The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-02-21
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
A Bit of History That Is just Now APP
propriatc.
In Philadelphia, in Chestnut street, stands
the famous building now known as lndercn-
dcncc hall, which used to be called tie state
house. This cdificc IS one Of the stTines e
American patriotism; for it was il enc Cf It's
low rooted, quaint cid roosns that TIE Deciar-
ction of Independence, which made CT tho
United States 4 nation, was debated aHi do
cided
In the month OF Nay, 1:I155, the second
Continental congress, which had tho author
ity of general government over the colo
MES met in Philadelphia. Lexington cnd
Concord had been fought tho previous april.
In June congress chose os conlmander-ia-
chief Of tho American army Gccrgo Wcsh-
ington, who was present as e delegate from
Virginia. Setting out for Boston il tho LIT
ter part of that month, he heard Of the battle
Of Bunker Hill on his way.
Thus thero WIS war But though Tho colo
MICS were fl arms, they were so not for sera
ration from the British government, but fer
their rights under that government To
largo portion Of the American people the
idea of n final separation from England was
ct this time distastcful. Even after riorths
of fighting they clung to tho hopo Of
friendly settlement of differences Franklin
was IN ardent advocate of reconciliation,
and SO was " ashington, who at = Later period
wrote: hen took command OF tie Grny
ebhoITcd the idea CT independence.
In revolutions things move rapidly, ard ell
this fine feeling of loyalty wcs soon to bo
respectful petitions to the British CorcTn-nos1t
treated with disdail, and Gcets and armies
sent to compel them TO submit 70 III Just laws,
their eyes vero openod to the fact that sub
mission was slavery. Washington, who, in
July, 17775, had "abhorred indcpcrdcncc,n
wrote less than year afterwards, Recon
ciliation with Great Britain is now inlpossi-
BILE, and am fully convinced that nothing
but independence viii save us''
Of course this feeling among the people
soon found voice in congress On the Th CT
juno Richard Henry Lee, one CT tho dele
gates from Virginia, offered q resolution
"thot these united colonies are, and Of right
ought to be, FREQ and independent states" :"
This resolution was at once seconded by John
Adams, of Massachusetts-''g glorious old John
Adams" rs he was cfterward called.
When, however, a vote was taken it was
seen that congress was not yet prepared for g
measure SO decisive. Seven Of the thirteen
colonies voted for tho resolution ard six voted
against it. As greater unaniInity than this
was necessary, it was agreed that the matter
should stand over for two or throo weeks.
In the meanwhile it was thought tho pco-
pie of tho colonies would show whether they
were ready for independence or not. And
show it very clearly they did. Before the
but ono had either held meetings and voted
that they wished for independence or else
had instructed their delegates to vote for it.
During this time of delay congress had op-
pointed a committee to draw up a declara-
ton Of independence, for it WIS thought
very important that Lees resolution should
be prcfaced By a preamble setting
forth the reasons that led congress
to adopt the MEASURE. The commit
tee consisted of Thomas jefferson CT
Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts,,
Benjamin Franklin cf Pennsylvania, Roger
Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert r. Liv
ingston Of New York jefferson, though
comparatively young-then 5S years of age
was known as q very able man, and as John
Adams tells us, ''had the reputation Of G Las
terly pen" Accordingly he was requested by
the committee, after discussing the topics, to
make a draft OF a declaration OF indepe1d-
ence. In a few days jefferson was able tc
lay before tho committee document which
proved that he had indeed q ''masterly pen"
This was the immortal Declaration of lnde-
pendeace, tho most famous political paper
ever written With the exception OF two OF
three verbal changes suggested by Franklin
and Adams (which may be seen in their hand
writing on the original document the Declar-
alton was adopted by the committee Just es
jefferson had written it, and on the 18th OF
June it was presented to congress
On tho I'd of July the resolution to declare
the colonies independeat. WHICH had been -u'-