The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-04
THE IMMORTAL DECLARATION.

All intelligent Americans are more or less
familiar with the phraseology of the Dec
Iaration of independence and many have
seen facsimiles OF it as it is still preserved
with the autograph signatures of the men,
bers of the Congress that passed it. The
document deserves all the interest and
fame that have attached to it, 1t was the
most remarkable declaration of political
equality and political rights that had APP
peared up to that time and it has not
been surpassed since. If Thomas Jefferson
had never done anything else the author
ship of this paper would have immortalized
him. In anticipation of the passage of the
resolution introduced in Congress by Dele
gate Lee, of Virginia, committee had been
appointed to prepare a formal declaration
of independence. Ordinarily Mr.. Lee, as
mover of the resolution, would have been
chairman of the committee, but just at that
time he was called home by the illness of
his wife, and, at his own request, he was
not placed on the committee. If he had
been Jefferson, from the same State prob
ably would not have been, and his name
would not have been linked with the
famous paper. The committee consisted of
Thomas Jefferson Of Virginia, John
Adams of Massachusetts. Benjamin Frank
lin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of
Connecticut. and Robert r. Livingston of
New York. John Adams tells how Jefferson
came to be selected to prepare the decIara-
ton. The committee had several meet
ings," he says, 'in which were proposed
the articles of which the declaration was
to consist, and minutes were made of them.
The committee then appointed Jefferson
and me to draw them up and clothe them
in proper dress" The question then arose
whether Mr.. Adams or Mr.. Jefferson should
prepare the draft of the document. Mr.
Adams states that jefferson desired him
to take the minutes to his lodgings and
do the work. This 1 declined for several
reasons" he says. II had a great opinion
of the elegance of his pen and none at all
of my own. therefore insisted that no hes
itatiOn should be made on his part. He
urged me again to make the draft. / said,
I will not You should do it, oh, no. said
he Why will you not? You ought to do
it, l said, L will not Why? asked Jef9er-
son. Reasons enough What can be your
reasons? 1 said: Reason first, you are a
Virginian, and Virginian ought to appear
al the head of this business. Reason sec
ond, 1 am obnoxious, suspected, unpopular.
You are very much otherwise. Reason
third, you can write ten times better than
1 can Well, said Jefferson, If you are
decided / will do as we'll as 7 can" He
did we'll When the draft was completed
it was first shown to Mr. Adams, who sug-
gested a few verbal alterations, and was
then submitted to the full committee. Mr..
Adams says: 1T was read, and l do not
remember that Franklin or Sherman criti-
cised anything. We were all in haste. Con-
gress was impatient, and the instrument
was reported in Jeffersons handwriting as
he first drew it." Although Jefferson
drafted the declaration John Adams was its
most powerful advocate in Congress. Long
afterwards. in writing about Lees resolu-
ton, Jefferson said: John Adams was the
pillar of its support on the floor of Con-
gress-its ablest advocate and defender
against the multifarous assaults it en-
countered. He was our Colossus on the
nOOf, not graceful, not elegant, not always
fluent in his public addresses: yet he came
out with a power. both of thought and
expression. that moved us from our seats"
After Lees resolution was adopted the dec
laration itself was taken up. 1t was dis
cussed during the sessions of July and
and thoroughly dssected. Some verbal al
terations were made. and one important
clause. denouncing the slave trade, was
stricken out. 1t was finally adopted about
8 o'clock in the afternoon of July T. and
was signed by every member of Congress
who voted for it. The New York delega-
ton waited for the action of their state
convention aud did not sign it till July Is.
Six Pennsylvania members did not sign
till July 20. The declaration was first