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

lHE SIOh1 OF IHE SlGNlNUs
In the DAYS of the Continental Congress the
delegates used to travel TO the capital, at the
beginning of each session, from their several
homes, usually on horseback fording streams,
sleeping at miserable country inns, sometimes
weather-bCund for days, sometimes making
circuits TO avoid threatened dangers sometimes
accomplishing forced marches to reach Phila-
delphia in time for some special vote. There
lie before me the unpublished papers of one
of the signers Of the great Declaration, and
these papers comprise the diaries Of several
such journeys. Their simple records rarely in
clude bursts Of patriotism or predictions of
national glory, but they contain many plaintive
chronicles of bad bed and worse food, mingled
with pleasant glimpses OF wayside chat and
new and then bit Of character-paintug that
recalls the jOvial narratives of Fielding. Some
times they give passing rumor OF 1.-THE glori-
Gus news of the surrendering Of the Colonel
Of the Queens Dragons with his whole army"
Dut more commonly they celebrate ''nilk toddy
and bread and butter" after a wetting, or "the
best dish OF Bohea tea / have drank for a
twevemonth." When they arrived al Phila-
delphia, the delegates put up their horses,
changed their riding gear for those habili-
ments which Trumbun has immortalzed, and
gathered to Independence Hall to greet their
brother delegates, to interchange the gossip of
the day, to repeat DIR. Franklips last anecdote
or Francis Hopkinson's last gibe then pro-
ceeding, when the business Of the day was
opened, to lay the foundation for new nation.
Before the 10Th of April, 1775," said JEFF
ferson, =" had never heard a whisper OF
disposition 10 separate from the mother-co
try" Washington said "When / first took
command Of the army (July g. 1775), alb
horred the idea Of independence; but am now
fully convinced that nothing else will save u.s."
1t is only by dwelling on such words as these
that we can measure that vast educational
process which brought the American people
to the Declaration OF Independence, in 1776.
The Continental Congress, in the earlier
months Of that year, had for many days been
steadily drifting on toward the distinct asser-
ton Of separate sovereignty, and had declared
it irreconcllable with reason and good con-
science for the colonists to take the oaths re-
quired for the support of the Government
under the Crown OF Great Britain. But it was
not till the 7th of June that Richard Henry
Lee, of Virginia, rose and read these reso-
lutions:
'That these United Colonies are and of
right ought to be, free and independent States;
that they are absolved from all allegiance to
the British Crown, and that all political con
nection between them and the State of Great
Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
''That it is expedient forthwith to take the
most effectual measures for forming foreign
alliances.
"That a plan of confederation be prepared
and transmitted to the respective colouies for
their consideration and appreciation"
These resolutions were presented under
direct instructions from the Virginia Assembly
the delegates from the colony selecting Mr..
Lee as their spokesman. They were at once
seconded, probably after previous understand
ing, by John Adams, of Massachusetts
ginia and Massachusetts, being then the lead
ing colonies. 1t was bold act, for it was
still doubtful whether anything better than
degrading 2eath would await these leaders, il
unsuccessful. Gage had written only the year
before, OF the prisoners left in his hands at
Bunker Hill, that "their lives were destined to
the cord" Indeed, the story runs that
similar threat was almost as frankly made to
the son of Mr.. Lee, then a schoolboy in Eng
land. He was one day standing near one of
his teachers when some visitor asked the ques-
tion: "What boy is that?" He is the son
Of Richard Henry Lee, of America, the teach
er replied. On this the visitor put his hand
on the boys head and said 1--WE shall yet see
your fathers head upon the Tower Hill"-to
which the boy answered 'You may have it
when you can get it, This wss the way in
which the danger was regardedin England and
we know that Congress directed the Secretary to
omit from the journals the names of the
mover and seconder OF these resolutions. The
record only says, Certain resolutions re-
specting independence being moved and sec-
onded, ResOlUed, That the consideration of
them be deferred until tomorrow morning;
and that the members be enjoined to attend
puDCtuhIly ht III CLOCK. In ORDER TO take tile
same into consideration"
On the next day the discussion came up
promptly and was continued through Satur.
day, June 8, and on Monday, June 10. The
resolutions were opposed, even with bitter
ness, by Robert Livingston, of New York,
by Dickinson and Wilson, of Pennsylvania
and by Rutledge, of South Carolina. The
latter is reported to have said privately
THAT 1t required the impudence OF q New
Englander for them in their disiointed state
to propose treaty to q nation now at
peace that no reason could be assigned for
pressing into this measure but, the resson Of
every msdman, q show of spirit" On the
other hand, the impudence, IL such it was of
John Adams, went 80 far as to defend the reso-
lutions rs stating "objects of the most stupep-
dous magnitude, in which the lives and liber
ties OF millions yet unborn were intimately
interested ! as belonging to ga revolution,
the most complete, unexpected and remarka-
BILE Of any in the history of nations" On
Monday the resolutions we're postponed. by q
vote of seven colonies against five, until tina,
day three weeks (; and itlwas afterward voted
(June I'D, "in the meanwhile that no time
be lost in case Congress agree thereto that
committee be appointed to prepare Declare
ton to that effect" OF this committee, Mr.
Lee would doubtless have been the Chairman
had he not been already on his way to Virginia
to attend the sick-bed OF his wife. His asso
ciate Thomas Jefferson, was named i'm hi,
place. together with John Adams, of Massa
chusetts. Benjsmin Franklin, OF Pennsylvania
Roger Sherman, OF Connecticut and Robert R
Livingston, OF New York
This provided for the Declaration and. OF
the appointed day, July 1, 1776, Congress pro
ceeded to the discussion Of the momentou
resolutions. Little remains OF us OF the de
bate, and the best glimpse OF the opening situs
ton is afforded TO the modern reader thrOug
a letter written by Mr.. Adams to Mercy Warren