The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-04
When Was the Declaration First Signed?


Editor Of The Times:
Sir,-Should any one ask a person of
average historical informant what is
the best authenticated event in Amerl-
can history, he would probably reply
The signing Of the Declaration Of In
dependence on the Fourth Of July, sew
enteen hundred and seVenty-six.'' He
would doubtless look upon you with the
greatest sympathy We're you so stupid
as TO suggest that Inc Declaration was
not signed at all on July 4th, nor indeed
till August >, 1II6. But We're he open to
conviction, you might be able to con-
vince him OF his error and the truth of
your statement. 1t is true that the
usual textbooks on United States his
tory. to which he has access would either
support him directly in his belief, or
saying nothing OF the signing of the
Declaration, so state the fact OF It's
adoption as to convey the impression
that the adpotion and signing We're 81
multaneous events. But among the best
investigators to-day the conviction has
become almost a certainty that the re-
ceved opinion is wrong. The fact has
often been stated, the arguments pub
licly repeated many tines, but the popu-
lar mind is almost as little Impressed
as when the question first began to be
is that our celebration OF July 4th as
Independence day has a tendency To-
center all important acts leading to the
adoption OF the Declaration or subse-
ouent to it around that day. For this
reason July second, on which Lees res
olution was passed, and the real victory
for independence won in Congress, mas
sunk beneath the popular notice, al
though it is that day which John Adams
enthusiastically said would be the
most memorable epoch in the history
of America" Much more easily would
August I'd, the day only on which sig
natures were subscribed, be forgotten,
when no celebration of 4 is made.
The +rst to assert that the signing did
not occur on the Fourth was Thomas Nc
lSeau, of Delaware, who was present on
that day and voted for the adoption OF
tile Declaration, but positively denies that
The paper was then signed Though this
statement was ridiculed by both Jeifer-
son and John Adams 1t did not die on
August 3 1926. a day selected expressly
cn account of its historical significance
On the occasion of memorial exercises
fer Adams and Jefferson. who both died
on the preceding Fourth of July. Daniel
Webster uses the following language:
..:rhe Declaration, as thus published
thv order OF July 4th, did not bear the
rames of the members. for as yet it had
not been signed by them" The histo-
rian. Bancroft, when he came to write
the last chapter of his eighth volume
f,urd it necessary to state explicitly
that 1.-The Declaration was not signed
by the members OF Congress on the day
IN which it was agreed to-" The most
complete disproof of the current belief
ana in advocacy of the claims OF August
"a is an essay BY Judge Chamberlain. Of
massachusetts,, read In 1884. to which all
who have since discussed the subject
are greatly indebted. The editor of that
comprehensive work. Winsorss America,
accepts Judge Chamberljn's view axi
being almost certainly correct. OF small
ST. histories easily accessible. containing
the same opinion, may be mentioned Hig-
ciason.s Larger History of the United
states. and Channing's Students His
tory of the United States" From these
facts it may be judged that the ponderous