The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-07-10
Lesser Known Signers of the I'm.
mortal Declaration.
SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN
Their Courage and Faith Deserves
Recognition Along With Those
Whose Names Are Now House.
hold Words In the Nation.

-SSs cS44Il fAudLll5, bbuy
min Franklin and a few
others. But what about Josiah Bart.
lett, Thomas Mexican, Charles Carroll
Robert Morris, George Taylor, Edward
Rutledge, John Hart, Francis Lewis,
Button Gwinnett and a score of 9TH
ers?
Fifty of those f1fty-six men were
present during the discussion and
adoption of the Declaration, and, as
delegates to the continental congress,
were essential factors in its ultimate
ratification. The other six, elected
members Of congress later neverthe.
less took part in the general move.
ment by signifying themselves in ia.
Vor of 1t, and were allowed to sign.
Thomas Jefferson as the author Of
the Declaration, attained a lasting
fame, as did John Hancock president
of the continental congress.
All BraveIy Did Their Share.
But OF the men who stand outside OF
that ring Of Immortality much can be
said. II Jefferson, Hancock and Lee
were generals, the others were at the
same time essential to the Declaration.
They, as much as the others, affixed
their names to what was at that time
an extremely dangerous document.
They, as well as the others, burned
their bridges behind them and took
their stand firmly upon their convic.
ton. 1t required the signatures Of
recognized delegates from each of the
IL states to make the Declaration of
independence complete
If the veil Of 1873 years could be lift.
ed and those days lived over again, it
would be interesting to see with what
emotions those men among men took
the stand for independence. 1t would
be inspiring to hear the tone in which
each gave his answer when called
upon to vote for or against the ratifi-
cation Of that which was to give this
country its freedom. But 1t would
have been even more dramatic to have
lowered near the desk on which the
Declaration lay and watched each man
as he came forward and affixed his
signature, lasting testimonial to the
world, and Great Britain, especially,
of the courage for and faith in the
new country these men were creating.
The precise hour of the day Of the
adoption Of the Declaration of hide
pendence is not determinable from rec
ords. 1t is known. however, that con-
gress entered upon direct considera-
ton Of the question on the first of
July, 1776, by voting to resolve itself
into committee Of the whole to con-
slider the resolution introduced by
Richard Henry Lee and to refer the
draft of the Declaration to this COM
mittee. 1t was Richard Henry Lees
resolution that ran: That these Uni
ted Colonies are, and Of right ought to
be, free and independent states"
Adopting the Resolution.
Benjamin Harrison Of Virginia was
chosen chairman Of the committee. |
After discussion lasting the entire |
day the resolution was adopted The |
committee then resumed it's standing !
as a congress, and President Hancock
received Mr.. Harrison's report 1t was
then voted to postpone action on the
resolution until the following day.
This course Of procedure was carried
out, and so the second Of July is the
real Independence day. The resolution
adopted, congress again resolved it.
self into committee Of the whole, Ito
consider draft Of Declaration of In
dependence, or the form of announcing
the fact to the world" The considera-
ton continued throughout the third
and fourth, it being on the evening of
the latter day that the committee
arose. President Hancock resumed
the chair, and Chairman Harrison re-
ported that the draft had been agreed
upon. 1t was then adopted by con.
gress.
The draft was ordered on the 18th
Of July to be engrossed, and on August
2 the engrossed copy was signed by
80 members, George Wythe signed
about August o. Richard Henry Lee,
Elbridge Gerry and Oliver Wolcott In
September, Matthew Thornton the fol-
lowing November, and Thomas Nc
Kean even later, probably in 1881.
Such is the account of the signing as
recognized in an official history of the
Declaration, despite the fact that, in
recording the happening of the Fourth
of July, Jefferson himself said: THE
Declaration was reported by the com.