Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1917-06-30
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VI " INV, 11dN anu AlQShd
celebrate the Fourth of July as
Independence day, it is interesting tC
note how this nationwide holiday came
to be celebrated, and what it should
signify to all Americans.
July is now holiday commence
rating the birthday of the nation, for
on that day in 1776 the Continental
Congress of the 10 colonies of
America adopted the Declaration
of Independence which proclaimed
them free and Independent states, alb
solved from all allegiance to the Brit
ish crown. The original of this birth
certificate" written by hand on parch-
ment and now much worn and faded,
is preserved carefully in an alright
and lightproof case in the library of
the department of state. Only fac
SMILES are exhibited today, the orig
inal being far too precious document
to risk in the light and air.
Declaration Of independence.
A facsimile Of the Declaration Of In
dependence is on exhibition in the d.
vision of history in the older building
of the National museum at Washing
ton, where there are also preserved
personal relics and mementOS of sew
eral Of the members of the second Con-
tinental Congress who signed this great
resolution.
The history of the origin and draft
ing of the declaration is Of consider
able interest. In the second Cont
mental Congress, which was meeting
in Philadelphia, Richard Henry Lee
of Virginia, on June Z, 1776, intro
duced the following resolution, which
was seconded by John Adams:
Resolved, That these United Colo
MES are, and of right ought to be,
free and Independent states; that they
are absolved from all allegiance to
the British crown, and that all politi
cal connection between them and the
State of Great Britain is, and ought
to be, totally dissolved.
Foreign Alliances Urged.
'That it is expedient forthwith to
take the most effectual measures for
forming foreign alliances.
THAT plan of confederation be pre-
pared and transmitted to the respec-
tive colonies for their appreciation"
Consideration of this resolution was
postponed, and on June II Thomas
Jefferson, John Adams. Benjamin
Franklin, Robert Sherman, and r. r.
Livingston were appointed q commit
tee to prepare q declaration to serve
as preamble to this Independent reso-
luton. This committee, known as
the Jefferson committee, submitted a
draft of the declaration on June %,
which was laid on the table for later
consideration. On July l congress,
sitting as committee of the whole
to consider the resolution respecting
independence, agreed thereto, and re-
ported it to congress.
On July 2 the resolution itself was
adopted by congress, and the declara-
ton was considered by the committee
of the whole, being again taken up
the next day, July 8.
The Big Day.
On July the declaration, which
included the first paragraph of the
resolution, was agreed to by the COM
mittee of the whole, reported to con-
gress, and adopted. The independence
of the United Colonies was thus de-
clared, and thereupon congress i'm
mediately ordered that the declaration
be authenticated and printed under
the supervision of the committee previ-
ously appointed to prepare it, and that
copies thereof be distributed to all
state assemblies and the commanding
officers of the army.
In accordance with the above order.
the declaration was issued as q printed
broadside on July 5, with the heading:
I'm Congress, July 4, 1776. A Declara-
ton by the Representatives of the
United States of America, in General