The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-04
.NHE popular. traditional idea OF
the signing Of the Declaration OF
Independence presents 1t as a

taxing place July =, lUt, IN a large,
handsomely furnished chamber in In
dependence Hall. Philadelphia. To
10 the picture there is the scene of
1.the small boy darting from the door
las the last signer sets his autograph
TO the parchment and dashing down
the street. calling to his grandfather
to Ring. Oh. ring for liberty"
90 As a matter Of fact the Declaration
of Independence was signed behind
locked doors. and was not generally
signed upon the Fourth Of July. The
city was not breathlessly awaiting
the event outside. nor did the Liberty
Bell peal forth on that day the
.-triumphal note Of freedom. These are
.some OF the interesting things about
gsthe Declaration which were pointed
N out in an interview by Gaillard Hunt,
Chief Of the division Of manuscript
in the Library OF Congress.
90 There 10 really no reason for our
celebrating the Fourth OF July more
Than the second OF July or the second
of August" said DR.. Hunt. at was
not until the latter date this the docu-
q. ment was generally signed.
Ia THE presentations Of the Declare
eSion Of Independence make an inter-
Testing story. and few people have fol-
n16wed them. You know. OF course. that
n%he fundamental philosophy of the
;.Declaration Of Independence is Amos,
'Spurely virginian. George Mason of
Fairfax county, one Of the greatest OF
'tfi6ur early statesmen. had for years
Scbeen promulgating the doctrine Of in
% . THE Fairfax County Resolves. OF
= which Mason was the author. were
hAdopted July IS. 1774. in Alexandria,
then the county seat OF Fairfax. These
(. resolutions were tw~enty-six In num-
Der and, as written by Mason. were
50nanimously adopted. This was abso-
lutely tho first clear and emphatic
{; statement Of the rights OF the colonies.
70 Tho Virginia Bill Of Rights. OF
;.Which George Mason was also the
Author. was drawn UP and adopted
in the last Colonial Assembly in vir.
ginia prior to the Revolution. The
BILL Of rights 10 in effect q part Of
4. every Constitution in the land to-day
. -. ut Is beyond doubt that this famou.
document. Of which his elderly FRIEND
: was author. was largely drawn upor
by Thomas Jefferson when he wrote
~Nhe Declaration Of Independence
Jefferson referred to Mason. who wa.
his close friend. az a man Of tn,
!, frst order Of wisdom, Of expansiv,
mind. profound judgment. cogent II
argument. learned in the lore o.
former constitution and earnest 70,
|, the republican change on democratic
principles
.c, "The fundamental principles OF gov.
eminent set forth In Mason's bill Of
rights were the same as those in thu
=. English petitions to the King. thu
acts Of the Long Parliament ant
Magma Charta.
you know perhaps that II wa
another Virginian, Richard Henry Lee
who presented to Congress on June Z
IT'S. a set Of resolutions containing
the words. That these united Colonies
are, and Of right ought to be, FIRE,
and independent States. and that al
political connection between them an,
the State Of Great Britain is. an,
: ought to be. totally dissolved Thes,
resolutions by Lee. favorably although
not unanimously voted upon. con
tanned the initial declaration OF in
dependence Of the American Colonie
and were h precursor OF that NOR
formal instrument framed a few day
later by Thomas Jefferson.
1T was as n result Of the favorabl
voting upon Lees resolutions that in
well known committee composed G
Thomas Jefferson. John Adams. Renja
:; min Franklin. Roger Sherman an
Robert r. Livingston was named I
: draft the document. The ccmmitte
. assigned the task of preparing tn
INSTRUMENT TO the Virginian. Jeffer
sons was a master political mind an
- II was by no mere chance that he wa
called upon to write the document.
- Thomas Jefferson was the personi
= Ncation of method and immediatel
upon receiving his commission I
. write the Declaration he retired I
the " rooms he rented as a workin
place at Seventh and Market plac,
philadelphia. and prepared to give hi
country n of the greatest monu
.ments OF human freedom.
You may remember, too that .Jefel
son was fond OF having his workin
tools made exactly to suit his need,
Certain it IL that he had a carpente
make the simple table desk for hi
writing room.
=" r ION this desk he penned the Dec
@"aaration Of Independence and 1t is no'
treasured possession of our Stat
Department. although actually at thi
fEmoment in San Francisco, having bee
- cent there as part OF the Govern
. snent's exhibit at the exposition"
s~ How did his desk come into Vos
a session of the Department of State?
n. Jefferson left it 70 his grandson
.ei Joseph Coolidge, The latter be
queathed it to his son, the late 7
>. Jefferson Coolidge of Boston. who pre-
smted IT,, to President Hayes. the la
- turning 1t over to the Depar
-'ment. There Is absolutely no dout
las to the authenticity Of this relic, a
tin Department owns a letter in Je'
@'eeSson's handwriting which gives tn
history Of the desk as follows:
.'I'' TIL Johnson gives this wri
"5S desk to Joseph Coolidge Junr. a
ia memorial of affection. II was mad
from a drawing OF his own by BE
- Randall, cabinet maker OF Philade
. ,plda, with whom he first lodged O
'qeis arrival in that city In May, 1T
. Ard is the identical one on which /