Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1906-07-07
JULY SECOND THE DAY
GOVERNMENT HISTORIAN SAYS
REAL INDEPENDENCE Is NOT
The FOURTH.
Colonies Made Declaration Against
England Previous 10 Drawing His
tOricaI Paper Final Signing OF
Document on August SeSoncs

According 20 the opinions OF the
latest historical authorities both the
/ school children OF by-gone days and
! those OF the present time have been
| taught incorrectly as 20 the proper In
| dependence day OF the nation. No one
l date seems 10 develop such excitabie
emotions as does the mention OF the
Fourth OF July. but how unattractve
would IL seem II We were % state that
the second OF July Is the day OF fire
/ crackers. bombs and Roman candles.
And yet. according 70 Mr. William X.
Michael. Chief Clerk and Historian OF
i the Department OF STATE. The real In
dependence Day is the second OF July"
/ Since We bent over our childhood
histories we have always had an idea
that our fathers severed the ties with
Great Britain on the Fourth OF July
1916. and we have had word OF no less
an authority than Thomas Jefferson.
author OF that hailowet instrument
that the Declaration was signed on
that date on whose anniversary the
great father OF democracy died. But
Mr.. Michael saws no. and for years he
has toiled for his country beneath the
same roof which shelters the sacred
document. has had the nations arch
ives at his fingers ends
INDEPENDENCE on JULY >
The independence OF the United
States was declared by resolution on
p the "a OF July. and the adoption OF the
form OF Declaration on the 4th OF July
was a secondary matter" says Mr
Michael 1T IS little strange that
more importance vas not attached 20
the "a OF July in connection with the
, Declaration OF Independence. The res
, [ OlutiOu introduced by Richard Henry
T n that d Tmfr
1776). This was really the vital point
g. the crucial juncture."
The real act OF Independence. which
Mr. Michael has had reproduced in fac
% smile. vas then the Lee resolution
! declaring.
!, THAT these United colonies are. and
II OF right ought 10 be. free and indie
pendent states: that they are absolved
from all allegiance % the British
= Crown. and that all political connection
e between them and the State OF Grea
j. Britain IS. and ought 10 De. total,
Ia dissolved"
SIGNED AUGUST >.
Concerning the actual date OF IN
Declarations signing. Mr.. Michae
says. Mr.. Jefferson in his accoun
- | states that all the members presen
except Mr.. Dickinson, signed the De-
laration in the evening OF the Fourt
OF July. The journal shows that n
one signed il that evening except NJ
Hancock and MI Thomson. Tn
journal entry is: signed. John Har
cock. President. Attest. Charles Thou
2. son. Secretary On Augu:
>. the Declaration. as engrcssed undo
the order OF Congress was signed B
all or the members OF Congre:
present"
What really did happen on July
OF that year OF years was the fin.
adoption OF a draft or the form
announcing the fact 20 the world
that independence had been decree
two days before. Jefferson had wri
ten this draft in his Philadelph
apartments. consisting OF a readyfu
rished parlor and bedroom IN the ne
brick house OF LYMAN Gratz. az Z
southwest corner OF eth and Mark
streets. ION the outskirts OF the city
The Penn National Bank now occup
ing the site OF this dwelling. IS in q
very business heart OF Philadelphia
WRITTEN LATE IN JULY.
But the original Declaration" Viii
All pilgrims 20 Washington former
gaZeG upon in awe and reverence. "
not ordered written for more than U
weeks after that long but unjust
hallOwed July 4. On July 70. CO
greSs ordered that the Declaration
fairly engrossed on parchment" a
that the same, when engrossed
signed BY every member OF Congress.
Some time within the next two wee
the beautiful pen work which tho
ancs OF Americans have since n.
veled az and admired was execut
upon the great strip OF sheepskin X
locked away IN the Department
State az Washington
On August 2. i776. just a mon
after the real stroke OF iDdependen
this great sheepskin was unrolled
the presence OF the Continental CO
gresS. in Independence Hall. with I
ing wording OF the corrected draft IL "
ter carefully compared at the tabl
oro- This fOrmaiity gone through vi
ker IL was spread out upon a desk a
me signed BY all OF the members Of c.
ton gress present Fifty OF these faiths
ore OF the republic signed on that q
lat Six or the revered -signers. did /
res, ark their signatures until later dat
les. George Wythe OF Virginia sign
10 about Axgust - Richard Henry L
VirgiY a: El6rldxe Gerry. Massacs
hue sets. aad Oliver Wofoott. Connectic
.ery did not sign until some time N 3
luty tsmhsr Natthv Thornton. Of ~
5 in Hampshire, did not add his name IN
BE- November and Thomas McKean