The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-11
rg1 sroRr or THr DrcLARArIoN
which Every Boy aud Girl should be fs'
millar with.


>, ,,. 81, ,-ou should visit the building
G.. - v,-sebingfon known az th. War and
~a,,, penartment. you might see IN one
- the rooms. framed and hung, ne or
einal manuscript COPY Of the Decl2rsli0h
~ Tr5euendence. containing cofrtcuOhs'
,nle~ots and all and below il the en-
g~0-e.f ronv that was subsequently, hlsn,
- 3D.. .u lie members Of the ContlnenA@A
ma Declaration of Independence Is the
greatest q all our state papers. IL -
worth a great many times us own weight
fn thousand dollar notes TX j. lne mn
uent OF one Of the erandest events lN ~
history q Tie world. and usner7 ih 1..
80 feriuning 81 American history -
s--o,,ncod a startling truth 20 the i,laht-
crushed millions Of the old wore -A1
r,erts an epoch .n tie story OF hlina1
me Trainer % this immortal document
vas Thomas Jenerfon. of virginia
member Of the rontnenial tohsie -
which met al Philadelphia IN A.', ~ :.
proper perhaps 10 state heit - ~ -
4 s'rnrle accident that imposed this iaOof
Or privilege upon the young Nifsiniah.
The nan that would have been selected
Tor this purpose. according % pafaaMeh.
-. -,sa~e was Richard Henry Lee, OF
,-rrpirfa the early friend and compatflot
~ washington. From his seat IN Con-
~ress an the seventh Of June. Lee had
submitted this question In me FORM q
r.solution that The Colonies were py
rieht and ought % be free ana lnaepen-
dent states. which was seconoed by JONI
Adams. Of MassEc ausetts. Mnen' suoss-
crertlv Il committee was appointed -
- -,r, a nrouer declaration Of indepen-
6erce as he mover Of the original reso-
1r+irr the chai-r lship Of this commit
tee would have deFolg-d upon M Lee
lie had however, been called away Dy
sickness ln his family. and his coAeague'
NJ. Jefferson, vas Accordingly cnosen
in his stead.
Jefferson was only ihirty-three al TINS
time. and was the youngest man on tns
committee. His associates were Jonn
Adams. benjamin Franklin. Roger sner-
man. and Robert h. Livingsfone-ai4 much
older men. Franklin himself was seventy.
a rafriarchal-l00king figure IN bis long
tuT coat. sherman was hfty-hve. ana
Adams was fCrfy-one. a short. thick-set.
re5raced man. quick and chOleric. but q
cogent reas0ner. Livingstone was the al
forwards famous chancellor, one OF the
best educated and one OF tie richest men
IN America.
As chairman and also because he hal
already won the reputation % having A
mastery pen" the work OF drafting tns
declaration was put upon Mr. Jefferson
His task was done with singular force OF
argument and elegance Of dictiOn.
The document nearly as written ~
Jefferson. only few changes having been
made by Adams and Franklin. vas pre-
scented 20 Congress June =. lIlS X Was
discussed and debated IN committee OK
the whole. but was not adopted until july
4th Many suppose IL was also signed
on that day. but il was not IL was s4m-
ply authenticated. like other papers OF
Congress. ty the signature OF the ffesl-
dent and the Secretary. The President
was the c0urtly Hancock. and every
school-boy is familiar with his slsnatGrs.
which was written with force as tholsn
be was determined thai his name should
never be erased The pen with which he
wrote that elegant and decided signature
has been preserved. and Is no" IN tns
cabinet OF the Massachusetts, Historical
Society.
on the 18th % July. as Il appears BY
the secret journal Congress adopted the
following act: Resolved. That tie De-
cIaratlon passed on the fourth be fairly
engrossed on parchment. ard that y De
signed BY TIE members. COnsequeu .iy.
on the second day q August % Vas sign
q By ifty-f0ur q the delegates. and sub
seouentiy ~ two others. lfty-six In all.
representing all the thirteen colonies.
The names are growing somewhat In
distinct. but they have been Autographed
for preservation Hancock's Is the hand
somes. and the boldest; the other sigma
lures look weak and cramped beside H.
But not one was written with trembling
hand except that Of Stephen Hopkins. Of
Rhode Island. and II was not fear taa,
MADE him trenbie. but the palsy. from
which be was a sufferer. Charles Carroll
was the only member that added his : ace
OF residence. ard the reason FOR bis CO.
ing Il was somewhat peculiar. When he
was signing. some enc near him rema-x-
81. There are several n your name and
if we are urs1ccr ssfli they viii not know
whom 20 arrest
Not -. reraed the Maryland million
are. and Immediately added. of Carroll
tor"
Mr.. Carroll was the last survivor OF The
signers. living 70 see al the memorable
men with whom be had acted on that
eyenfful occasion pass away, and enjoy-
ing the prosperity OF his country. NTH
lz.- when he died. a. the age Of Dineiy-
I've year,