The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-06-28
HISTORY CORRECTED.
How the Declaration of Independence was
Signed by the ImmOrtals.

Signed by the Immortals.
In the July number of Harper's Maya
zine, William l.. Stone discusses "The
Declaration of Independence in New
Light" and contributes some information,
which, if known before, has undoubtedly
been forgotten by nine out OF ten persons
The popular conception of the revered doc
ument, to which Mr.. Stone appropriately
alludes as "a SHRINE almost Of worship at
the present day." is that it was drawn up
in solemn and stately form, and after being
august body of delegates was signed by
each of tn m with becoming dignity and
impresslveness. Nothing" it would seem
from Mr.. stones article, could be further
from that which actually took place. Very
few of the delegates, If indie, any, signed
the original document on the 4th, and none
signed the present one now IN
Independence hall. Tor the very good
reason that it was not then in existence
The fact is. very little seems to oe known
about the original declaration adopted on
the 4th of July 1776, and it was either lost
or destroyed. Congress itself gave the mat
ter little attention at the time, attaching
premier importance to the resolution
passed two days before, declaring the
united colonies free and independent states
and absolyed from all allegiance to the
British crown. This was the real declara-
ton OF independence, and July I'd, rather
than july 4th, is the actual natal day oil
the republic; but the passage of the resou-
tion of independence was not made public
until the formal declaration had been pre-
pared, adopted, and read to the people. 1t
was on the I'd of July, and not on the 4th,
that John Adams oft.quoted words were
written, in a letter from Philadelphia to
The second day of july 1776, will be the
most memorable epoch in the history OF
America. am apt to believe that it Will
be celebrated by succeeding generations as
the great anniversary festival; be solemn
lied by pomp and parade, with shows,
games, sports, guns, bonfires, and illumina'
lions from one end of the continent to the
other from this time forever more. II
ought, also, to be commemorated as the
day of del,verance by solemn acts Of devo'
ton to God Almighty. Ihrougn
all the gloom can see the rays OF rayish'
ing light and glory; and posterity will tri'
umph in this days transactions.
triot's fondest hopes, but the center Of
national rejoicing and popular interest Is
not the day that John Adams eulogized &c
rapturously, though his letter is usually re
earded as referring to July 4th. Mr.. Stone
explains the transposition OF sentiment
| from the earlier to the later day by ap
provingly citing the words OF another
hThere was nothing in the phrasing OF the
resolution to cause it to live IN the popular
memory, while there was everything In the
declaration to give it vital hold upon thu
affections of the American people," which
| ia undoubte ily true. So, though none O
| the statesmen OF that moment GUS peri'
saw it, and while Jefferson, the Trainer o
the Declaration, never allowed the latter u
oyershadow in importance the former, ye
the splendid, manly and fearless eloquenc'
of the Declaration has captivated the sens'
of the people, quite displaced the resoiu
! ton Of independence from the popu1a,l
| mind and made the 4th, instead OF the "a
of July the national anniversary.
But to return to the signing OF the De
claratiop, Mr.. Stone shows that the presen
yenerated document was ordered en-
! crossed by congress July 18th, lI6. Int
engrossed parchment was presented Angus
9, and delegates who were then presen
signed it. Many were absent, and some
| did not sign for q considerable tine after
ward. Matthew Thornton, of New Hamp
shire, signed 1t in November, when he wa
first admitted-be had not been present a
the passage of the original: Thomas Nc
until January, 1777. In fact
the enerossed document came to b.
a sort of test oath, which all members wer'
required to sign before entering congress
As evidence of the little importance ~
tached TO signing the first Declaration, Mr.
Stone relates that though Robert X. Living
ston, OF New York, was one OF the hve ina
reported the Declaration yet he did not slgI
| n. unless his signature was Loot with I'M
original document. Mr.. Stone also repro
duces a letter from Thomas Mexican, 0
Delaware, written in 1913, stating the TACT
substantially as here given, and addinI
that among the names subscribed 10 I'M
present Declaration are those OF Mr.. Reed
who voted against II, and seven otners
whom he mentions, who were not presen
when 1t was adopted.
Thus II will be seen that the common
understanding 10 which history and art
notably ia the case OF TrumbulPs famou
picture in the rotunda OF the capitol
| Washington have ministered, is very Wild
of the truth with reference 70 the facts
though IL has made no mistake as TO Tn
principles involved in the celebration OF In
dependence day.