The Brandon news., 1903-04-30
TREND OF EVENTS
AT WASHINGTON.
Transpiracies OF Note, News and
Views of National Interest.
JEFFERSON SIGNED FOR LEE.
A Gentleman Versed In History Tells
Why Jefferson Signed. the Declaration
of Indedendence. ce.---Declarati0n of In
dependence Will Be Sealed From View

why JSAiSASVu OfSAIu& tuC DCa0f 0nVn
of Indedendence. ce.---Declaratio of In
dependence Will Be Sealed From View
Washingtor.-Mr. Thomas M.
Revier, of New Orleans, in CON-
menting upon the movement to
erect statue here to the memory
of Jefferson, recalled that 1t was
only through the illness of his col
league. Richard Henry Lee, that
Jefferson came to draft the Declara-
ton of Independence. con June
6" said Mr.. Revler, "nearly
month before the Declaration was
adopted, Lee had introduced in the
congress a set of resolutions de-
claring that 'the United Colonies CT
America are and of right ought to
be free and independent and Id
support CT these resolutions he made
one Of the most brilliant and thrill
ing speeches ever delivered in ad-
vocacy Of human rights. The reso-
lutions went over for consideration
until July l. In the meantime Lee
was taken i'll and had to return to
his home in Virginia. When the
matter finally was taken up, it was
decided that committee should be
appointed to draft more formal
declaration. Had Lee been present,
he would have been made chairman
Of this committee. In his absence
his associate from Virginia, Thomas
Jefferson, was selected in his stead.
Jefferson and BENJAMIN Franklin
we're appointed a subcommittee to
prepare the draft, and upon Jeffer-
son, because of his readiness with
the pen, devolved the actual work"
The Declaration of independence
is to be seen no more ir public. An
order has been Issued that hence
forth the historic manuscript shall
be kept under lock and KEY in
great fire and lock proof safe. The
Declaration will never be exhibited
again at any of the great interna-
tional fairs. This decision was
reached as the result of an examiEa-
tion of the document by commit
tee OF the American Academy of
Sciences now in session in this city,
who acted at the instance of Secre
tary Hay, whose attertioE has peen
called to the sad state of the famous
document by Andrew Allen, libra
rian of the state department.. Most
of the text of the Declaration is still
legible, but only one or two of tie
signatures can be made out. There
is only trace of the autograph OF
John Hancock, the first to sign.
In view of the latest development
in Manchuria the naval strength of
the various powers Ia Chinese
waters becomes interesting. The
Russian fleet has been gradually in
creased until now it numbers AZ
vessels. France has 81 ships and 20
others in India and Southern Chi
nese waters. Great Britain from
last accounts had 81 war vessels in
Chinese waters and Germany Il.
The Kentucky and the Oregon are
the only American battlesLips of the
Asiatic station, but there are "a
other smaller American warshlps,
including two monitors and some
small gunboats.in in Philippine waters.
Japan has a strong naval force on
the coast.
The shipbuilders of New Orleans
will make an effort to capture an
award for the building OF one or
two of the gunboats provided for
in the last naval appropriation bill.
Among those who have written TO
the department asking FOR plans ard
specifications is the Johnson Iron
Works of that city. The data asked
for was mailed to the comnany the
plans and specifications are for the
construction of the gunboats Du-
buque and Paducah, which are now
designated as gun boats Nos. Is and
19. The bids will he onened Nav 19.
The Tyners have offered an IN
| cnocti0n nf the pauerS taken from