Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-07-10
ne Immortal ..T,scIsrstIon..

the adoption of the Declaration of
Independence on July 4, I77e. The
debate ON the document seemed likely
to be drawn out to interminable
length. A livery stable was near the
hall where the discussion was held.
i On the afternoon of the Fourth the
flies came bHzzing through the open
windows and attacked the thinly pro-
tected legs of the members of con-
greSs, Resistance with handkerchief
and fan was in vain, and finally the
dignified body, goaded to distraction,
hurried to a vote on the momentous
question.
If it had not been for Franklin's
reputation as wit he would probably
have been the author of the Declare
tion, instead of Jefferson. He was
the man of greatest reputation on the
4 committee to draft the document.
But he was such an inveterate Joker
that it was feared his levity might
crop out even in the solemn paper.
So the venerable philosopher was
passed over and the task was intruSt-
ed to the redhaired youth from Vir-
ginia, then only 80 years old. Nearly
Ehalf a century later John Adams ex-
planned the choice in this wise: HMr.
Jefferson came into congress in June,
IT'S, and brought with him a reputa-
tion for literature, science and a hap
py talent of composition. Writings
of his were handed about, remarkable
for their peculiar felicity of express
sion. Though a silent member in
congress, he was so prompt, frank, ex-
plicit and decisive upon committees
and in conversation, not even Samuel
Adams was more SO, that he soon
seized upon my heart, and upon this
occasion 1 gave him my vote, and did
all in my power to procure the votes
of Others"
Adams and Jefferson were appoint
ed a subcommittee to make the draft.
According to the Massachusetts man
he insisted that Jefferson do it be-
cause he was Virginian, popular,
and could write ''ten times BETTER
than Adams. Jefferson spent three
weeks drawing up the document. He
did his work on little table of his
own design that is still preserved.
The declaration which Jefferson
wrote was a somewhat different
paper from the one finally adopt
ed. 1t contained this noble utterance
on the subject of slavery: "He (the
king) has waged cruel. war against
human nature itself, violating the
most sacred rights of life and liberty
in the persons of a distant people who
never offended him, captivating and
carrying them into slavery in another
hemisphere, or to incur miserable
death in their transportation hither.
This piratical warfare, the opprobrium
of infidel powers, is the warfare of the
christian king of Great Britain. De-
termined to keep open a market where
men should be bought and sold, he
has prostituted his negative for sup
pressing every legislative attempt to
prohibit or to restrain this eXecrable
commerce. z"
This passage was struck out by con-
gress. Adams wrote that it delighted
him, but he knew, JefferSon'S ''south-
ern brethren would never suffer it to
pass in congress-" Jefferson said it
was expunged in compliance with the
wishes of South Carolina and Georgia,
and he added: sour northern breth-
rem also, believe, felt little tender
under those censures; for, though
their people had few slaves them
selves, yet they had been pretty con-
siderable carriers of them to others"
Many of the references in the De-
claration are unintelligible to the
ordinary reader of today. Jefferson,
who was perhaps the most consum-
mate politician whom the country
has produced, used his political skill
in drawing up the paper. Besides the
general grievances of the country
each colony had its own particular
reason for discomfort. To satisfy local
pride he managed to introduce refer
enceS to these especial grievances.
For instance, the third count against
the king in the list is for refusing ito
pass other laws for the accommoda-
tion of large districts of people. 4" This
! W UIiC SICCUlO41 VI d0QIGtOIdt
counties out of newly settled districts
in certain states. In the seventh
count the king is arraigned for refus-
ing to encourage immigration. North
Carolina had passed an act in 1771 ex-
empting immigrants from taxation
for four years. This provision had
been vetoed by the British govern
ment, and it was to this act that the
count had reference. North Carolina
received attention again in the next
article, which speaks of the kings re-
fusal to allow courts to be established.
Massachusetts, is the object Of the
reference to standing armies. The
New York legislature is the one refer
red to in the clause about the suspen-
sion of legislatures.
The criticism has been made that
the Declaration was not original
Jefferson never asserted that its ideas