The state herald., 1915-07-02
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lasteds.yer until the next, and so July would
have Become the birthday instead OF July 4.
Toward evening the discomfort % the as.
semby increased on account OF the swarms
of flies which came from n nearby livery stable
into the hall of legislature. These pests were so
audacous In assaults upon the statesmen that
Jefferson said their annoyance helped bring the
matter TO n conclusion. and Harrison reported
the declaration to congress as accepted, though
In the minutes OF that day the declaration was Mt
first left out on account OF the vengeance OF Eng
land
Today Indeoendence hall, In the old state house
in Philadelphia remains about as II was on that
July T. and so ms 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
Independence 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 courageousy as II had
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 inde.
pendonce was signed on July 4. l776, by any but
Hancock as president OF the Continental con
gress and Thompson. as secretary, Is a matter
OF doubt. for the Journal entry records signed
by order OF and In behalf OF congress" Iener'
son himself made conflicting statements regard
Ing this question.
Some contend that the delegates met informal
Is ON the morning OF July and signed the doen'
mont Whether or not the signatures were nj
fixed on July 4. congress act was Official on that
day that Jeffersons Declaration OF Independence
was declared acceptable to every colony. And so
II resolved that copies should be sent throughout
the ncw.formcd republic
The general assemblies conventions, councils.
committees OF safety and the commanding officers
OF the Continental army had to bo informed OF
the independence OF the United States. These
copies we're signed by Hancock and Thompsoa.
The Congressional Record OF July 10 shows that
n resolution was introduced In tho national as
sembly 20 the effect that the declaration should
be cugrosscd on parchment and presented for the
signature OF every member on August 2.
This fact therefore. serves as authority that
the parchmo1, copy signed on that day In August
after II had been compared with the fair copy
and tho latter destroyed. In the copy OF the Dec
laratlon OF Independence which was considered
for no many years the original draft of the great
bill Of rights OF the American people. IL In said
that oven this signing entered into with fear
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. i777
ny that time the new republic began TO feel its
strength. and congress decided to promulgato
the names Of the Hlgners of the Declaration of In
dependence by ordering that printed copiea OF the
document should be made, with the names OF tho
alEncu added,
Mary Katharine Goddard n woman who car
rlcd on the printing buplnosH on rroadBido flai
tlmorc. probably never heard Of woman'a rights
yet II so happened that II became her right 20
print these copies Of tho American bin Of rights
From thcro eoplnn numerous others were soon
made until before long every home boahtod at
least one copy Of the oslEnal document which
gave life 10 our republic