The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-04
Qtpeqntellfqstteer,
The Original Declaration OF Inde'
pendencc.

SOMETHING ABOUT TIE ADOPTION AND
SIGNING OF IT.
Trey. j. B. WAkely, in Woods Household Nag.
AZine)
wandered round the edifice, Patent
Office when, IN not very conspicuous
place, / stumbled upon the original Dec
iaralion OF Independence. / could hard
" believe my own eyes. gazed upon il
with moro intense interest than l ever
did upon any other document l wept,
but they were tears oil Joy. 1t was very
much faded, but read and rG.read it, and
l traced every name. 1t Is the most i'm
pOrtant document connected with tue
history OF our country, and the history Of
the world. 1t is worthy to be written
upon the broad blue arch Of the heavens
with sunbeam; 1t Is worthy to DO print.
ed in letters OF gold and borne on the
wings OF seraphs, till the last nation shall
mark, learn, and inwardly digest It's won
lerlul truths. In reading this glorious
document, ] WA Immediately transport
ed to Independence Hall, Philadelphia,
mud back to July 4th, 177B, and TO the
men who signed il. listened to the dis
cussions that preceded 1t, and then | wit.
messed their fixing their names 10 that
immortal paper. There were the repre-
seutatiyes OF thirteen colonies struggling
TOR freedom. II was one OF the most
grand, sublime, moral spectacles earth
ever saw; one that heaven stopped down
10 witness.
The declaration was moi q hasiy pro-
duction, but prepared with great care, and
adopted alter mature consideration, weigh
ing every sentence, every word, aud every
sentiment,
On the llth Of June, l776, a committee
consisting of five, viz: Thomas Jefferson
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger
Sherman and Robert r. Livingston, was
appointed IN prepare the declaration. In
this committee, Virginia, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York
were represented. Jefferson, though one
nj the youngest Oithe committee, and one
vi the youngest members Of tho House,
was chairman. What confidence they re-
posed in him, when we consider his age,
ind the splendid men who were on the
committee with him.
Jefferson and Adams were appointed a
sub committee TO prepare dralE The
nne made by Mr.. Jefferson was approved
by Mr.. Adams, and afterwards accepted
hy the committee Of five. On the third Of
July, Il was reported by Mr.. Jefferson to
Congress without alteration, and in the
handwriting Of the Suthor. The mem
beers carefully considered, discussed and
amended It, and on the 4th Of July 1t was
adopted.
We have not space for tho whole deCla'
ration; the conclusion Is very fine, and Il
the admiration of the world: "And in
support Of this declaration, with tho firm
reliance on Divine Providence, we mu-
tuslly pledge TO each other our lives, euI
fortunes, and our sacred honor"
Every man who signed II, counted the
COS, and weighed the issues. Each knew
that il they failed Of securing their indie
pendence, they would BIO executed iol
high treason. Was 1here eyer such
pledge-frst, their lives; second, their Tor
tunes; third, their sacred honor. Not com
mOn honor, not ordinary honor but the
most exalted, the purest honor. This wa
the crownlng pledge-as II It Wero far n
advance OF either "liie" or fortune" Thi
tue grand, sublime climax. 1t was IN
deed the worlds wonder, and the worlds
model.
There were fllty.six slgners.
The first that We are Introduced TO Ii
John Hancock, the President Of the Con-
gress, the merchant prince Of Boston-al
pure patriot as ever lived one who said
Burn Boston, and make John Hancock {
beggar Il II Is necessary 70 save the ma
ton. he did not write his namt
in fine, ladY's hand, but In full
round, bold letters, and throwing
down his pen he said: II think kln(
George can read that without his specta'
cles," John Adams put his name to IT
he whom Dir. Jefferson termed the "COl-
lossus Of the Revolution" And Samue
Adams, the stern old puritan, "On BIZ
brow engraven thought and public care,
who sent word to Governor Hutchinson
when the latter wished to bride him, "tha
Samuel Adams had made his peace will
the King Of Kings" There was JohI
Withcrspoon, Of Nassau Hall, u noblt
ScolChman, and lesCCudent of JohI
Knox. When some one wished TO stayI
of the signing by saying, 1--WE are no