Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-07-02

and duty" and. with characteristic southern
chivaIry. chose the latter. He told the dele
gates that his mind expressed. that he
had proved loyal to his trust. and begged leave
OF absence because of the unwelcome news
from the valley of the Potomac. His wish
was granted. but before he journeyed back to
old Virginia" he was consulted to his wishes
regarding form OF declaration. and his pleas
ure relative to its execution. He realized that
he was the prime figure in the adventure. and
expressed the hope that his absence would not
induce a denial to Virginia of being repre-
sented on the committee which might prepare
the instrument OF separation. President Han
cock sought his confidential thoughts on the
personality OF the delegate he wished from
Virginia. and Lee. who was eminently familiar
with the men and times" OF his native colony.
cheerfully mentioned the name of Thomas 1ef
ferson. He is a student OF government n
scholar. and splendid penman." Enough had
been said. and on the 1lth Of June. while Mr..
Lee was speeding southwark to the dear wife.
Thomas Jefferson. together with John Adams.
Benjamin Franklin. Roger Sherman and Rob
ert Livingston. was appointed a committee to
draft the Declaration Of independence. The
committee assigned to its chairman the task
OF the preparation Of the document. and he
entered into the work with enthusiasm. begot.
ten OF the address OF the great Il. H. Lee.
Hence the illness of Mrs. Lee is responsible
for the Declaration of Independence being
written by Thomas jefferson.
il was n happy coincidence that Lee left for
home. and Thomas Jefferson soon proved that
he equal to the task. for he gathered to-
gether in one matchless document the accumu-
lated grievances of all the colonies. and so
effectively wove the argument into a plea that
all the world pronounced his a masterpiece Of
logic. His committee made additions. 10 cor
rections and IS eliminaions.
Another incident which. though trivial. did
much. according to jefferson. to bring about
speedy action regarding the vote on the dec
Iaration is worthy of notice. Just back Of the
hall in which the assembled delegates sat was
a large livery stable, and the day one
of unusual heat the windows were all thrown
open, ard, there being no screens. the flies and
mosquitoes from the barn s~armed into the
convention hail. The insects pestered the dele
gates and caused considerable uneasiness to
the members. They alighted on the delegates.
and fairly devoured them. The knee breeches
which were worn did not protect the legs.
which were covered by thin slken stockings.
and the stings of the insects caused a most
uncomfortable condition. impelling many to
pray for a speedy adjournment. but Hancock.
Adams. and other enthusiastic supporters.
added warmth to the occasion by their fiery
eloquence. and prevented an adjournment until
the resolutions of Lee were respected and a
proclamation of independence declared. In
this furnace Of heat from both and tongue
were added the Irritating perplexities OF
troublesome insects. whose activities provoked
the members to hastily accept any penalty
rather than longer suffer physical and mental
annoyance of hungry flies. In fact, the occa-
sion presents the appearance Of the Odtime
fable OF dumb animals and flying insects are
mans best friends" for they continually prod
ded the "sires of old" into doing duty to man.