The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-07-05

memorate the birth of American in
dependence.
A chorus of male and female voices
sang THE Red, White and Blue,
and sang it so we'll that they were
given hearty applause.
Putnam's Remarks.
Mr.. G. F. Putnam read the Decla-
ration of independence and prefaced
the reading as follows
Fellow citizens: This is the one
hundred and thirty-frst birthday of
the United States of America. On
July End, 1776, the Continental con-
gress, composed of delegates from all
of the 13 original states, which later
formed the union. in session at Phila-
delphia, adopted a resolution as fol-
| lows:
Resolved, that these united colo
nies are and of right ought to be.
free and independent states; that
they are absolved from all allegiance
to the British crown, and that all po-
lticai connection between them and
the state of Great Britain is, and
ought to be, totally dissolved"
And two days later, on July 4th,
1776, the immortal Declaration of In
dependence, the charter of liberty,
not only of America, but of the world,
was promulgated.
We have all read the familiar
story; it is not necessary to repeat 1t,
of how our forefathers, loyal English
men, though they were, were goaded
to desperation by persistent and re-
peated acts of tyranny and forced to
take up arms in defense of the doc
trine of English liberty, for which
Englishmen shed each others blood
in the time of the Stuarts and on ac-
count of which Charles |. received
practical lesson on the continuity OF
of the spinal column, the doctrine
| that taxation without representation
is tyranny.
/ Various devices had been tried by
the king and the ministry to collect
hateful taxes. All proved futile. The
| detested red coats were sent over TO
Boston, Massachusetts being particu-
iarly rebellious and inconsiderate OF
the tender feelings of king and par
| lament.
Their presence had made bad
blood; collisions and armed conflicts
had resulted and finally war had
broken out in the spring OF l775 at
| Concord, Lexington and Bunker Hill.
Meanwhile. in the autumn of IVA
the first Continental congress COM
posed of delegates elected by the Ii
| colonies. had met at Philadelphia,
then the most populous city on the
continent, for the purpose of united
effort in furthering the ends and aims
of the patriotic people. At this time
, the only thought was to secure re-
dress of grievances; independence
was not dreamed of except by a few
extremists.
| A second congress met in May,
| 1775. This was the body that later
declared the independence of the col
opies. To this result events had
been gradually, but no less surely,
| tending.
The war had been in progress with
varying fortunes for over a year. 1t
was evident that no concessions could
he obtained from the crown, but tnat
force was the only policy possible.
Congress had adopted an address to
the king entreating a change OF meas
ures and one to the people OF Great
BRITAIN. These, like all their prede-
cessors. had been in vain. A solemn
declaration of the reasons for taxing
nm arms had also been published, but
| It became increasingly evident that
as the war must go on, the posltlon
of the people of America would be
stronger as an independent nation
| fighting to maintain their liberty,
than as rebellious subjects, resist
ing constituted authority.
Congress had recommended to the
authorities of the various colonies
where no government suitable TO the
conditions had been established, 10
adopt such government as should best
conduce to the safety and happiness
of the constituents and of America IN
general, and adopted preamble that
the exercise of every kind of author
ity under the crown of Great Britain
should be totally suppressed.
On June Z, 1875, certain resolu-
tions regarding independence was
moved.
On June 10, 1875, the appointment
of a committee to prepare a deciara,
tion of independence was moved anu
| carried. On June % the committee
reported a draft. On July 2nd con-
gress adopted the resolution for IN
denendence. On July 4th congress
adopted the Declaration of lndepend-
ence. -
IT was at that time signed by John
/ Hancock, DreSlueHI VI liV
subsequently, on August End, having
been engrossed on parchment, 1t was
signed by all those then present. AT
later date one or two other names
we're affixed. The original is In the
department of state at Washington.
The committee appointed to pre-
mare the declaration were elected by
I ballot. Thomas Jefferson. having the
most votes, was the chairman. The
other members were John Adams,
Ben iamin Franklin, Roger sherman
1 and Robert r. Livingston.
This committee appointed SUB
/ committee to draft the declaration,
viz: Thomas Jefferson and John
1 Adams. The Declaration is the work
of Jefferson and to him belongs the
credit for its admirable form and
language. Some changes were made
by Adams and Franklin but nothing
of a material character.
In the debate upon the adoption OF
the Declaration, Adams bore the chief
part. He was very forceful and
4 tremendously earnest speaker. HIS
i \