Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-01
JULY SECOND THE DAY
Real Independence Day Not
the Fourth.
so SAYS HISTORIAN
JEFFERSON MISTAKEN ABOUT
DATE OF SIGNING DOCUMENT.
Surprising Statement in Uncle Sans
Forthcoming Official History of
the Declaration of Independence.
so SAYS HISTORIA N

Copyright. 1905 by John Elfteth wstklns)
1.-THE real independence day is the sec
ond OF July" will say the governments
official Story of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence." handsome public document
fresh from the pen of Mr.. William II.
Michael chief clerk and historian of the
Department of State
Tomorrow then. and not two days after
tomorrow the nations frecrackers should
explode with loud report; its skyrockets
should go kissing and soaring into the sum-
mer heavens-were 1t not the holy Sabbath,
at least, Since we bent over childhood
histories We have always had an idea that
our fathers severed the ties with Great
Britain on the Fourth of July. 1776. and We
have had no word of no less authority
than Thomas jefferson. the author of that
haIlowed instrument, that the Declaration
was signed on that date, on whose anniver-
sary the great father of democracw died.
But Mr.. Michael says no. and for years he
has toiled for his country beneath the same
roof which shelters the sacred document;
has had the nations archives at his fin
gers ends.
independence Declared July 2.
THE Independence of the United States
was declared by resolution on the I'd of
July and the adoption of the form of
btCidEdlipn On lut tbA OF july was sec
ondary matter" says iii Michael. 1T is
little strange that more Importance was
not attached to the ID of July in connection
with the Declaration of Independence. The
resolution introduced by Richard Henry
Lee. which declared our independence was
passed on that day July ., 1870. This was
really the vital point-the crucial juncturc.
The real act of Independence, which Mr..
Michael has had re.,-uduccd I'm fac smile,
was. then. the Lee resolution declaring:
That these United colonies are. and
of right ought to be free and independent
states. that they are dbsolved from all
allegiance to the British Crown. and that
all political connection between them and
the State of Grea. Britain Is, and ought to
be, totally dissolved"
Signed August 2.
Concerning the actual date of the Decla-
rations signing, Mr.. Michael says: Mr..
jefferson in his account states that all the
members present except Mr.. Dickinson,
signed the Declarat ton in the evening of
the Fourth of July. sThe journal shows
that no one signed it that evening except
Mr. Hancock and Mr.. Thomson. The
journal entry is: Signed by order and in
behalf of Congress. John Hancock, Presi-
dent. Attest, Charles Thomson, Score
tary.' on August the Declaration.
as engrossed under the order of Congress.
was signed by all of the members of Con-
grcss present
What really did happen on July of that
year of years the final adoption of
draft of the form of announcing tho fact
to the world that Independence had been
decrced two days before. Jefferson had
written this draft in his Philadelphia
apartments, consisting of a ready-fur-
nshed parlor and bedroom In the new brick
house of Hyman Gratz. at the southwest
corner of 9TH and Market streets, ION the
outskirts of the city" The Penn National
Bank now occupying the site of this
dwelling is in the very business heart of
Philadelphia.
jefferson Writhed.
Jefferson's disgust at the changes made
in his draft is described by Mr.. Michael.
The Continental Congress struck out the
language charging the king with melting
unreasonable instructions with our fellow
citizens" by promising them confiscated
property: with carrying on the slave trade
and refusing to allow American legisla-
lures to suppress tt While these and
many other clauses were being stricken
out of his draft Jefferson sat in his seat
without raising his voice in defense of his
own work, Notwithstanding he writhed in
agony as he saw some of his most cherished
paragraphs and sentences eliminated from
the document" According to the historian
John Adams, otherwise a critic of the Dec
laration. complained that some Of the drafts
best parts, particularly that indicting the
king for continuing the slave trade, should
not have been stricken out. Yet it will be
well to remember" Mr.. Michael says. that
Georgia and South Carolina were both car
rying on the slave trade at this time as