The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-12-15

"'A ''e'F $50
OF the ffty-siX men who finally ar
liked their signatures to the Declare
lion of Independence, a document that
heralded the birth of a nation, TO the
support of which they pledged their
honor, none was SO old as 30 be lla-
bile TO Il suspicion OF senility and
few SO young that they might be ac-
cused of immaturity of judgment.
Even John Hancock, rather a rowing
blade and zone too stable In his per
sonal habits and predictions, was
t%hirty-nine years old when the general
congress met In independence hall.
Philadelphia, TO sit in judgment upon
the wording of the historical document.
The oldest man In the assemblage
was Benjamin Franklin, then six
months past his seventeen birthday,
and the youngest was Thomas Lynch,
Jr., of South Carolina. who was born
Aug. 5, 1749, and was therefore a
III sGtA Va bGlAk NhthlN v Gn
years old.
The first OF the signers Of the Dec
laration to die after the execution OF
the instrument was Button Gwinnett
of Georgia, who passed away IN May
- of the following year. Charles Car
roll of Carrollton. Md, lived the longest
after the memorable date. He remain
cd until Nov. 10, 1852.
James Smith of Pennsylvania was
the only signer who lived to q more adj
vanced age than Charles Carroll. He
was ninety-six years old when his life
three others who became %nonagena-
rians-John Adams Of Massachusetts,
who passed away at ninety-one years:
William Ellery Of Rhode Island, at
n~inery-three years, and Francis Lewis
Of New York, at ninety-one years OF
age. The youngest to die was Arthur
Middleton OF South Carolina, who was
only forty-four years old at his demise
on Jan. /, 1888.
or the ffty-six. signers but seven had
advanced past the age of sixty years
on July 4, 1776. Nine were between
fifty and sixty, there were nineteen
between forty and fifty. the same mum
Der, nineteen, between thirty and for
~ and two below the age OF thirty
years, The average age was 43.S7
years.
But, contrary to popular belief, the
Declaration of Independence was not
signed on July 4, 1776. As a matter OF
fact, the last signature was not ap-
pended until five years later. In 1871.
Thomas Mexican, a member from Del
aware. who had been present on July
1. 1176. but absent with the army at
the general subscription of said Instru-
ment," applied for permission TO sign.
An act was then passed permitting him
To afix his signature, and "he added
thereto the date of such subscription"
Another delegate. Matthew Thornton
of New Hampshire, who had been
present at neither the reading on July
4 nor at the later date OF general sub
scription, presented his credentials on
Nov. A. 1776. and was permitted to
sign.
Ii was the first reading OF the Dec
laration OF Independence that occurred
on July 4, and the tentative draft pre-
scented by the committee previously APP
pointed to draw up such a document
was approved by all the members pres
ent. No resolution was passed until
July 10, when 1t was Resolved, That
the declaration passed On the 4th be
fairly engrossed on parchment, with
the title, etc. and that the same, when
engrossed, be signed by every member
of congress" Two weeks later. the
~engrossing having been duly accom-
plished. the members OF congress then
present signed 1t.
Another fact In connection with the
Declaration of Independence which we
venerate Is that Ii is neither the first
nor the only Declaration OF %Independ-
ence from the rule of Great Britain
that was made In her North American
colonies.
More than a year before the framing
of the document which we cherish, on
May 20, 17T5, a convention was held
at Charlotte, N. c.. and an instrument
declaring freedom from the rule OF
Great Britain was drawn up and sign
cd. This vas the famous Mecklenburg
declaration. the original Of which was
unfortunately destroyed by fire In 1900.
II was reconstructed from memory.
and this copy Is still preserved.
But ever before this the colonies
wrote Il Declaration of Independence.
The patriots OF Hartford county. Md.
gathered themselves together at Har
ford Town. which IL now called Bush
nn March -. 1775. On the same day
they prepared and signed "A Declare
ton OF Independence, probably the first
one yer made by the colonies or any
part OF them. in formal, written form
The document is still in existence
New York Sun.