Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-07-01

lastad over until the next, and so July 5 would
have become the birthday instead OF July 4
Toward evening the discomfort OF the as
sembly was increased on account OF the sWarMs
Of flies which came from a nearby hVery sIapo
into the hall of legislature. These pests were SO
audacious in assaults upon the statesmen that
Tefferson said their annoyance helped bring the
matter to a conclusion, and Harrison reported
the declaration to congress as accepted thouen
in the minutes of that day the declaration was az
frst left out on account of the vengeance Oh ENG
land. o,so
Today independence hall, in the old state nouse
IN Philadelphia, remains about as IT was Oh .n0e
NV 1 and so as far as the setting OF the stage
tha drama is complete, but the drama 1tseI is
left for us to supply.
An that we have left of the record OF tnat
memorable day is the text Of the Declaratlon Q.
Independence, and as that represents "nat al
brave American colonists we're ready 10 lay oo"h
their lives for and what should be nanoeu uo"n
n us and guarded as courageously as II hau
been won. the Fourth Of July has amply served
it's purpose and deserved lts one
"The Spirit Of Liberty for All"
whether or not the Declaration OF noe-
nandence was signed on July 4, 1776, by any put
Hancock, as president of the Continental con
sress and Thompson, as secretary, is d me''o,
NJ doubt. for the journal entry records slsneu
nv order of and in behalf OF congress, 1ehe,-
son himself made conflicting statements regaFu-
ing this question. ,
w nm the morning Of July 5 and signed the docu-
ment whether or not the signatures were al
Nyed IN JuIy 4. congress act was official on tnat
dav that Jefferson's Declaration OF independence
was declared acceptable to every colony. ana So
II resolved that copies should be sent throughout
the new-formed republic.
The general assemblies, conventions, councils
committees Of safety and the commanding omcers
~ the Continental army had to be informed OF
the independence of the United States. Ihese
comics we're signed by Hancock and thompson
The Congressional Record Of July 10 shows that
a resolution was introduced In the national as
sen,bly to the effect that the declaration should
he engrossed on parchment and presented for the
signature of every member on August 2.
This fact therefore, serves as authority tha'
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 40 many years the original draft Of the grea'
bill Of rights of the American people, It is said
that even this signing was entered into with 'feai
and trembling"
Satisfied that the signed parchment was
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 IT
strength, and congress decided to promulgat
the names of the signers of the Declaration OF In
dependence by ordering that printed copies OF tn
document should be made. with the names OF tn
signers added.
Mary Katharine Goddard, a woman who cal
ried on the printing business on Broadside, Bal
timore, probably never heard Of woman's rights
yet 1t so happened that II became her right t
print these copies Of the American bill of rights
From these copies numerous others we're 500
made, until before long every home boosted a
least one copy Of the original document whic
gave life to our republic.