The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-07-03

lasted over until the next, and SO July 8 would
have become the birthday instead Of July 4
Toward evening the discomfort o. the as
sembly was increased on account OF the s"arns
of flies which came from nearby livery stable
into the hall of legislature These pests were SO
audacious in assaults upon the statesmen tnat
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 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 f. and so as far the setting OF the stage
the drama is complete but the drama itself is
left for US to supply
memorable day is the text of the Declaration OF
Independence, and that represents "hat al
brave American colonists were ready TO lay DOWN
their lives for and what should De nanoeu NV W.
to US and guarded as courageousiy as II hao
heen won the Fourth of July has amply served
it's purpose and deserved its one monument
'eThe Spirit of Liberty for All
Whether or not the Declaration OF niue
nandence was signed on July 4, 1776, by any but
Hancock as president OF the Continental con
gress and Thompson, as secretary Is q nat'eI
of doubt for the journal entry RECORDS signed
by order of and in behalf OF congress- Jene[-
son himself made conflicting statements regard
ing this question.
Some contend that the delegates met informal
" on the morning of July and signed the oocu
Wl6I06T
fxed on JULY congress- act was official on that
day that Jeferson's Declaration OF independence
was declared acceptable to every colony And so
if resolved that copies should be sent throughout
the new-formed republic.
The general assemblies conventions, COUNCILS
committees of safety and the commanding ofncers
of the Continental army had to be informed OF
the independence of the United States These
copies we're signed by Hancock and Thompson
The Congressional Record of July 10 shows that
resolution was introduced in the national as
sembIy to the effect that the declaration should
be engrossed on parchment and presented for the
signature of every member August 2.
This fact therefore, serves as authority that
the parcbment 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
Iaration of independence which was considered
for so many years the original draft Of the great
that even this signing entered into with fear
and trembling.
Satisfied that the signed parchment was q
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 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 woman who car
ried on the printing business 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.