The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-07-04

y i =
Iniv bv = msjOE.ty vote of the States
| a, Inc colonies now call themselves
I The immortal pcper that we knoW as
the Declaration of Independence, pass
But before it was handed to the secre-
tarv 10 be engroSsed, VI copied, so that
il nigh. be signed by all the delegates;
| Mr. Hancock, as President of the Con-
gress. affixed to IL his bold signature
That we all now know so we'll. And
Young Joe Nixon had. actually. TO stuff
his hat into his mouth 10 stifle the hur-
rah that did so want to burst out when
Mr.. Hancock. rising from his seat, said
/ IN his most decided tones:
ssTherel JJnn Bull can read my
name without spectacles. Now let him
double the price Of my head, for this IS
my defiance.
Then the Congress adjourned. and
young Joe went home, completely tired
out with the days excitement and
anxiety. And, though on that notable
night OF the 3rd of July nation mad
been born, Philadelphia lay quieny
asleep knowing little or nothing Of the
graf happening.
Next day-the first Fourth OF July
ever specially known 10 Americans
Joe was about the only privileged char
acter, who slipping into the secret ses-
sion heard, from his seat by the side
his friend, the doorkeeper, the order
given by Mr.. Hancock as President OF
/ the Congress, that "cOpies OF the Dec
/ laration be sent to the several assem-
olies. conventions, and committe or
Councils Of Safety, and to the sever ]
commanding officers II the Continental
troops; that it be proclaimed in each of
the United States and at the head OF the
army"
This was all that was done on The
| Fourth of July, 1776, as Young Joe
| Nixon could testify. But the printed
copies of the Declaration prepared for
Transmission TO the several States. and
to the army, and signed By Mr.. Han
cock, the President OF the Congress and
! by Mr.. Thorn son, the secretary. al
bore the heading: "In Congress, July
4, lT76. and thus that date has come
down to us, as one TO be esps cialiy re-
membered.
That very night Joe heard. 81 bis
uncle's big house on the Water Street,
that the committee of safety in Phila-
delphia-of which, as / have said. Mr.
John Nixon was a member-had order
ed that 1.-The sheriff of Philadelphia
read OF cause to be read and proclaimed
al the State House, in the city of Phila
drIphia on Monday, the Sth day Of July
instant. at II O'Clock. at noon of this
same day, the Declaration of the Repre-
sentatives OF the United States OF Amer
lea. and that he cause all his Ctfic Is
and the constables of the said cit to
attend to the reading thereof"
Here was a new treat in store for
Young Joe: and wnen he learned that
the Worshi full Sheriff had designated
1 - Il
er. Joe knew that this meant front
seat for him. and was appropriately
The day came. Monday. the sth Of
July. I776. "A warm and s=nshiny
morning" again reads the truthful
journal, and u O'Clock, noon, must
have been hot indeed. But not all the
/ beat OF a Philadelphia July could
wither the ardor OF such patriots as
young Joe Nixon. He was therefore
very live" portion of the procession
which formIn5 at the hall OF the com
mitJee of inspection in Second Street.
jg.ined the committee of safety at their
lodge. ami to the stirring sounds of fife
and drum, marched into the State
House square. Out from the rear door
Vt the state House came the Congress
and other dignitaries and then. stand
ing upon the balcony of Mr. RItten-
houses astronomical observatory Just
south of the state House. Mr.. John
Nixon. in a voice both loud and clear,
read TO assembled throng the paper
which declared the United States OF
America Free AID Independent"
The reader concluded with the glori-
ous words: I'VE mutually pledge to
each other our lives, our fortunes and
our sacred honor" and. as hi voice
cease. the listening throug. so the re
corr says. "brok- out into cheers and
repeated huZZas." Then the ROYAL
arms were torn down from above the
seats of the Kings Judges in the State
House, and Joe, like a wild Young
Indian. danced frantically around the
bonfire which destroyed these insignia
of royalty"
Again. at O'Clock, the Declaration
was read to the troops then present IN
the town, and the evening was given up
70 benfires and fireworks which YOU
may be cert in young Joe enjoyed TO his
full content.
A dPeal upon peal. sounding above all
the shouts and the hurrahing, rang out
loud and clear, at both the noon reading
and the nights celebration. the joyous
ciang Of the big bell Of the State House
telling the glad tidings OF freedom. as
wen Oe1tted Dell on whose praZeu nm
men had read for twenty years the
almost prophetic motto: Proclaim
liberty through all the land to all the
inhabitants thereof"
To his dying day Joe Nixon never for
got the glory and exultation OF that
jubilsnt first Independence Dsy-Sth Of
July, 1T76.
One Other notable scene also lived
long in his memory-E day and date
new 70 many of US who have always
supposed that the Declaration Of hide
pendenee was passed. eigned and pro-
claimed on the Fourth OF July. It was |
the morning Of Tuesday, the second OF
August, that same historic summer of |
E16. From his customary seat by the |
doorkeeper. Joe saw Mr.. Thomson, the |
secretary Of the Congress. Law upon the
Presidents table great sheet of parch-
ment And on this sheet, carefully /
and beautifully copied, was the Deciar-
alton OF Independence. Then. one by
one. beginning with Mr.. Hancock the
President, the delegates.to the Congress,
signed the great paper, and By that act
sent their names down TO posterity-
famous and honored forever.
Of the fifty-six siguers Of the Declare