Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-07-02

lasted over until the next, and so July 5 would
have become the birthday instead of July 4.
Toward evening the discomfort Of the ast
sembly was increased on account of the swarms
of flies which came from a nearby livery stable
into the hall of legislature. These pests were so
audacious in assaults upon the statesmen that
Jefferson said their annoyance helped bring the
matter to a conclusion, and Harrison reported
the declaration to congress as accepted, though
in the minutes of that day the declaration was at
first left out on account of the vengeance OF Eng
land.
Today Independence hall, in the old state house
in Philadelphia. remains about as it was on that
July 4, and so as far as the setting OF the stage
the drama is complete, but the drama ITSELF IS
left for us to supply.
All that we have left of the record OF that
memorable day is the text of the Declaration OF
Jndependence, and as that represents what all
brave American colonists were ready to lay down
their lives for and what should be handed down
to us and guarded as courageously as II hao
been won, the Fourth of July has amply served
its purpose and deserved its one monument
THE Spirit of Liberty for All"
Whether or not the Declaration of indie
pendence was signed on July 4, 1716, by any out
Hancock, as president of the Continental con-
gress. and Thompson, as secretary, is a mater
of doubt. for the journal entry records signed
by order of and in behalf of congress" JeHer-
son himself made conflicting statements regard
ing this question.
Some contend that the delegates met INFORMAL
ly on the morning of July 5 and signed the docu-
ment. Whether or not the signatures were al
fixed on July 4, congress act was official on that
day that Jefferson's Declaration of independence
was declared acceptable to every colony. AND so
If resolved that copies should be sent throughout
the newformed republic.
The general assemblies, conventions, councils,
committees of safety and the commanding officers
of the Continental army had to be informed of
- 80 The nffa States IhpS2
copies were signed by Hancock and Thompson
The Congressional Record of July 10 shows that
a resolution was introduced in the national as
sembly to the effect that the declaration should
be engrossed on parchment and presented for the
signature of every member on August 2.
This fact, therefore, serves as authority that
the parchment copy signed on that day in August,
after it had been compared with the fair copy
and the latter destroyed, is the copy OF the Dec
laration of independence which was considered
for so many years the original draft of the great
bill of rights of the American people. 1t is said
that even this signing was entered into with fear
and trembling"
Satisfied that the signed parchment was a
lasting evidence of the birth of the new nation.
congress took no further official action regarding
the instruments itself until January, 1777.
BY that time the new republic began to feel its
strength, and congress decided to promulgate
the names of the signers of the Declaration of In
dependence by ordering that printed copies OF the
document should be made, with the names of the
signers added.
Mary Katharine Goddard, a woman who car
ried on the printing business on Broadside, Bal.
timore, probably never heard of woman's rights,
yet it so happened that it became her right to
print these copies of the American bill of rights.
From these copies numerous others we're soon
made, until before long every home boosted at
least one copy of the original document which
gave life to our republic.