Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-07-01

%. ~. IL. MCQUISTIOh,
THE DECLARATION OF INDE-
PENDENcE.
On the 4th day of July l776, one hun
dred and sixteen years ago, the "Continen-
tai Congress, y then in session in Philadei-
phia formally adopted that memorable IN
strument called "The Declaration of lnde-
pendence,Y which declared the thirteen
English colonies lying along the shore oil
the Atlantic to DO free and independent
nation.
On the following day the Congress
Resolved, That copies of the Deciara-
tion be sent to the several Assemblies,
Conventions and Councils of Safety, ana
to the several Commanding Ohicers OF tne
Continental troops, that it be proclaimed
in each Of the United States, and at the
head Of the Army"
And on the same day, or day or two foi-
lowing, John Hancock, the President Of
the Congress, sent copies of the Declare
tion to each of the Colonies that had
adopted permanent government, and TO
the Councils or Committees Of Safety OF
those Colonies which had not yet formed
regular governments, in each case accom-
panying the document with the following
letter.
sT do myself the honour to enclose, IN
obedience to the commands of Congress,
COPY OF the Declaration Of Independence.
which you win please to have proclaimed
in your Colony, in such way and manner
as you shall Judge best. The important
consequences resulting to the American
states from this Declaration of Indepen-
dence, considered ~ the ground and foun-
dation OF future government, win natu-
rally suggest the propriety Of proclaiming
1t In such mode that the people may Dc
universally informed ofitD
At that time hostilities had already been
in progress between the Continental and
English armies for some months; George
Washington, member Of the Congress,
had been sppointsd Commander In Chief
and on the 9th Of July President Hancock
sent . copy Of the Declaration to General
Washington, accompanied by letter in
which he said:
"Ths Congress have judged 1t necessary
to dissolve the connection between Great
Britain and the American Colonies, and TO
declare thom free and independent States,
~ you will preceive by the enclosed decla-
ration, which am directed to transmit TO
you, and 70 request you VII Eil RanSi Rafmy, in the
claimed sa . taft ttRhfink Rink most proper
This was received by GEN. Washington
on the 9th, and he Immediately issued the
following order;
sThs Continental Congress, impelled by
the dictates Of duty, policy, and necessity,
hsve besn pleased to dissolve the connec-
tion which subsIsted between this country
and Great Britain, and to declare the
United Colonies of America Free aud In
dependent States. Tho several brigxdes
are to bs drawn up this evening on their
respective paradss at six o'clock, when the
Declaration Of Congress, showing the
gr ounds and reasons OF this measure, is to
be read with IN audible voice. The Cen
eral hopes that this important event viii
serve a. fresh incentive to every. officer
and soldier to oct with fidelity and cour-
age, ~ knowing that now the peace and
safety Of this country depend, under God,
solely On the success of our arms; and that
he ID now In the service Of State possess.
cd Of sufficient power to reward his merit,
and advance him to the highest honors Of
. free country"
The army st that time was encampsd on
Hanhatten island, and that evening the
brigades were formed In o hollow square.
on and about the ground where the City
Hall Of New York City now stands; and
the Declaration was read to 1t in clear
andaoud voice by one Of Washington's
aids, the army joining, at the conclusion
Of the reading, In three hearty cheers.
Pennsylvania was the first State to take
action ON the Declaration. It's Committee
Of Safety was then In session In Philadel-
phia, and ordered as follows:
Tho President Of the Congress this day
sent the following Resolve Of Congress,
which In directed TO be entered on the Min
utes, to this Board"
lHsre follows the resolution Of the Con-
tinental Congress.)
"In conseq uence of the above Resolve,
Letters were wrote to the Counties of
Bucks, Chester, Northumberland, Lancas-
ter and Berks, enclosing copy Of said Dec
laration, requesting the same to be pub
hshed on Monday next (July 8tb), ut the
places where the election Of Delegates are
to be held.
"Ordered, That the Sheriff Of Philadel-
sphia read or causs to be resd and proclaim
ed ut the State House in the City Of Phila-
dolphis, on Monday, the sth day Of July
instant, at twelve o'clock ut noon Of the
same day, the Declaration Of the Repre-
sentatives Of the United Colonies OF Amer
lea, and that he cause ell his Officers and
the Constables Of the said city TO attend
the reading thereof.
"RcsclCcd, That every member OF this
Committee In or near the city be ordered
TO meet ut the Committee Chamber before
twelve o'clock on Monday to proceed 10
the State House, where the Declaration Of
Independence Ii to be proclaimed.
The Committee Of Inspection Of this
City and Liberties were requested to attend
the proclamation at the State House, on
Monday next, at twelve o'clock"
And In accordance with this action, the
Declaration was read TO large audience
from platform near the Walnut street
front Of the State House on the sth, and
that evening the Kings Coat OF Arms In
the Court room ON the second floor Of the
building, was torn from Its place and cast
into bonfire.
The Declaration was received with en-
thusiasm all over the colonies, and there
were professions and Examinations in every
town, and ut some places there were mock
funerals at which George the Third was
solemnly buried.
The celebration at Savannah, Georgia,
did not take place till Aug. 10th, and at
their mock funeral Of George, the orator of
the day wound up with tho following par
0dy Of the "committal service in the
Church Of England's "Service for the Bur
ial Of the Dead
Fora smuch IN George the Third, Of
Great Britain, hath most aagrantly violat-
cd bis coronation oath, and trampled upon
the Constitution of our country and the ga
cred rights Of mankind, We therefore com
init his political existence to the ground,
corruption To corruption, tyranny to the
grave, and oppression to eternal infamy In
sure and certain hope that he will never
obtain resurrection to rule again over
these United States Of America '
But, my friends and fellow. citizens, let M