El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-01

fuSlng to allow the Americans 10 sup
press it. 1t was deleted. Likewise sew
eral other items, ogether with some
biting remarks about the tyranny OF
the king, of which posterity was invited
cordially to disapprove.
John Adams was anxious that the al
fusion to slavery should be retained
Nothing on the face of it could seem
more reasonable. But members called
attention to the undeniable fact that
Georgia and South Carolina were both
carrying on the sSblaekbirding traffic
at that very time with utmost energy
and that other colonies were profitne
largely by it. Hence it would be abb
surd to arraign George III. for doing
the same thing.
Flies fastened Signing.
Jefferson, in reminiscent moments
used to say that the signing OF the Dec
;artion on August was FASTENED by
Swarms of biting flies which invaded the
open windows from nearby livery
stable, assaihno the silk-stokinged legs
of the honorable members. The latter
for a while protected themselves by
frantic exercise with their handkerchiefs,
but at length the nuisance became in
tolerable, and they decided to bring the
momentous business to a close-s-
The real Independence day, beyond
question, was July 2. For it was on
that day that the resolution declaring
British yoke was adopted. The form
of declaration was mere subsequent
detail, decided two days later.
The resolution in question, introduced
by Richard Henry Lee, declared that
'these united colonies 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 political connection between them
and the state of Great Britain is, and
ought to be. hereby dissolved.
Lees Resolutions.
This resolution, adopted July 2, was
but not unanimously. One Delaware
delegate, George Read voted against it;
likewise two Pennsylvania delegates,
Willing and HUMPHREYS. The New York
delegates had no instructions from their
state, and so refrained from voting. One
week later, however, having received the
requisite authorization, they voted aye.
When the resolution had been passed,
congress resolved itself into a commit
tee of the whole 'tto consider the draft
of the Declaration of independence. I"
Debate on this draft occupied two days,
and on the evening of July 4 the COM
mittee rose. Benjamin Harrison report
ed the amended draft as agreed upon,
and it was then formally adopted.
The First Fourth
The first Fourth of July celebra-
tion was held on the eighth day of
August, 1776-six days after the signing
of the historic document-the principal
ceremonies being in the grounds of the
statehouse in Philadelphia (since known
as Independence hall. where the con-
gress held its session. The building
stands today as it stood then-a plain
brick structure, surmOunted by a belfry,
on Chestnut street.
On the occasion of this celebration
the Declaration was read to a multitude
of people by John Nixon, amid great
patriotic enthusiasm. As testimony
that British authority was no longer
recognized, the royal arms in the court
room were torn down. In the evening
there were bonfires all over the city.
and, historians say. "eVery sign of joy
was manifested.
The statehouse, originally built for
the use of the Pennsylvania colonial
government, was finished in 1874, at a
total cost of $28,000-this being deemed
at the tine an extrayagant sum to put
into a public building. After the battle
OF BrandEwine it was used as a mill
uOSplItl. 1ueIc washington de-
liVered his farewell address, on retiring
from public life, and within its historic
precincts the noble Lafayette held a
public reception on his return to this
country, in 1924.
The Liberty Bel.
In the 'belfry hung large bronze bell.
which, cast in England. was landed In
this country in 1852 But it met with
an incidental mishap, which made neces-
saTY the Roasting of it In Philadelphia.
At the suggestion of Isaac Norris,
speaker of the Pennsylvania assembly,
it was reeast with an inscription which
proved maryelously prophetic, and
which read: Proclaim liberty through
out the. land, to all the inhabitants
thereof"
The bell was sunk in the Delaware
river during the revolution, to prevent
the British from obtaining possession of
II, but, after the conclusion of the war,
was again restored to the belfry. It's
heroic Vicissitudes. however. caused il
to crack, and, the repairing of so pre-
cious an object being out of the dtles-
ton, it is now preserved in independence
hall for the admiration of a latter dav.
and, it is to be hoped, not less patriotic.
generation.
Preserving the Declaration.
As for the Declaration. the original
document, bearing the autographs of
the signers, was kept for some wears
in the office of the secretary of the
congress. Then. in 1889, by special en-
actment, it was handed over to the bu-
reau of foreign affairs, which occupied
a frame building at No. 10 South Sixth
street, in Philadelphia. Almost stimuli
taneously the title of the bureau in
question was altered to department OF
state and thus it hap-ens that this
department of the government sfi1l "a.
tains in its keeping the most precious
Of all contributions to the national ar.
cnlves- Rene Bache.
FARMERS TO STUDY