Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-17
PHILADELPHIA.
The Place Where a Nation was
Born.

CeLebra6 On.
Correspondence Of the Union and American.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. Ia few months
ago the New York Tribune found very
serious fault with the manner in which the
authorities of Philadelphia have taken care
Of old Independence Hall. That paper
said: "Some Of the Philadelphia press, we
perceive, are disposed TO favor the idea Of
the purchase of Independence Hall by the
Government, in order that the nation may
become the custodian Of its birthplace.
Others, however, wax indignant, contend
ing that the honor of Philadelphia is con-
cerned in keeping her sacred relics, to show
them proudly to all corners, as Cornelia did
her jewels. But we surmise if the young
Gracchi had been displayed with as dirty
faces and as stability clothed as the favorite
show-place of the Quaker City, Cornelia's
ancient bon mot would have lost its effect.
The truth is, the country has few holy
places; for the sake of our children, would
that she had more! The most sacred, and
| the one most powerful and wholesome in
its suggestions to future generations, is I'M
| doubtedly the old State House, and itsgreen
| square Ia Philadelphia. Its seems Just and
| proper that the nation should own the
l 5pOb WuCIC, d q udGOu, SllO uIGW u6T
| free breath; yet it is also natural that that
city should begrudge parting with her chief
attraction. But is it an attraction? How
has she kept her trust? 1t would seem prob
able that city who guards sacredly every
old junk-shop or blind alley or obsolete
custom, out of reverence for her past his
tory, would have kept this building, at
! least from dissertation. But the truth is,
the sight Of the State House in its prese at
condition is revolving to any man with a
spark Of patriotic feeling. The building it
self is shouldered out of view by hideous
! courts, dens of small demagogues, and the
field for the petty extortion and corruption
for which, Philadelphia politics are noted. The
square is no longer public green but a
dreary waste of clay. How the question of
sale may be settled is uncertain; but if the
city desires to keep the building, she should
make it less disgrace for both herself and
the country. Some permanent change
ought a. least TO be made before the
centennial celebration" This is a
pretty severe, but not altogether an unjust
Indictment of the Philadelphia authorities.
The front of the building is greatly dis
| figured by all sorts of plScards, while the
square presents very uDinvitiDg appear
| ance. Instead of being laid out in walks
and studded over with shrubbery and ev-
ergreens, with carpet of green grass COW
ering the spaces between the walks, it pre-
sents the appearance of beautiful plot of
ground which has been disfgured with hog
paths and gullies washed out by heavy
rains. As the Tribune suggests, this
ought to be remedied, and the spot made
one of the most attractive in the city. The
old State House, generally known now as
| Independence Hall, was commenced in
| 1929 and completed in 1734. In the east
room of the main building Independence
| Hall proper) the second Continental Con-
gress met, and there, on the 4th Of July,
1915, the Declaration of Independence was
adopted, and from the steps leading into
independence Square, then the Estate
House Yard" it was read to the
multitude assembled by the joyful
pealings of the bell overhead. Al
though the 4th of July is accepted
as the natal day of American Indepen-
dence, the birth of the nation really ante
dates that By two days. On the I'd of July
was adopted a resolution which had previ-
ously been offered by Richard Henry Lee,
of Virginia, declaring "that these United
Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free
and independent States; that they are Ab'
solved from all allegiance to the British
| Grown, and that all political connection be.
| tween them and the State of Great Britain
| is, and ought to be, totally dissolved" This
| was regarded as the sufficient Legislative
act, as the act of separation; and it was this
| day that John Adams designated in the oft.
| quoted letter to his wife, prophesying its
future celebration by bells, bonfres, can
nonades, etc. Mr.. Lees resolution was Of
| fered on the It'll of June, was taken up on
the 10th and postponed for further consid-
| Grafton to the 1st day Of July. AT
| the same time a committee con-
sisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,
| Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and
Robert Z. Livingston, was appointed to
prepare a declaration to the effect of the
resolution. Having on the I'd of July
| adopted Mr.. Lees resolution, which wa:
the virtual act of separation, Congress pro
| ceeded TO consider the draft of the Declar
alton of Independence, which had been
| previously reported by the committee, and
on the 4th it was adopted.-It was then
authenticated, like other papers of Con
gress, by the signatures of the President
and Secretary, and copies sent to the several
| States, and it was read sethe head of the
army. A number of members had opposed
and voted against it, and it was adopted
unanimously only as regarded States
| Thus, a majority of the Pennsylvania dele
CATION had persistently opposed it, and i
was only the absence of two or three dele
! gates on the final vote thai
left majority of this State in its favor,
On the 18th of July, Congress resolved "tha
the Declaration, passed on the fourth, BIZ
fairly engrOssed on parchment, with the
title and style of The Unanimous Declara-
ton of the Thirteen United States Of
| America and that the same when engross
ed, be signed by every member of Con
gress." And on the I'd of August following
"the Declaration, being engrossed and com
pared at the table, was signed by the mem
bers" present, with the exception of Mr.
Dickinson, of New York, who, as Mr.. JEFF
ferson has testified, ''refused to sign it..
Only the signatures of the members pre-
sent were made to it. Absent member
afterwards signed as they came in; and in
deed it bears the names of some who wer,
not chosen members Of Congress until ate
the fourth of July. 1t is this copy of th
Declaration of Independence which is nov
preserved in the Patent Office in Washing
ton. The fourth of July is therefore th
anniversary of the Declaration, while thu
second is that of the adoption of the reso
luton of separation, the birthday of th
| nation,
INSIDE THE HALL.
Here we stand in the grand old hall il
which occurred the greatest event sine
the time when ''the morning stars san
sweetly together" What memories ar
inspired by this visit! We stand here i
the identical hall in which nation wa
born. There is the old bell that rang on
the merry peal that announced this cres
event. But it was cracked many year
ago, and is now of no use. but il is 3 n-e
cious relic in the sigh. of Americans. "a
intended to take the bell from taisTroor
and place it in the vestibule under Ii
dome but there is good reason 10 doul
the propTiety of this step, even if ie doc
dis6gure the hall. The only place to ahi1
1t should be moved is that in which
hung when it announced in res
onent tones the birth of ID.
nation. There is the chair in whle
| .Iol1u Hancock sat when he nresited r,-z