Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04
THE DECLARATION.
The Document and the Original
Draft in This City.
JEFFERSON'S ALTERATIONS
Interesting Old Papers That May Be Seen
at the State Department-The Signatures
Fading Away-Ths Desk on Which JEFF
ferson Composed the Declaration.

THE TWO DOCUMENTS WHICH ARE
- dearest to the hearts Of all true Americans
and which will ever remain so ere in Washing
ton, though comparatively few Washington
people know that they are in their own city or
even that they exist. The documents referred
to are, of course. Jeffersons draft and the
engrossed copy Of the Declaration of Independ-
ence. The original draft, now yellow and
worn, and the engrossed copy signed by the
members Of the Continental Congress are both
IN glass case on the east wall of the State De-
partnient library. The original draft as made
by Thomas Jefferson has number of erasures
and insertions by himself and two or three
verbal changes by DR.. Franklin and John
Adams asindicated in the margin The Declare
ton Of Independence was kept in the patent
Office till 1876, when il was taken to the centen-
NAL exposition; after which it was taken to the
State Department, where il has remained ever
since.
The original draft by jefferson is in a much
more readable state than the engrossed copy,
the ink on the latter having faded much more
rapidly. The engrossed copy can. however,
still be read, but the signatures appended to it
are fading. Only few can now he made out.
Those OF Lyman Hall, Josiah Bartlett, William
Mhipple, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert
Treat Paine and Elbridge Gerry, although very
dim, can still be read. Jefferson's NAME which
should remain forever on that document as its
author, Ia almost gone and can only be distin-
guished by the long rs, which are still clear.
HANcocKs NAME AND fRANkLINs JOKE.
John Hancocks name can be read on account
of its monstrous size. The J is fully two inches
long. The conversation which occurred just
before Hancock signed his name as recorded in
history IL amusing. The debate az to the ex-
pedlency Of declaring independence was of
three days duration. and although it ended in
the adoption OF the Declaration Of Independ-
ence on the Fourth of July the members did
not sign the document for several weeks
when they came to put their signatures to it
John Hancock being the president Of the Con-
tinental Congress, signed his name first, As he
was about to do 30 he said, I'VE must all be
unanimous; there must he no pulling different
ways; we must ali hang together" to which
Ben Franklin, who was ever ready with his wit,
responded, Yes. we must all hang together or
we must all hang separately" Then John
Hancock. taking the auill signed the declare ton
In large. bold hand and although the state
ment Is not to be found in any serious history
II is said that he made the remark he laid
the quill down, There will be no trouble in
reading my name and am willing to take the
consequences whatever they may be-"
HOW FRANKLIN coNsoLED JEFFERSON.
Jefferson, who, it is said, always worked
diligently in committee and said little in gen.
eral debate. listened to all the criticism made
during the discussion Of theD ecIara ton, but
said not word. The task of defending the
Declaration fell to John Adams jefferson
rags in bis journai During the debate was
sitting by DR.. Franklin, who observed that l
was writhing little under the acrimonious
criticism Of some of its parts; and it was on
that occasion that by way of comfort he told
me the story of John Thompson, the halter,
and his new sign" This story is told by Dr.
Franklin In his autobiography. 1t is about
one John Thompson, who was going to open a
hat store, and on his sign board proposed to
have painted hat and the words: John
Thompson, halter, makes and sells hats So
much objection raised to the wording Of
the inscription that the sign was finally abb
breviated to such an extent that there was
nothing but the name, John Thompson and
the picture Of a hat So that We see that
Franklin was anxious to show jefferson that he
must expect contention over the greatest ques-
ton Of the age when there had been 50 much
discussion over hat sign.