Daily Republican., 1883-07-03
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH,
pROCLAfM LIBFRTY THROUGH
OUT THE LAND, TO ALL THE
INHABITAATS THEREOF.

lNHABITANTS THEREOF.
Tomorrow will be celebrated as tn
one hundred and seventh anniyersar
of an event that is dear to the heart @
every true American. The thirteel
colonies that had been founded by ,h
sturdy yeoman of the old world, fOuu(
that oppression was following then
even here, and they resolved to adop
some measures for their protection.
With this purpose in view the frs
Continental Congress was convened TO-
consultation in Carpenters Hall, Phila
delphia, on the fifth day of Septelnber
1774 Its members assembled together
in alarm, unresolved rs to what should
be done, and viewing each new en-
croachment of the British Government
as an addition to evils which were al
ready intolerable. Twelve colonie.
were represented in that assembly
which framed a humble and loyal ad
dress to the King, vainly hoping by
this means to avert the impending ca.
lamities.
There was, however, no disposition on
the part of the British ministry in the
Parliament to pay any attention tC
these petitions or make any attempt tC
alleviate the oppression. Matters con-
tinued in this way, and the burdens
heaped on the colonies by England con-
tinucd to increase, until the third
session of Congress, which met in the
State house, and was held in June, 1916,
when on the seventh of that month.
l;ichard Henry Lee, of Virginia, offered
the following resolution, which wa.
Seconded by John Adams, of Massa-
ChuSctts
Resolved, That these united col
pnits are, and by right ought to be,
free and independent States that they
pre- absolved from all allegiance to the
British Crown, and that all political
connection between them and the State
pf Great Britain il, and ought to be,
totally dissolved -
This outspoken, and to some of the
members iIcendinary resolution, was
fead amidst breathless silence, which
lasted for few moments after the
leaders, voice had ceased, and then
member moved that the further consid.
ration of the resolution be postponed
pntil Monday, July LIST, and the motion
vas unanimously carried.
Thomas Jefferson then moved, that
% no time be lost,in case Congress agree
hereto, that a committee be appointed
prepare declaration to the effect of
he said resolution.
The motion was carried, and the next
Jay President of Congress Hancock
nnolnced the committee as follows
hvmas Jefferson, Of Virginia; John
ADAMS, of Massachusetts Benjamin
rankin, of Pennsylvania Roger
herman, of Connecticut, and Robert
Livingston, Of New York. On the
STU of June, the committee reported
he draft of declaration of independ-
nee, that was read and laid on the
hble, pending the consideration of Lees
fSoution, which was taken up on the
July in Committee of the Whole,
nd motion to agree to the resolution,
nd report 1t toCongress for final action,
Fas carried. The next day the resolu.
ION was adopted by the unanimous
ote Of twelve colonies the delegates
fom New York declining to vote, as
pey contended the subject of indepen.
ence was outside of their Instructions.
After the adoption of the resolution
the md, the form of the declaration .
PAS debated on the Sd and 4th, and af-
Pr being amended was finally adopted
the latter day, the vote being the :
me as That on the resolution, New :,
ork still declining to vote
The original Declaration of Indepen. :
thce was drafted by Jefferson, and !, ,
Ealnlned and slightly amended by
rankin and Adams. It was written
Jefferson in the front room of tne +,
cond story of the house of Jacob
pan, southwest corner Of Seventh
p' Market streets, Philadelphia. Je'-
rSofl was boarder in the house, and :,
l'illho.tai docum ent was written in -
own chamber.
Congress adopted the declaration in =
cret session, but it was well known 7
the night of the 4th that Lees reso. u
ION, which was the vital act in the IL IL
Po>l'!ch to Great Britain, had been "
opted on the md, and the declaration :
's merely an assignment Of reasons =,
''le passage of the resolution, or .ui "
'"icatlon OF an act already done. ~
ere was therefore no excitement in ~
i'adelphia at the time it became ~
own that the declaration was adyp- ~ ~
IN tact, .its true character was not y. y.
own nntil two days afterwarl, when >, ..
was published in paper called Dun u u
s Packet. v;
N the 9Th of July it was first read to a. a.
people by John Nixon in the State ~ y:
p"Se yard Nixon was a membe of w w
council OF safety, and read the docu- ~ ~
nv 10 hve companies of militia and a ". ".
se concourSe Of people, who became o.,
lloS' wild with excitement. The ~
w arms over the door of the Su. -. -!
me Court room in the State House a! az
Efe Torn down by committee an. a.
llfel Tor that purpose. ~ IT..
e. Nhe evening they were burned w, W,
wv 'lie shouts and cheers of Il large o.; .'i
"' OF spectators. Bontres were W.
n'ed III every part of the city, bells vi vi
ie flhg, but the most notable and Se 1s
Pphetic of all the peals which sound ~ u:
over the city was that of the old ~ -,
.e mouse bell, which had been cast n' ut
fhly'lonr years before, bearing upon llo m
sue the remarkable motto, "Pro- q;
~ liberty throughout the land, to all nn .a'
inhabitants thereof. " ho