Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1883-07-12
HISTORY CORRECTED.
How the Declaration of Independence
Was Signed by the Immortals.

zine Nlllam l.. stone discusses "1he
Declaration OF independence in New
Light" and contributes some informa-
ton which. if known before, has un-
doubtedly been forgotten by nine out
of ten persons. The popular conccp.
tiUn of the revered document, to which
MIR. Stone appropriately alludes as "a
shrine almost of worship ut the present
day is that it was drawn up in sol
emn and stately form, and after being
duly submitted To the inspection of the
august body of delegates was signed by
each of them with becoming dignity
and pressvenesS. Nothing" it
would seem from Mr.. Stones article,
"could be further from that which act
ually took place. Very few of the dele
gates, if indeed any, signed the original
document on the 4th, and none signed
the present one now in Independence
hall, for the very good reason that ii
was not then in existence" The fact
is, very little seems to be known about
tho original declaration adopted on the
4th of July, 1776, and it was either lost
or destroyed. Congress itself gave the
matter slight attention at the time, at
taching premier Importance to the
resolution passed two days before, de-
claring the united colonies free and in
dependent states and absolved from all
allegiance to the British crown. This
was the real declaration of indepen-
dence, and July 2 rather than July 4 is
the actual natal day of the republic;
but the passage of the resolution of in
dependence was not made puplic until
the formal Declaration had been pre-
pared, adopted, and read to the people
1t was on the 2nd of July, and not on
the 4th, that John Adams oft-quoted
words were written, in letter from
Philadelphia 20 his wife:
The second of July, 1776, VIII be the
most memorable epoch in the history
of America. | am apt to believe that
it will be celebrated by succeeding gen
erations rs the great anniversary fes-
tival; be solemnized with pomp and
parade, with shows, games, sports,
guns, bonlires, and illuminatons from
one end of the continent to the other,
from this time forever more. 1t ought
also to be cOmmemorated as the day OF
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion
to God Almighty. Through all the
gloom | can see the rays of ravishins
light and glory; and posterity will tri
umph in this day 8 ira ditions.
Posterity has justified the sturdy ole
patriots fondest hopes, but the center
of national rejoicing and popular in
terest is not the day that John Adams
eulogized so rapturously, though his
letter is usually regarded rs referring
to July 4. Mr.. Stone explains thu
tyansposition of sentiment from tn,
earlier to the later day by approvingll
citing the words of another: "Ther,
was nothing in the phrasing of tn,
resolution to cause it to live in the pop
ulGr memory, while there was every
thing in the Declaration to give it ;
vital hold upon the affections of tn,
American people, which is undoubted
ly true. So, though none of the states
men OF that mOmentOus period saw it
and while Jefferson, the framer of th
Declaration, never allowed the latte
to overshadow in Importance tn
former. yet the splendid, manly anC
fearless eloquence of the Declaration
has captivated the sense of the people
quite displaced the resolution of in
dependence from the popular mind
and made the 4th, instead of the 2d
Of July the national anniversary.
But to return to the signing of tn
Declaration, Mr.. Stone shows that tn
present veperated document was OF
dered engrossed by congress july l9
1776 The engrossed parchment wa
presented Aug. 2, and delegates VIII
were then present signed it. Man
were absent, and some did not sign fo
considerable time afterward
Matthew Thornton, ofNew Hampshire
signed it in November, when he wa
first admittnd-hn had not hnen nreSnr