The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-07-07
lion and an sdmirablee yeuness which

hIOue, DuL POSSESSES IaI mOI6 6lOQucu1
and poetry, because clearer, truer al
more logical. 1t is not an adore
calculated to make persons wild Il
the moment and then lose its effec
but is OF that nature which will bss
reading and thought, and will inca
cate q truer and nobler sentiment {
regard for those who took an activ
part in the preparation and promuI
CATION OF the Declaration OF hide
pendence; in the causes that lead
Its adoption; in the spirit of our Cor
stltution; in the progressiveness OF it
character. and in the good it ha
brought aud is yet to bring to man
kind.
THE GRAFTON.
Nr. President, Ladies and Gen
Hen1ea =
Experience and observation teacI
US that the sentiments of mankind
are strongly influenced by associa
ton. The recurrence of anniver
saries naturally revives the recollec
ton and renews the impression Of
events with which they are connec.
ted. Places renowned in history
have a power to awaken sensations
which are universally recognized.
But the event we are met to-day to
commemorate is independent of 10
cal associations, more restricted than
the vast expanse of our territorial
domain 1t is an evont of that char
acter, which supplies its own ref1ec-
lions and enthusiasts, and brings
with it, its just encomiums.
The Declaration of Independence,
was at the time considered, and
properly considered, by the Ameri-
can people, to be a transaction in hu-
man affairs of vast importance, but
as time removes us from the date of
the event, and furnishes US with its
results,we are better enabled to esti-
mate its grandeur, and appreciate its
and value.
As political act of the first mag
nitude it has held and still holds its
place in history, and as such it will
itself as long as the love of
liberty shall exist in human bosOms.
Yet the scene and the actors who
figured in it, owed nothing to i'm
posing surroundings or to dramatic
for the profound impression
it made upon the world. On an oc-
casion like this, assembled as we are
to express our gratitude for the act,
and admiration for those who parti
cipated in it, the thoughts instinc-
lively turn backward and spanning
the gap of more than a century, aid
ed by the lights of history, imagina-
ton supplying the details, we look
in on the 4th day of July, 1776, up
on the deliberations of that little
body of men constituting the Colo
NAL Congress. In the lower east
room of building, then the State
House of the colony of PennsyIva-
MIA, but since and now known as In
Hall;-the room small,
plain, and furnished with simple
and inexpensive furniture, the build
ing itself an unpretending and re-
cent structure-in city of a popu-
Iation but slightly in excess of this
IN which We are now assembled-a
city remarkable even amongst
towns of that period,
for its rural aspect and for
the quaint simplicity of its
plan and structures, are as
Sembled between 40 and 90 persons,
the deputies and representatives
from the IL colonies. The business
that is engaging their attention is
the consideration of a paper prepar-
ed by one of their number-a young
Virginia lawyer-setting forth the
reasons for the resolution of indie
pendence which had been adopted
TWO days before, and the political
principles by which the newborn
empire should be guided.
Perhaps the most conspicuous per-
;onage in the assembly, and the one
to whom our thoughts turn first
made so. by reason of his connection
with the paper, on the details of
which the discussion is turned-is
It's author. He is only SO years old,
If a delicate organization, and mod
st bearing, but he has brought with |
him from his native colony a reputa-
ion for learning and sagacity. Att
hat early age he is distinguished for
he cOnsummate ability he has dis
played in state papers which he has
llready written, and by the general
consent of Virginia stands first
among her civilians.
He possesses great power in mas
ering details as well as in searching
or and discovering general princi-
lies; in his very nature he is a lover
# freedom, and a hater of priest
raft, superstition, bigotry and intol-
and more important than all
Use, in completing his fitness for the
performance of this task, he is of |
hat sympathetic nature which en-
lbles him, with instructive percep-
ion, to read the soul of the nation,
md having collected in himself its
Iest thoughts and noblest feelings, to |
i've them out in clear and bold |
SS,o2Eds, mixed with so little of him.
T 1eT at his country as it goes along
no lun III finds nothing but what it
.GCoS nIIes ats own. The posses
5"nI VI :liee Qualities has so inn
pressed his associaU>s that the work |
Of preparing the impU~tant decIora-
ton has been left almOst wholly fol
him. " H0NS "
Two other members are Command
ng figures in the assemblage-John
Adams, far reader in debate than
efferson, and the ablest advocate
md defender of independence; and
Benjamin Franklin, a man further
Idvanced in years than either of the
'thers, and of whom, by reason of
lis profound learning, and his know
edge of men and things, the world
"a ALREADY eug hf saeFhaps the most
PROMINENTLY before us as we recall
he long vanished scene, although
thers are there of fine presence and
distinguished abilities, and all i'm
'ress US as thoughtful, substantial,
representative men. But nothing
ould be more modest and UMPIRE
more destitute of display,
nd that pomp and circumstance
calculated to impress the senses,
han this small assembly of persons,
Who for the most part are hitherto
Unknown to fame.
After a somewhat heightened dis
.ussion as to some minor changes
md amendments and towards the
lose of that most memorable day
n our annals, the declaration which
las just been read in your hearing,
vas adopted without a dissenting
7ote, and so the transaction was
If imposing circum-
stances were essential to make an