The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-01

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- OCULAR history has fastened upon
~ impressionable minds a poetic
picture of the signing of the Declare
ton of Independence graceful
| and formal function, taking place
| July 4, 1776, in large. handsomely
| furnished chamber in Independence
| hall, Philadelphia To give the nee
40 essary touch of vivacity the pic
ture there is the scene of 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
ring! Oh, ring for liberty!"
Our ideal proclamation of the charter of Amer
lean freedom must be shattered in the cause of
truth. The Declaration of Independence
signed behind locked doors, and not general
~ signed upon the Fourth of July all. The city
not breathlessIy awaiting the event outside,
nor did the Liberty bell peal forth that day
the triumphal note of freedom.
The accredited historian of the United States
department of state is Gaiard Hunt Lit. D., Ii.
D., now chief Of the division of manuscripts in the
Library of Congress
There is really reason for our celebrating
the Fourth of July than JuIy'2 or August 81
said Doctor Hunt recently to inquirer. 1T
until the latter date that the document was
generally signed.
1.-The Virginia bill of rights, of which George
Mason was also the author. drawn up and
adopted in the last colonial assembly in Virginia
prior to the Revolution. The bill of rights is in
effect part of every constitution in the land
day. 1t is beyond doubt that this famous docu-
ment of which his elderly friend was author,
largely drawn upon by Thomas Jefferson when he
wrote the Declaration of independence.
1.-The fundamental principles of government set
forth in MasOn's bill of rights the
those in the English petitions the king. the acts
Of the long parliament and magma charta.
You know. perhaps that it was another Vir-
ginian, Richard Henry Lee, who presented to con-
gress, June Z 1776, of resolutions contain
ing the words That these united colonies are, and
of right ought to be- free and independent states,
and that all political connection between them
and the state of Great Britain is and ought to be-
totally dissolved
1T was as q result of the favorable voting upon
Lees resolutions that the well-knOwn committee
composed of Thomas Jefferson John Adams Ben
jamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert r. Lfv-
ingston, named to draft the document The
committee assigned the task of preparing the in
strument to the Virginian. Jeferson's was the
master political mind and it was by no mere
chance that he called upon to write the docr1-
ment which has been termed the best-known pa
per that has come from the pen of an indi-
vidual.'
Drafting of the Declaration.
Thomas jefferson was the personifcatfon of
method, remarked Doctor Hunt, land immediate
" upon receiving his commission to write the
declaration he retired TO the two rooms he rented
working place at Seventh and Market place
Philadelphia, and prepared to give his country
one of the greatest monuments OF human freedom
THE department of state owns the first draft of
the Declaration which Jefferson presented to the
committee for its approval. His confreres made
few alterations, which clearly shown in the
text and Jefferson has written beside each change
the of its author, making the document of
ineStimable value
1.-The fair copy which he made for presentation
to congress, and which bears the congressional
amendments and alterations, is lost.
1.-The latter is the formal Declaration of indie
pendence laid before congress on June %, 1776
1t was then read and ordered to lie on the table
until July l. On July resolution was passed
declaring the independence of the United States
although the exact form of the proclamation as
prepared by Jefferson debated upon until July
4, when with alterations and amendments. 1t
was signed by John Hancock. president of the
congress, and the signature attested by Charles
| Thomson. secretary of congress.
July actually the date of separation of
! the colonies from the mother country. On July 3
/ find John Adams, whom jefferson called the
colossus OF the colonies writing his wife, Abb
gail. in the following words:
10y esterday the greatest question which was
/ ever debated in America decided. and great
1 er perhaps never was nor will be decided among
men,.
Great Day Was July ?.
In. a second letter. written the day, he
said But the day is past. July will be the
most memorable epoch in the history of America
/ I am ant to believe that it will be celebrated by
succeeding generations the anniversary festival
/ 1t ought to be conmemOrated the day of deliv-
erance by solemn acts of devotion to God Al
mighty
There is little doubt but that the participants
in the event considered July 2 the true date of
independence for the colonies. but popular fancy
seized upon the 4th the date of acceptance of JEFF
ferson's formal and detailed setting-forth the
proper date of celebration.
'Jobn TrumbulFS famous painting OF the scene
hanging In the rotunda of the capitol is poetical
piece OF work and gives many of the portraits of
the signers with faithfulness. but 1t is somewhat
] fancfful No silken hangings draped the windows
INTlxA 1nnf he hco
| tiful order in which the ranged up for
signing the immortal document is also fctiona1.
| 1890 u,ra RI oIn AcE ntnetv+br