The Holly chieftain., 1909-03-19
THE DECLARATION OF IN
DEPENDENCE.
By Kathryn Thomas.

by men VINO loVeU ana sOuSnt
1 freedom. Some desired social.
some political and still others re-
ligious freedom. This love of lib
erty they naturally transmitted to
their descendants. the colonists i'll
the eighteenth. century.
In their earlier days, the colon
lists were left largely to maintain
their own local governments. But
after the coronation of King
George, little by little, by acts
and DEGREES. they became limited
as to home rule. As they had
enjoyed their liberty so long these
restraints were hard to bear.
Throughout the civilized world
at this time representative gov
e.nment was being discussed and
advocated by the great men OF the
nations. Eminent thinkers like
Npltaire and Rousseau were ad-
va ,cing the doctrine that govern
ment was for the people and
hence should be by the people
These opinions reached the colon
les, where. they were disseminated
by the writings of Paine and 9TH
ers.
The colonists, on account Of
hardships peculiar to frontier life.
had built up race strong in spir-
it and physique. In them the ele-
ments essential to progress had
been strengthened by their asso-
citation with people and affairs
beyond their native land. King
| George could not understand the
| difference between his American
and his English subjects. and re-
gardcd this spirit Of advancement
as impudence and rebellion. This
misunderstanding. it seems. was
at the root of much of the trouble.
| Tie colonists throughout their
early .sufferings and hardships
were loyal to the mother country.
Tl,es were willing to make an,
lea,,r nablc socrifice to maintain
4 peace. They desired most oi Ill
4 representation in Parliament. the
!, same as accorded to Ireland and
Scotland. They did not object to
taxes being placed upon them. but
taxation without representation.
they would not endure. so finally.
| in April. l775 open war broke out.
AT the beginning of the war the
ec.orists had no thought of indie
| pen.ience. They did not wish to
separate their destiny from that
Of !,;s'i English brothers. ". sl,.
,ngtcn himself said that lie ah-
l,orred the idea OF independence.
The feeling for the A...er,caus
among the English people Was
very strong and many OF them
would not fight in so ull;ns. a
war. The king was forced to
look elsewhere for soldiers. ane
hired men trained for war froe,
some German principalities. This
act, probably more than any 9TH
er, cost him his American co;cn-
les and the friendship of the cis-
ilized world.
The first continental congress
convened in September. I774, and
framed a petition Of rights to the
king. This was ignored ami the
next year the second continental
congress framed similar e.ocr-
ment which met the same fate
This caused great Indignation
J among the colonies and several oi
! them, especially Virginia, in
! structed their delegates to strike
a blow for freedom.
The work of the second conti-
mental congress was to unite the
colonies and make laws to las
during the war. John Adams rec
commended al the colonies. which
did not have established govern
:; ments ito adopt such govermmen
J as would in the opinion of til,
: representatives Of the people. bes
: conduce to the happiness ar
safety Of their constituents
= particular and America in
eral."
On the seventh of 1une. r7zs
5 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia
c submitted resolution to con
S preSS. declaring in mart "+ha