The Atlanta constitution., 1894-05-21
1776 RECALLED.
WHY GEORGIA HID ONLY THREE
NIGNERS IO THE DECLARATION.
One of Her Decla ration Fled, and Another
Sent to Catch Him-lhis Left Only
Gwinnett, Hall ard " atkoD.

| hlInDdll mouse last friday evening, has de-
Veloped the amusing fact that nearly every
! body in Atlanta is provided with a great
ancestor.
TO the strains of old colonial music, which
might have SOOthed the ear of George
! Washington, when that distinguished pa
| triot dashng young cavalier these
ancestors in their knee breeches, powdered
wigs and futed shirts, marched out in gay
procession before the assembled ookers-on.
The customs in vogue before the revolu-
| ton were revived IN all of their quaint and
amusing comedy and not a few of the old
! ancestors, as they skipped about the ball
| room, gave refreshing evidence of the fact
! that age and long Imprisonment in their
! spectlVe places Of abode had not impaired
their ease of locomotion. In fact their
| long retirement had seemingly fabricated
| ther joints and prepared them, it We're,
| for greater exhibitions of agility.
rms bali will serve a beneficial purpose
! if it kindles a renewed interest in the old
colonial era. 1t is a foolish idea which
| many have acquired because of the rapid
growth which has characterized this coun-
| try during the present century, that
! fathers We're very simple men, There are
many respects in which they far surpass
us and we could set at their feet. so to
| SPEAK, and drink in many valuable lessons
| OF social and political wisdom. After ALL
| we only surpass them in the enlarged devel-
| opment of the inventive faculty, as applied
to the practical aspect Of lie. We have
steam engines, electric telegraph and sewing
machines, all OF which our fathers might
| have given us had they lived in age of
| peace and tranquility; but they had no time
| for such thinking. From the science of war
! they emerged, without a moments rest
! into the science of government, and began
! T. study the problems that would shape
| the destiny of the new world and promote
| the happiness of their pOSterty.
There is much to be gained from the study
| of past events, for wisdom lies in review as
! well as in progression, and tie prophets
| vision is often clarified by looking back
| ward. Americans have no reason to be
! ashamed Of their simple and patriotic an
| cestry. A Srander federation never met in
| solemn caucus than the continental
| Gress of 1916. which proclaimed the princi-
| pies Of the American declaration and in the
| streets of Philadelphia kindled the flaming
| bontires of liberty.
An ora story Reviewed.
| To widen the retrospective area thus
| opened by the social events of the week,
| it may be of interest TO the readers of The
| Constitution to know that Georgia was en-
| titled to live sSners OF the declaration.
| Instead of this number, however only
| three names appear in her behalf on the
| scroll of independence. The other two have
| been omitted from the document, which is
still preserved in Washington city.
Behind this apparent oversight there
| hangs interesting story and one with
whicn only very few, at this time,
| familiar
The declaration OF independence was
signed by the members of the
tinental congress, which met in
the spring of 1918. In this congress
| Georgia WAS represented by a delegation of
| five representatives. These We're Button
! GWinnett Lyman Hall, George Walton
John Houston and Rev. John Zubly.
The latter member although Il wearer of
the sacred cloth, was guilty of an act of
pcrfdy which has eternally blighted his
| reputation.
| why Mr.. Zubly Fled.
| During the early part of the session Of
! congress L taw of the members had private
| iy discussed the subject of drawing up az
declaration of Independence Zubly opposed
| tho efforts nf the delegation. on accoa2.st
| of the strong political affinity which bound
| him to the English government
| Although member of the continental
| congress and Georgia's accredited represen-
! tative, he was not as ardent in his cham
| pionship OF liberty the other members
! Of the delegation. He not in favor OF
| any radical measure by which the colonies
| would be wholly separated from England.
Finding, however, that mis- ardor was
| unavailing, he secretly dispatched a letter
| 10 the british governor, tcquamting him
! with the nature OF the situation and advis-
! ing him to adopt, i'll Georgia, speedy meas
! ure of prevention.
| copy Of THIS letter, by a fortunate ac-
| cident, was obtained from one of the clerks
| and Mr. Chase, a representative from Mary
| land, openly brought against Mr.. Iubly the
| charge Of improper conduct in betrayng
! the interests of liberty. Seeing that MS,
! perfidy had been discovered and apprehend-
! ing the action of congress, which he knew
would blight his reputation. he cowarGly
| betook himself to flight. &
! Mr. Houston, member Of the Georgi
| delegation and colleague OF the clergy
| man, who had thus violated the sanctil
! Of his high oath, appointed by cos
gress to go in search Of him and to counte
! act any evil that might result from his d
| closure of the situation
/ In addition to the search for Mr. Zu
/ which occupied considerable portion of
| time, otner important business detat
! Mr.. Houston in Georgia for several W.
| and for that reason he not pr
! when the document of liberty was Sc
! There We're only three OF the Georgia
| bers in their places, at this time, am,
| were Button GWinnett, Lyman HI
| George Walton.
The protest OF Georgia, therefore,
! the tyranny of England and her a
! declaration i'll favor Of a total sew e.
| was couched in the strong, man 4 anu
characteristic signatures of this iIldtrious
| trinity.
! In Augusta, Ga, a handsome granite mon
! ument has been erected to the sieners, and
| three counties have been named for them,
| as a tribute to their exalted memory. A
! Drawer, bolder more devoted trio never
! served the cause of liberty, and their glory
| like Orions belt, eliminates the misty back
| ground of our colonial history.
On the Field OF Honor.
The first of these sgners Mr. Gwinnett
was the unfortunate victim of the code of
| honor.
His antagonist was Colonel Lakeland Nc
lntosh. feud of long standing was the
cause of their fatal meeting. The failure
of Mr.. GWinnett in HI, to be reelected to
the continental congress- after a warm
fight, eXaspcrated him little and the
rauAts of Colonel Mcintosh, who was great
~ pleased with the result, prompted him
to send Il challenge to that gentleman
The challenge was accepted. They agreed
to fight with pistols at IL distance Of only
twelve PAGES. In exchange of bullets both
principals were wounded Colonel Mcintosh
however, recovered, while Mr. Gwinnett
was mortally wounded and died on the 9TH
of May, 1717, in the forty-tifth year of his
age.
Mr.. GWinnett was an Englishman by birth
and for several years engaged in 1ner-
camille pursuits i'll Bristol After his mar
riage he came to America, in 1910, and set
tied Oh ST. GATHERINGS island, near The
coast of Georgia.
At first Mr.. GWnnett not an ardent
friend OF liberty, because of the exposure
of his property. He doubted the ability Of
la sal I1l1al1 to