The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-03

%
These are anniversary days. Always it is
the end that crowns the work. and because
the Declaration of independence was the
elimination of long series of acts that
led up to it, we think of it as the beginning
Of our national existence But it required
great many other days and preceding
acts to make possible the 4th of July. 1776
and the crowning act of that day. When
the colonies entered upon their Struggle with
Great Britain the idea of separation or in
dependence was entertained by very few
persons outside of New England 1t was
formally disavowed by Congress July 6. 1775
Before the spring of 1916 Pennsylvania
Maryland and New Jersey had enjoined up
on their delegates in Congress the rejection
OF any proposition looking to a separation.
and New York, Delaware and South Caro-
lima were so much opposed to it that their
delegates took no prominent part in pro-
noting it. Less than a year before the res
olution declaring in favor of indie
pendence was adopted Washington
said: II am well satisfied that no
such thing as independence is desired ::
on the contrary that it is the ar
dent wish of the warmest advocates for lib
erty that peace and tranquility. on consti-
tutional grounds, may be restored and the
horrors of civil war prevented" Benjamin
Franklin, just before leaving England, had
Informed Lord Chatham that the colonies
had no idea of setting up an independent
government" AT that time those who ad-
VOC tod ind
tremists. But the idea had taken root and
was spreading rapidly. The transfer of the
war to the South in May and June 1916
caused decided change of feeling in that
section of the country and in June Virginia
instructed her delegates in Congress to pro-
pose resolution declaring for independ-
ence, which was done. Then Pennsylvania
Maryland and New Jersey fell into line re-
scinded their former instructions and di-
rected their delegates to vote for independ-
ence. The declaration as reported was dis
cussed from July 1 to July inclusive, and
on that day the South Carolina delegates
who had previously voted against it, came
over in a BODY to it's support. BY this time
the passage of the resolution was certain
vote of Delaware was made so by sending
messenger post haste after an absent del
egate who was eighty miles from Philadel-
phia. Immediately on receiving the mes
sage he mounted a horse and rode all night
reaching the floor of Congress on the 4th
just in time to make the vote of Delaware
unanimous in favor of independence
Among the members of Congress who on
posed independence were some who after
wards became conspicuous by their services
to the cause, including John Jay, Edward
Rutledge and Robert Morris, the rich mer-
chant of Philadelphia who did the govern
ment financing during the revolutionary
war. These men and some others argued
that the declaration would be premature
that the colonies without an army, navy or
munitions of war could not cope with
Great Britain, that the attempt would prob
ably fail and then the colonies would be
in worse condition than ever. Therefore
they favored reconciliation with England.
This was the conservative view of the pc
riod, and it was not unpatriotic. But it did
not prevail. The States voted as a unit,
and, while some members were opposed to
independence, the resolution was adopted
by majority vote of all the States except
New York. That State did not vote on the
resolution, and her delegates did not sign it
till July 10. Thus it appears that the SEN
timent in favor of separation and independ-
ence was strongest at first in New England
spread from there to other parts of the
country, and was slow in reaching the point
of action. The resolution declaring for in
dependence was adopted on the I'd of July
the Sd was devoted to discussing the form
of the declaration, which had already been
drafted, and on the 4th it was adopted. The
final vote was the historic act but the
events of the preceding days which led up
to this were no less interesting and impOr-
tant. The I'd and Sd of July are anniver-
sary days as well the 4th.