Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-02-15
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

a
propriate.
In Philadelphia in Chestnut street, stands
the famous building now known as Indepen-
dence hall, which used to be called the state
house. This edifice is one Of the shrines Of
American patriotism; for it was In one Of its
low rooted, quaint old rooms that the Declar-
alton of Independence, which made Of the
United States q nation, was debated and de-
cided-
In the month of May, 1775, the second
Continental congress, which had tho author
ity of general government over tho colo
Mes met in Philadelphia. Lexington and
Concord had been fought the previous April
In June congress chose as commander-in-
chief of the American army George Wash
ington, who was present as u delegate from
Virginia Setting out for Boston in the lat
ter part of that month, he heard of the battle
of Bunker Hill on his way.
Thus there was war But though the colo
MES were in arms, they were so not for sepa-
ration from the British government, but for
their rights under that government. To
large portion Of the American people the
idea of final separation from England was
at this time distasteful Even after months
of fighting they chung to tho hopo of a
friendly settlement of differences. Franklin
was an ardent advocate of reconciliation,
and so was Washington, who at a later period
wrote: "When took command of the army
abhorred the idea of independence"
In revolutions things move rapidly, and ell
this fine feeling of loyalty was soon to be
swept away. When the Americans saw their
respectful petitions to the British government
treated with disdain, and fleets and armies
sent to compel them to submit to unjust laws,
their eyes were opened to tho fact that SUBJ
mission slavery. Washington, who In
July, 1715, had "abhorred independence"
wrote less than year afterwards, Recon
citation with Great Britain is now impossi-
BILE, and am fully convinced that nothing
but independence will save u.s."
OF course this feeling among the people
soon found voice in congress. On the eth of
June Richard Henry Lee one of the dele
gates from Virginia, offered a resolution
that these united colonies are, and of right
ought to be- free and Independent statesn
This resolution was at once seconded by John
Adams, of Massachusetts-"g glorious old John
Adams" as he was afterward called.
When, however, q vote was taken it was
seen that congress was not yet prepared for a
measure so decisive. Seven of the thirteen
colonies voted for tho resolution and six voted
against it. AS greater unanimity than this
was necessary, it was agreed that the matter
should stand over for two or three weeks.
In the meanwhile 1t was thought the peo-
pie of the colonies would show whether they
were ready for independence or not. And
show it very clearly they did. Before the
end Of that month the people Of every colony
but one had either held meetings and voted
that they wished for independence or else
had instructed theft delegates to vote for it.
During this time of delay congress had APP
pointed a committee to draw up declara-
ton of independence, for it was thought
very important that Lees resolution should
be prefaced by preamble setting
forth the reasons that led congress
to adopt the measure. The commit
tee consisted of Thomas jefferson of
Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts,,
Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger
Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert r. Liv-
ingston of New York. jefferson, though
comparatively young-then 80 years of age
was known as a very able man, and as John
Adams tells us, "had the reputation of mas
terly pen" Accordingly he was requested by
the committee, after discussing the topics, to
make a draft of declaration Of independ-
ence In few days jefferson was able to
lay before the committee document which
proved that he had indeed a "masterly penn
This was the immortal Declaration Of INDIE
pendence, the most famous political paper
ever written. With the exception of two or
three verbal changes suggested by Franklin
and Adams (which may be seen in their hand
writing on the original document) tho Declar-
alton was adopted by the committee just as
Jefferson had written it, and on the 2Sth of
June it was presented to congress.
On the I'd of July the resolution TO declare
the colonies independent, which had been in
troduced by Richard Henry Lee, the life
long friend of Washington, was adopted by
congress
The discussion was long and animated,
some being timid or opposed, and the debate
continued until July A. when news came that
a large British force under Gen. Howe had
arrived at the entrance of New York harbor,
which turned the scale and at o'clock on
that afternoon the final vote was taken with
the result of the unanimous voice of thirteen
states By this solemn act the English col