Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-07-02

f rrt ID >OA Was II
- man called upon to vote on the
auop.ion OF the declaration was Josiah
aSaItlett. and, likewise, he was the
n u.s.! a after President John Han
eoIh, 70 lnscribe his name on that fate
iol manuscript.
nS families in the south could
the s;ny trace their ancestry to one OF
20 oeen for a chance misfortune.
Georgia sent, among her other dele
5aies, John Houston and Rev, ]. ].
M 10y 70 the congress. Mn Houston
Va hurceo TO a sudden leave from
cn - ue1ate, however, when it was dis
nos = tnat DE-. Zubly was on his way
pesehaste to inform the crown governor
OF georgia of what was taking place
~ Philadelphia Zubly had been Civ
sns away the secrets of the executive
o . He was accused on the floor
~ ooheress OF SO doing by Samuel
Ghnase. OF Maryland. but denied the
n,ses and challenged proof. The
PACK to Georgia, closely pursued by
thouston. fortunately, for the good Of
me ountry by the time they reached
Geo,sla the crown governor had al
aeauy oeen deposed by the people, had
escaped and taken refuge in an armed
bd.sh vessel In Savannah harbor. But
a II not been for the necessity of fol-
loving DR.. zubly the name of John
houston would have been added to
enoSe OF the other signers.
me SIX men who were no members
oa congress at the time of the sighing
Ui Inc declaration Of independence, but
wm ere elected later n allowed to sign
T Mvre Sen3amln Rush. George Taylor,
lanes wilson. George Ross, George
oaymer and Matthew Thornton. OF the
oiaglhal 5O members, however, there
were nve who did not sign on the I'd
81 August, George wythe, Richard
henry Lee, Elbridge Gerry, oliver VOL
cott n Thomas Mexican. There were
49, oeheT men, also, who were present
tuait dso' tne discussion n adoption of
ne aeciaratlon, voting for it, but who
lever signed. They were Henry Wis
iAeT OF New York and John Dickinson.
iHomas Mexican is interesting not
4ldy because he was the last to sign
Tue oeciaratlon, but also because he
was closeiy allied with two Of the COL
tiua &c q ne same time. He was a ma
IN New London. in 1874. Following an
eielle1itarV education, he was placed in
I1laise OF the Rev. Francis Allison. at
newcastle, Del. Later he read law in
and was admitted to the bar
VI mat colcny. But his native colony
nslused 70 give him up, n in 1865 he
was elected a member Of the Pennsyj-
Van1a assembly. In the same wear he
was also made a Judge Of the common
peas court for Newcastle county, Della
ware. he was elected to congress from
peiaWare' serving for nine consecutive
.erins and in 1881 was president of the
congress. All this time, however. he
liaa oeen continuously reelected to his
Once or ~assemblyman in Pennsylvania.
.Ihen, in addition to being president of
in 1777 he was made chief
Justlce of Pennsylvania. This office he
held until 1893, at which time he be-
came governor Of that colony, continue
ing TO hill the latter office until 1908.
He died in 1917. ~
colonies thought enough Of him to give
MN thelr highest office, Thomas Nc
heans life was not without it's thorns.
IN LOS, shortly after he was made chief
1ustlce OF pennsylvania, an attempt
was made to impeach him. This, how
ever, failed. But again in 1907 and
.lsoS another attempt was made, and
this time a committee, made IN of
members of the House Of Representa-
tlves, was appointed to consider and re-
port on the matter. This led TO a reso-
luton that Thomas Mexican, governor
OF the commonwealth, be impeached Of
high crimes. and misdemeanors." After
considerable p~ostponement and much
discussion the resolution was carried in
the House. And then, on the same day.
it was indefinitely postponed, and
never again brought up.
When on August 2. 1776, the sigma
lures of the delegates were placed upon
the declaration. with but one excep-
ton, merely the name of the man was
written. That exception was Charles
Carroll, whose signature he wrote thus:
Charles Carroll. of Carrolltown." He
Is interesting on another score, also, as
he outliyed all the other signers, at
tanning the age Of 95. He died in No
vember. 1882. Charles Carroll was not
a delegate to congress during the dis
custom of Lees resolution. Intensely
interested in the movement. however.
he visited Philadelphia early in 1875
in order to be present at the meetings.
His feelings were so well known that
congress appointed him a commissioner
to accompany Franklin and Chase to
Canada in February Of that year.
Upon his return Richard Henry Lees
resolution had already been introduced
Importance of the occasion. Carroll
fastened home to aid in turning the
tide of Maryland's sentiments, which
he succeeded in doing. New instrue-
tions were issued. and he himself ap-
pointed a delegate to congress. That
was on July 4. He arrived in Phila-
delphia on the 9Th. and was among the
first to place his signature on the docu-
ment.
Not all the mep who signed the dec
laration were college graduates. large
land owners and high officials. Some
there We're who reached the pinnacle
Of distinction from the bottom of the
ladder. Such a man was Roger Sher-
man Of Connecticut. Born in Massa-
%chusetts. he was the son Of a small
farmer. When 10 his father died. leay-
ing him the only support OF the family
which was large. No other employ
ment being open to young Sherman
who had small educational opportuni-
ties he was a~pprenticed to a shoema-
ker. In 1743 1t was thought ~expedient
to move. and New Milford. Conn, was
chosen. Roger made the entire jour-
ney on foot. carrying the tools Of his
trade with him.
In New Milford he continued at his
trade for some time. That. however,
was not his only occupation, for it is
said that while he was employed at his
bench he always had a book so placed
That he could read it whenever his eyes
were not or his work. . He was espe-
cially Q Of mathematics, and his in
dustry and desire were SO great that by
the time he was 81 he was making as
Economical calculations that were pub
Iished IN an almanac printed in New
York.