Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-07-03
THE FIRST FOURTH.
HOW THE DECLARATION OF lNDE-
PENDENCE WAS ANNOUNCED.

The Continental Congress Sent n Copy te
Each of the States and Generals of tho
Army-PennsyIvania the First to Re
spond.
In Harper's Magazine Charles D. Desh.
Ter gives az interesting account of the
manner in which the Declaration of In.
dependence was received in each of the
10 original states, then widely scattered
along the Atlantic coast. AS we all
know, the draft of that memorable in.
strument which declared us an independ.
ent nation was formally adopted by
the continental congress on July a, 1776.
The next day (July 81 the following res.
olution was adopted by the congress in
session in Philadelphia:
Resolved, That copies of the declaration be
sent to the several assemblies, conventions and
councils of safety, and to the several command
ing officers of the continental troops; that 1t be
proclaimed in each of the United States and at
the head of the army.
1t will be noted that in this resolution
the continental congress observed the
most punctilious Difference to the recog-
nized authorities of the several states.
No copies of the declaration were Or
dered to be sent to individuals in either
of them. They were to be sent to officials
or to representative bodies only.
On the same day, or within day OF
twothereafter, the president Of congress,
John Hancock, inclosed copy of the dec
laration to each of the states which had
adopted a permanent government, and
to the conventions Tor provincial con-
gresses) or to the councils or committees
of safety of those states which had not
yet formed regular governments, and in
each case the document was accompanied
by letter in the terms following:
do myself the honor to inclose, in obedience
to the commands of congress, a copy of the
Declaration OF Independence, which you will
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 or indie
pendenee, considered as the ground and foun-
dation of future government, will naturally
suggest the propriety of proclaiming 1t In such
mode that the people may be universally in
formed of 1t.
On the 9th Of July copy of the dec
laration was sent by President Hancock
to General Washington, accompanied by
letter in which he said:
The congress have judged it necessary to dis
solve the connection between Great Britain
and the American colonies and to declare
them free and independent states, as you will
perceive by the inclosed declaration, which /
am directed to transmit to you and to request
you will have 1t proclaimed at the head of the
army in the way you shall think most proper
Similar letters were sent to the other
generals commanding in the northern
and southern departments.
The first state to respond by its repre-
sentative body was Pennsylvania. In
the minutes of the committee Of safety
of that state, then In session at Philadel-
phia, under date of July 9. 1776, is the
following entry:
The president OF the congress this day sent
the following resolve of congress, which is di-
rected to be entered on the minutes to this
board.
Here follows the resolution of the con-
tinental congress quoted above:
In consequence of the above resolve, letters
were written to the counties of Bucks, Chester,
Northumberland, Lancaster and Berks, inclos-
ing copy OF said declaration, requesting tho
same to be published on Monday next duly 81
at the places where the election of delegates
are to be held.
Ordered, That the sheriff OF Philadelphia
read or cause to be read and proclaimed ut the
statehouse, in the city Of PHILADELPHIA, on
the 9th day Of July instant at IL
o'clock at noon of the same day, the DECLARE
tion of the representatives of the United Col
'nies of America, and that he cause all his off,
,ers and the constables of the said city to at
END the reading thereof.
Resolved, That every member of this COM
mittee in or near the city be ordered to meet
1t the committee chamber before IL o'clock on
Monday, to proceed to the statehouse, where
The Declaration of Independence is to be pro-
claimed.
The committee of inspection of this city and
liberties were requested to attend the procla-
nation at the statehouse, on Monday next at
IL O'Clock.
In conformity with this action of the
Pennsylvania committee of safety, the
declaration was proclaimed in Philadel-
phia at the time appointed, and the pro-
are described in the following
brief report which appeared in the Phil
adelphia and New York Gazettes of the
ensuing day;
PHILADELPHIA, July s, l778.-This day the
of safety and the committees of In 4
spection went In procession to the statehouse
whore the Declaration Of Independence of the
United States of America was read to q very
large number Of the inhabitants of this city
and county, which was received with general
applause and heartfelt satisfaction, and In the
evening our late kings coat of arms was
brought from the hall in the statehouse, where
tho said kings courts were formerly held, and
burnt, amidst the acclamations of crowd Of
spectators.
On the above occasion the declaration
was read by John Nixon from the plat
form of an observatory which had been
erected many years before by the cele-
brated DR.. Rittenhouse near the Wal
nut street front Of the statehouse for
5he purpose Of observing transit Of
Venus. At evening bonfires were light
ID, the houses were illuminated, and it |
was not until thunder shower at mid
hight compelled the people to retire that
,he sounds of rejoicing were hushed.
Mt I,e Gippfpu