked.
Who knows~ The city authorities have
now gone to work in earnest to restore the
old hall as nearly as possible to the condi-
ton or rather the general appearance which
it presented in June and July, 1776, pre-
paratory to the celebration of the hundredth
anniversary of the adoption of the Decla-
ration of independence. The old wains-
cotting, which had been removed by some
Vandals, had been fortunately preserved
and replaced some years since. Efforts
| have been directed to preserve intact the
general architectural features of the room,
and yet so place the pictures of the signers
of the Declaration in the relative historical
position taken by the originals. This it Is
believed has been accomplished by hang
ing in the body of the hall the portraits
Of those who took part on the floor
in the great event which s&nctifies the hall,
and by placing along the surface the pic.
lures of those who in the field sustained
and accomplished independence. Strenu-
| GUS efforts are to be made to reclaim all of
the original furniture of the room. A plat
| form has been erected in the eastern end of
the hall, according to the original design,
as near as can be ascertained, and the
| Presidents chair and table restored to their
| appropriate place. Col. Eaing, of Phila-
delphia, has placed in the hall one of the
members chairs used in ITO. It still has
the leather cover on it. There is only one
other chair of that time in the same condi-
ton now known to exist. This is in the
Philosophical Hall, in Philadelphia, and
1 EEL lt1kf hot mill baf
ferred to Independence Hall. 1t is
the Declaration of Independence Is
aud it is hoped the owner may
be induced to place it upon the table, upon
which it was laid when reported by the
copy, now in the Patent Office at Wash
ington, was signed. A copy of the Jour-
nal of Congress Of 1776, as originally
printed, has been deposited in the hall,
and lies open at the All of July, showing
the important proceedings of that day. 1t
| is stated that as soon as possession of the
room occupied by the Common Pleas
Court can be had, it is intended to fit it up
for the pictures and relics which it is found
necessary to remove from the old hall. 1t
is also designed ultimately to form ma
| tional museum and portrait gallery in the
rooms at present occupied by the Common
Pleas Court and the Councils of the city.
CARPENTERS HALL.
On the south side of Chestnut street,
about midway between Third and Fourth
streets, stands building which Philadel-
| phians claim deserves more than any other
the proud title Of "Cradie of American In
| dependence" 1t is Carpenters Hall, the
| place where, as an inscription on the wall
| proudly testi6es, "Henry, Hancock, and
Adams inspired. the delegates of the Colo
MES with nerve and sinew for the tolls Of
war;" the place where the first Continental
| Congress met, and where the famous ''first
| prayer in Congress" was offered by Parson
Duche on the morning after the news of the
| bombardment of Boston had been receiv-
ed, and men knew that the war was indeed
Hinevitable." 1t is recorded that the old
mans prayer brought tears to the eyes of
even the grave an passionless Quakers who
were present, and the voices which had op-
posed the proposition to open the sessions
of Congress with prayer were never raised
| for that purpose again. Built in ITO, Car
penters' Hall was intended only for the
uses of Society of Carpenters, by whom
it was founded. Its central loca-
ton, however, caused it to be used
for the meetings Of delegates to the
| Continental Congress, and for other public
| purposes; and when no longer needed for
these, it passed from tenant to tenant, un-
| til it degenerated into an auction house.
Then the Company of Carpenters, taking
patriotic counsel resumed control of it, fit
ted it up to represent as nearly as might
be its appearance in revolutionary days,
and now keep it as sacred relic. The
walls are hung with interesting mementoes
of the times that tried mems souls, and the
stranger in Philadelphia will find this one
of the most interesting spots he can visit.
This is one of the places which Americans
are apt to regard with almost sacred vene-
ration, since within its venerable walls was
| kindled, amid doubts and fears, the little
| flame which has become beacon light to
the world.
| TEN.
Still another memeDto connected with
the Declaration of Independence exists in
this city. 1t is, or rather was, "Hultshei-
mer's New House," once Jefierson's board
ing house, and the place where he wrote
the immortal Declaration. It is a plain,
three story brick building, on the south
west corner of Seventh and Market streets,
and was originally built for a dwelling
house in what was then a retired part of
the city. The first story is now occupied
as a clothing depot, and the upper ones are
used as printing offices. 1t was stated by q
Boston periodical few months ago, that a
house on Chestnut street, between Third
and Fourth, was the place where Jefferson
wrote the Declaration. But facts seem to
clearly disprove this assertion. The first
reliable information upon this subject was
given by Nicholas Biddle, in his eulogium
on Thomas Jefferson, delivered before the
American Philosophical Society, April II,
1927. Speaking of Jefferson's appoint
ment on the Committee to Prepare the
Declaration, and the request by the COM
mittee that either Jefferson or Adams
should prepare it, and that Adams request
ed Jefferson to do so, he says: Jefferson
yielded to the wishes of his elder colleague,
and, repairing to his lod gings, betook him.
self to the great work allotted to him.
These lodgings, it will be heard with pleas
ure by all who feel the interest which gen.
ius inspires for the min utest details of its
history, he had selected with his character
istio love Of retirement, in house recently
built on the outskirts of the city, and al
most the last dwelling house to the West
ward, where, in small family, be was the
sole boarder. That house is now a ware.
house in the centre Of Philadelphia, stand
ing at the Southwest corner of Market and
Seventh streets, and on the second story
were the rooms of Jefferson, where the De.
claration of Independence was written
An examination Of the title papers of the
property referred to By Mr.. Biddle, shows
that it belonged to Mr.. Graf, with whom
it is known Jefferson boarded at the time
ne wrote the Declaration. Mr.. Jefferser
also resided for time at the Indian Queer
Hotel, on Fourth street, between Marke
and Chestnut, which was once the hotel O
Philadelphia, but it has been very clearly
established that he wrote the Declaration
at the house of Mr.. Graf.
II A CENTENNIAL GEL EBRATIoN.
Preparations are being made for Crane
national exposition and celebration of tbs
hlndredth anniversary Of American liberty
: q Gonna off In this ritv IN, 1ST9 The lido,