The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-06-30

hall, Philadelphia To give the nee
%e cssary touch Of ~vivaclty 10 the pic
turc there Is the scene " the small
boy darling from the door as the last signer sets
his autograph to the precious parchment and dash
Ing down the street, calling to his grandfather, to
"Ringl Oh. ring for libestyi"
Our Ideal proclamation Of the charter of Amer
lean freedom. must be shattered In the cause OF
truth. The Declaration Of Independence was
signed behind locked doors, and was not general
ly signed upon the Fourth Of July ut all. The city
was not brehthlcssly awaiting the event outside.
nor did the Liberty bell peal forth on that day
the ~triumphal note OF freedom.
The accredited historian Of the United States
department OF state Is Galllard Hunt, Lit. d.. L.
H. now chief o. the division OF manuscripts la the
Y4bfary, or Congress. @<tvf. - 49, =. n,
There is really no reason for our celebrating
thc Fourth Of July more than July 2 or August o"
said Doctor Hunt recently to an Inquirer. III was
not until the latter date that the document was
generally signed.
"Ehe Virginia bill Of rights, Of whic, George
Mason was also the author, was drawn MP and
adopted IN tlc Inst colonial assembly In Virginia
prior 10 tho Revolution. The bill Of rights is In
effect n part Of every constitution In the lnnd to-
day, II IL beyond doubt that this famous docu-
ineut, Of which his elderly friend was author, WINS
largely drawn upon by Thomas jefferson when he
wrote the Declaration OF independence.
"fhe fundamental principles of government set
forth In Muson's bill OF rights were the same as
those In the English petitions to the king, the acts
OF the long parliament ind magma churta.
you know, perhaps, that Il was another ylr-
ginIan, Richard Henry Lee, who presented 10 con.
gress. on June 7, 1916, a set Of resolutions contain.
ing the words, That these united colonies are, and
Of right ought 10 he, free and independent states,
and TINT nil political connection between them
aud the state Of Great Britain Is, and ought to be.
totally dissolved
at was NJ n result of the favorable voting upon
Lees resolutions that the wellknown committee.
composed of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams. Ben
Jamln franklin, Roger sherman and Robert II. LAv-
i%ngston, was named to draft the cumen The
commlttce assigned the task Of preparing the In.
struncut to the virgln!an. JcNcrson's was the
master political mind nnl it was by no mere
chance that he was called upon 10 write the docu.
ment which has been termed the best. known IN.
per that has ever come from the pen Of an indl.
Nliual'
Drafting OF the Declaration.
Thomas jefferson was the personincatlon OF
method remarked Doctor Hunt. "ani Immediate
" upon receiving his commission TO write the
declaration he retired to the two rooms he rented
rs Il working place ut seventh and Market place,
fhIladetphta, and prepared to give his country
Que % the greatest monuments of human freedom.
'Fht department ot state owns the first draft OF
the Declaration which Jefferson presented 10 the
committee for It's approval. Hts confreres made
Il few alterations, which are clearly shown In the
text, ALL reftrson hns written beside each change
the natue OF its author, making the document, OF
inestimahlc value.
"The fair copy which he made for presentation
te congress, and which bears the congressional
amendments and alterations. is lost.
The latter Is the formal Declaration OF indie
rendcncc laid before congress on June -. 1-Ta
II vas then read and ordered to lie on the table
until July !. On July . Il resolution was passed
debating the Independence ct the United States
although the exact form Of the proclamation MS
prepared by Jefferson was debated upon until July
/, when. with some alterations uni amendments. II,
was signed Ivy John Hancock, president of the
congress, and the signature attcsted by Charles
Thomson, secretary Of congress,
"July > WAS actually the date Of separation OF
the colonies from the mother country, GA July 3
we find John AdanS, whom Jefferson called the
colossus OF the colonies writing to his wife. .Ahl.
eall, IL the following words:
10y Yesterday the greatest question which was
ever debated IN America was decided. and Il great.
or rcrhapS never was nor will be decided uQoux
mcn.'
Great Day Was July :.
In . second letter. written tie SAME day, he
said Rut the iay Is past. July . Will b. the
most memorable epoch IN the history ~ America.
/ am APT 10 believe that 1t viii BE- celebrated by
succeeding generations rs the anniversary festival.
II ought to be- cninRlclnoratei as the day OF teliv,
eruace by solemn acts VI devotion TO God Al.
mighty
There IL little doubt but that the participants
In the event considered July . rs the true date Of
independeuce tur the colonies, but popular fa5cy
seized upon the 4th. the date " acceptance II Jef.
Persons formal AMI detailed se;ting,forth as the
proper date Of celebration.
John Trumbulls famous painting OF the scene.
hanging In the rotunda OF the capitol. Is a poetcal
piece Of work and gives many OF the portraits Of
the sisners with fa!thfulness, bat 1. is somewnat
f~anc.tul. No S,lkcn hangsnSs draped the windows
OF that sitting room on July 4, i7T6 and the beau.
tisul order In which the men are ragged w for
signing the immortal document IL also hctionaL.