Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-02-25
OF the army abhorred the idea Of in

of the army I abhOrred the idea of in
dependence.
In revolutions things move rapidly,
and all this fine feeling Of loyalty was
soon to be swept away. When the Amer
leans 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 the fact that
submission was slavery. Washington,
who, in July, I775, had -abhorred indie
pendence, wrote less than year after
ward, Reconciliation with Great Britain
is now impossible, and am fully con-
WINGED that nothing but independence
will save US"
OF course this feeling among the peO-
pie soon found voice in Congress. On
the 9TH of June Richard Henry Lee, one
of the delegates from Virginia, offered
resolution that these united colonies
are, and of right ought to be, free and
Independent states. This resolution was
at once seconded by John Adams of Mas
glorious old John Adams,
as he was afterward called.
When, however, Il vote was taken it
was seen that Congress was not yet pre-
pared for a measure so decisive. Seven
of the thirteen colonies voted for the
resolution and six voted against it. As
greater unanimity than this was neces-
=
should stand over for two or three
weeks.
In the meanwhile it was thought the
people of the colonies would show
whether they were ready for indepen-
dence or not. And show it very clearly
they did Before the end of IA month
the people Of every colony but one had
either held meetings and voted that
they wished for independence or else
Inc eaH ~hafw aaTarraH-aa -. v-.g+..
for it.
During the time Of delay Congress
had appointed a committee to draw up a
declaration OF independence, for it was
thought very important that Lees resO-
luton should be prefaced by preanble
setting forth the reasons that led Con-
gress TO adopt the measure. The COM
mittee consisted OF thomas Jefferson Of
Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts,
Benjamin Franklin OF Pennsylvania,
Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and
Robert r. Livingston Of New York. JEFF
ferson, though a young man-then 80
years Of age-was known as a very able
man, and, as John Adams tells us, had
the reputation of a mastery pen. Ac-
cordingly he was requested by the COM
mittee, after discussing the topics, 10
make a draft of n declaration of indie
pendonce. In n few days Jefferson was
able TO lay before the committee a dOcu-
ment which proved that he had indeed a
mastery PEN" This was the immortal
Declaration OF Independence, the most
famous political paper ever written.
With the exception Of two or three YER
bal changes suggested by Franklin and
Adams (which may be seen in their
handwriting on the original dOeument),
the Declaration was adopted by the
committee Just as jefferson had written
it, and on the 2Sth Of June it was pre-
scented TO Congress.
On the 2d OF July the resolution TO
declare the colonies independent, which
had been introduced by Richard Henry
Lee, the lifelong friend Of Washington,
was adopted by Congress.
The discussion was long and animated,
some being timid or opposed, and the
debate continued until July 4, when
news came that a large British force
under Gen. Howe had arrived az the en-
trance of New York harbor, which turned
the scale, and at o'clock on that after
noon the final vote was taken with the
result of the unanimous voice of thirteen
States. BY this solemn act the English
colonies had ceased to exist and a new
nation was born.
The Declaration was signed on the
day of its adoption by every member
present who voted for it. John Hancock,
whose name headed all the others, said:
I'VE must be unanimous; there must be
no pulling different ways; we must all
hang together"
Yes" said Franklin, we must all
hang together, or We shall all hang sep
arately."
Everywhere the Declaration was hailed
with Joy. 1t was read TO the army amid
exulung shouts. 1t gave them the in
splratiOn of a great cause, and sus-
tanned them in the dark days OF that
long, revolutionary struggle, until that
which was declared in Independence
Hall in 1776 was glOriously achieved by
Washington in 17S3-the liberty Of our
land.
STRENGTH, N I7-Io,