The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-07-12
JULY SECOND The DAY
COYERHAEBT HISTORIAN SAYS
REAL INDEPENDENCE rs NOT
THE FOURTH.

Colonies Made Declaration ARains
England Previous 20 Drawing hi
toricAI Paper Final Signing
Document on August second
According TO the opinions OF n
latest historical authorities both Il
school children OF by-gone days an
those OF the present time have bee
taught Incorrectly as 10 the proper II
dependence day Of the nation. No on
date seems 10 develop such excitabl
emotions as does the mention OF IA
Fourth Of July. but how unaltractlf
would IL seem II We were 10 state tina
the second OF July is the day OF hrs
crackers. bombs and Roman candles
And yet. according 10 Mr. William II
Michael. Chief Clerk and Historian o
the Department OF State. THE real In
dependence Day is the second OF July.
Since we bent over our childhoo,
histories We have always had en- ides
thar our fathers severed the ties viii
Great Britain on the Fourth Of July
I716. and we have had word OF no less
an authority than Thomas jefferson
author OF that hailowed instrument
that the Declaration was signed on
that date. on whose anniversary the
great father OF democracy died. But
Mr.. Michael says no. and for years he
has toiied for bis country beneath the
same roof which shelters the sacred
document: has had the nations arch
ives al his fingers ends.
INDEPENDENCE ON JULY 2.
THE Independence OF the United
States Was declared by resolution on
the "a OF July. and the adoption OF the
form OF Declaration on the 9Th OF July
was a secondary natter says Mr..
Michael. 1T is a little strange that
more importance was not attached 10
the 20 OF July in connection with the
Declaration Of Independence. The res
olution introduced by Richard Henry
Lee, was passed on that day July 2.
i77e). This was really the vital point
the crucial juncture.-
The real act OF independence. which
Mr.. Michael has had reproduced IN fac
smile. was then the Lee resolution
declaring.
THAT these Emitted colonies are. and
OF right ought 20 be, free and indie
pendent states: that they are absolred
from all allegiance TO the British
Crown. and that all political connection
between them and the State OF Great
Britain Is. and ought 70 be. totally
dissolved"
SIGNED AUGUST 2
Concerning the actual date Of the
Declarations signing. Mr.. Michael
says: MIR. Jefferson In his account
states that all the members present
except Mr.. Dickinson, signed the Dee
laration In the evening OF the Fourth
Of July. The journal shows that no
one signed Il that evening except Mr.
Hancock and Mr.. Thomson. The
Journal entry is Signed. John Han.
cock. President. Attest. Charles Thom
son. Secretary On August
2. the Declaration. as engrossed under
the order OF Congress. was signed by
all OF the members OF Congress
What really did happen on July 4.
" that year OF years was the final
adoption OF n draft OF the form of
the fact TO the world"
hat Independence had been decrced |
wo days before. Jefferson had writ
en- this draft In his Philadelphia /
apartments. consisting OF a ready-fur
,isAed psrlor and bedroom In the new
rick house OF Hyman Cratz. at the
'oshwcct corner OF 9TH and Market
treefs ION the outskirts OF the city,
he Penn National Bank now occupy
ng the site OF this dwelling. Is In the
cry business heart OF Philadelphia
WRITTEN LATE IN JULY.
But the Original Declaration" which
II pilgrims to Washington formerly
azed upon IN awe and reverence. was
OF ordered written for more than two
fceks after that long but unjustly
allowed July 4. On July 10. Con.
ress ordered that the Declaration be
fairly engrossed on parchment" and
hat "the same. when enErossed. be
Igned by every member OF Congress"
ONE time within the next two weeks
ie beautiful pen work which thous.
nds OF Americans have since mar
eled at and admired was executed ,
pom the great strip of sheepskin now I
'cked away in the Department OF I
tate az Washington. II
On August 2. l776, Just a month
ter the real stroke OF independence Z
lis great sheepskin. was unrolled IN a
e presence OF the Continental Con !
'ess. In Independence Hsll. with the :
ording OF the corrected draft Il was a
refully compared at the table" I,
his formality gone through with. /,
was spread out upon desk and !
yncd by all OF the members Of Con
css present Fifty of these fathers :,
the republic signed on that day. +,
< OF the revered "signers,. did not a,
TX their SIGNATURES until later dates m
'orge wythe OF Virginia signed II
out August q. Richard Henry Lee. al
rginis: Eldridge Gerry. Massachu. al
Is. and Oliver wolcott. Connecticut
not sirn until some time IN Sep
nber Matthv Thornton. OF Newt
mpshire. did not add his name until r.
vemher. snd Thomas McKean OF IN
isware. rrohsb1v did not afix his. h,
, ANAL SIGNATURE until i've wears al
err. or 1881. Matthew Thornton. ST
the wsv. was not appointed to Con. Ri
.ss until September and did not We
e his seat until November--four lo'
nths after the adoption OF the Dec
alton. other siKners who werr hr
members Of Congress on July lbr
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