The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1902-12-03
AN oaleINAL DRAFT.
The First Manuscript Of the Declara-
ton Of Independence In Phila-
delphia-

The First Manuscript OF the Dectafa-
ton Of Independence In fniia-
delphia-
The original DRIFT Of the Declaration |
of Independence is not in The STAGE ue-
4artment at Washington, as the guiis
hooks say ana most people believe, pue
IN the library OF the American Philo-
eonbf.al Society OF Philadelphia 1he
narch rnent at the State department Is
me official draft. containing the cor
reetions made In Jefferson's oflelnal
manuscript by the committee ana W
he continental congress. The original
draft which was submitted Tor the
snnroval Of the committee by Mr.. JeE-
ferson. was presented by him on the 50
81 July. 1776, TO Richard Henry L@e,
dean Of the Virginia delegation IN ene
continental congress, VINO mane ene
motion for a committee 70 oraW w
declaration OF Independence from
Great Britain. It was accompanied Y
a letter from Mr.. Jefferson reciuns tno
circumstances under Wnlch lhe uosu-
ment was written, and acknowieosins
Air. Lees prominent part IN ene >, -
announcement Both the ielIsr az, anu
lie draft remained In Lees family oui
ing the next TWO generations, wn1h n.s
great grandson, also hieharu 1asn.s I,1s,a
| lee, gave it to the American ~ ~
eo,,,tcal society. of which both Mr.
Totre,.son and BENJAMIN Franklin were
+. s,~assdents Il consists of four closely
Rr,rtt,en naees OF white foolscap, twelve
ma one-half by eight inches IN size,
with very few erasures, and some u"
spelling. A.. 1asfer-
There are six copies Ia nhi-
THE official draft In the depart-
mont az state. containing the correc-
lions and amendments made by con-
gress p,.,,.s.l,,hsa
which | have Just described.
rough copy Of the original orait
made for James Madison. which was
purchased by congress with the otne.
Madison papers several years ago, ano
ie retained in the archives OF the staUs
, department. ,,,.
rough copy made for Jefferson
! ! autobiography and purchased by con
gress many years ago with the otne'
i, Iererson papers from his granddaueh
ter, Mrs. Randolph
8 A copy OF the official draIt con
tanning the corrections and amenu
ments believed to have been sent y
tbe author to John Page, an old friend
!: once governor OF Virginia. In SOM
. manner unknown it came into posses
f sion of the Lee family. and was sol
o in 1857 by Cassius F Lee Oh Ale'
andria 10 Elliott Danforth OF NeN
u york. and afterward sold by the latte
T. 10 the Lenox library. II may now !.
.e seen in that library. corner OF FIT
l. avenue and Seventy second street
q a mutilated copy OF the oLiglna
draft now in possession Of Mrs. Wash
hnrn. Boston. This is one OF tho se'
n eral copies made by Mr.. Jetferson 10
v she information OF his friends.
y The copy sent TO Governor Page na
e been partially identified. Other copls
x we're sent TO George Wythe OF WI
a iiamsburg. Mr.. Jefferson's precepsor
~ lav. 40 Edmund Pendleton. who Wa
associated with him in revising u
~ code Of Virginia. and TO Philip Maze
a. an Italian patriot and exile VINO can
to live in Virginia and afterward wel
10 Europe as an emissary from Y
American colonies TO borrow mon
and arouse sympathy The latter pr
he eented his copy to the Countess
at Tesse of Paris. and It is now IN one
me museums in that city Wasnin
ton letter.