The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-07-21

New Jersey Quaker, and Penn, the Virginian,
who afterward rallied the mountaineers OF hif
adopted State against CORVALLIS, Georgia,
again, sent the VIrginian. Walton who had
learned to read by the light of pine knots when
a carpenters apprentice the English Gwin-
nett, and Hall, of Connecticut, who at first
came alone TO the Congress, and WAS admitted
to represent his district before the young colo
ny had made up it's mind. Finally, Maryland
was represented by Chase, who, as Judge upon
the bench, afterward said Ito timid Sheriff
doubtful about getting some rioters to Jail.
Summon me, Mr.. Sheriff, and I'll take EN- !
by Paca, who said, after his first session, that
the Virginia gentlemen alone seemed able TO
carry on the Government, 80 that no one else
was needed Stone, one OF the committee that
afterwards framed the Articles of Confedera-
ton, and Charles Carroll, who, lest some name
sake should share his risks added @ of Carroll
ton" to his name.
This is the story of the signing. or the men,
bers who took part in that silent drama of 1776,
some came TO greatness in consequence, be-
coming Presidents, Vice Presidents Governors,
Chief Justices or Judges others came, in equal
ly direct consequence, to poverty, flight or
imprisonment. Hunted like fox by the en-
envy :" "a prisoner twenty-four hours without
food, mot daring to remain two successive
nights beneath one shelter these are the rec
ords we may find in the annals of the Revolu-
tion with respect to many man who stood by
John Hancock on that summer day to sign his
name. 1t ls pleasure to think that not one
of them ever disgraced, publicly or conspicu-
ously, the name he had written. or the re-
joicings which, everywhere throughout the
colonies, followed the signing, the tale has
been often told. 1t has been told so often il
the truth must be confessed, that it is not now
easy to distinguish the romance from the SIM
pie fact. The local antiqusrians of Philadelphia
bid us dismiss forever from the record the
picturesque old bell-ringer and his eager boy,
waiting breathlessly to announce to the assem-
bled thousands the final vote OF Congress on
the Declaration. The tale is declared to be a
pure fiction, Of which there exists not even
local tradition. The sessions Of Congress
were then secret, and there was no ex-
pectant crowd outside. II was not till
the 5th Of July that Congress sent
out circulars announcing the Declara-
ton not till the 9th that it appeared in a
Philadelphia newspaper and not till the Sth
that it WAS read by John Nixon in the yard of
Independence Hall. 1t was read from an OBJ
servatory thsre erected by the American Philo-
sophical Society, seven years before, to observe
the transit OF Venus. The Kings arms over
the door OF the Supreme Court room in Inde-
pendence Hall were torn down by a committee
OF the volunteer force called "Assocators." +"
These trophies were burned in the evening in
the presence of great crowd OF citizens, and
no doubt amid the joyful pealing Of the old
Independence bell. There is also tradi-
ton that on the afternoon OF that day, or pos
sibly day or two earlier, there WAS joyful
private celebration Of the great event, by JEFF
ferson and others, at the garden-house Of a
country-seat in Frankfold (near Philadelphia,
then occupied by DIR. Enoch Edwards, leading
patriot Of that time.
1t is certain that a portion of the signers Of
the Declaration met two years after, for q
CHEEKY commemoration of their great achieve
ment, III the Philadelphia City Tavern. The
av,fn r.f thn hoHn nt
the recent deliverance OF the city from the
presence Of Gen. Howe, and by the contrast
between this festival and that lately given by
the British officers TO him. A brief glimpse at
the patriotic OCCASION from the hitherto un-
published diaries Of William Ellery, may well
close this narrative.
"On the glorious Fourth of July (1778), /
celebrated in the City Tavern, with my brother
delegates of Congress and a number OK other
gentlemen, amounting, in the whole, to about
eighty the anniversary OF Independency. The
entertainment was elegant and we'll conducted.
There were four tables spread; two Of them
extended the whole length Of the room, the
other two crossed them at right angles. At
the end of the room, opposite the upper table,
was erected an orchestra. At the head Of the
upper table, and at the Presidents right hand,
stood large baked pudding, in the center of
which was planted staff, on which was dis
played q crimson flag, in the midst of which
Providence label, on which was inscribed,
AN appeal to Heaven man with drawn
sword in his hand, and in the other the Decla-
ration OF lndependency, and at his feeta scroll
inscribed, The declaratory acts As soon Ms
the dinner began, the music, consisting Of
clarionets hautboys, French horns, violins,
and bass viols, opened and continued making
proper pauses. until it was finished. Then the
toaets. followed by a discharge of feld-pieces,
were drank, and 80 the afternoon ended. In
ths evening there was cold collation. and a
brilliant exhibition of fireworks. The street
was crowded with people during the exhibition.
"What strange vicissitude in human af-
fairs These, but few years since colonies OF
Great Britain, are now free, sovereign and inv
dependent States, and now celebrate the anni-
versary OF their independence in the very city
where, but day or two before. Gen. Howe
exhibited his ridiculous Chdmphditre. "-Scrib-
ner for July.