The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-03
JULY 4TH THE CORRECT DATE.

Editor Statesman:
A few weeks ago some one made the
assertion that we celebrate the wrong
day when we observe July Fourth as
Independence Day, because the sigma
lures of the congressman who adopt
| ed it were not attached until some
time in August, 1875. A writer in one
of the July magazines endeavors to
prove that July I'd, is Independence
Day, and he supports his contention
| by citing a passage Of letter written
| that day by John Adams to his wife
| in which he announced independence
| was declared that day and predicted
! that the day would be observed with
pomp and fireworks by future gener-
atoms.
While admitting that there is some
ground for the contentious of these
men, who seek reputation by attempt
ing to destroy the beliefs of the people.
I insist that the people are right, alb
solutely right, when they follow the
custom of a century and a quarters
growth, and celebrate July Fourth as
Independence Day.
A rare old book of mine, to which
congress gave its approval in 1S47, by
ordering several thousand copies and
giving it the right to .'be transmitted
by mail free of postage" contains The
Constitution, the Declaration of indie
pendence and many other historical
documents. 1t was compiled by Colo
mel William Hickey. Prefxed to these
documents are extracts from the Off
cial journals of the Continental Con-
gress. Chapter three of this book is
entitled A Declaration of Independ-
ence, by the Representatives of the
Assembled"
These extracts show that the Con-
tinental Congress considered "resolu-
tons respecting independency," for
some weeks, and that the great jocu-
ment was not the product of an hour.
On Saturday, June s, 1916. the consid-
Grafton of the resolutions respecting
independency' was postponed ito
Monday next at 10 O'clock" when the
following resolution was adopted
Resolved, That the consideration of
the first resolution be postponed to
Monday, the first day of July next;
and in the meanwhile that no time be
lost in case the congress agree thereto,
that a committee be appointed to pre-
pare declaration to the effect of the
said first resolution which is in these
are, and Of right ought to be, free and
independent states; that they are alb
solved from all allegiance to the Brit
ish crown, and that all political con-
nection between them and the state of
Great Britain is, and ought to be, to-
tally dissolved
On the next day, the following was
entered in the journal of the CONT
mental Congress-:
Resolved, That the committee, for
preparing the Declaration, consist of
f1ve-the members chosen, Mr.. Jeffer-
son, Mr.. John Adams, Mr.. Franklin,
Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. r. B. Living
stone"
ton of the resolution agreed to by the
committee of the whole, "at the re-
quest of colony" was postponed un-
til the next day.
On Tuesday, July 2, 1776, the con-
gress adopted the resolution referre!
Ito the committee for preparing the
Declaration" which is set out in full
in the resolution adopted June 10
quoted above. 1t also adopted the fol-
| lowing:
Resolved, That this congress will
| tomorrow, again resolve itself into
committee of the whole, to take into
further consideration the declaration
respecting independence"
| On Wednesday, July 3, 1875, after
considering the subject in committe
of the whole congress again resolved
! to go into committee of the whole on