The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1919-07-04
OF INDEPENDENCE
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SHERMAN +Mpu LIVING

1776. the delegates from New York
felt some diffidence in voting, as they
had no instructions. Wisner, however,
did cast a vote in favor of independ-
ence, and before August 2 New YORK
had instructed her delegation to agree
to the Declaration.
There was hearty response when
it became known that signatures were
to be appended to the document. SAM
uel Chase Of Maryland was absent
from congress on July 4 and the next
day he wrote from Annapolis to John
Adams, "How shall transmit to pos
terity that gave my assentT On
the ninth Adams replied "As soon as
an American seal Is prepared con-
decture the Declaration will be sub
scribed to by all the members, which
will give you the opportunity you wish
for of transmitting your name among
the votaries Of independence.
Elbridge Gerry Of New York had to
leave Philadelphia two weeks after
the Declaration had been adopted, and
he wrote to John and to Samuel Adj
ans. 'Pray subscribe for me ye Dec
laration of Independence If We same is
to be signed as proposed. l think we
ought to have We privilege when neces-
sarily absent of voting and signing by
proxy"
OF the signers who did not vote for
the Declaration because they were not
members at that time William VIII
liams of Connecticut was not elected
until July IL; Rush, Clymer, Smith,
Taylor and Ross Of Pennsylvania were
not elected until July 20. Charles Car
roll Of Carpollton, as we'll as Chase,
was attending meeting Of the Mary
land convention on July 4. George
Wythe Of Virginia on the same day
was chairman of the committee OF the
whole of the Virginia convention, and
Richard Henry Lee was in the conven-
ton, having been compelled to return
from Philadelphia on account OF SICK
ness In his family, having left on June
IS. William Hooper Of North Caro-
lima was absent from Philadelphia at
least as late as July 8. Yet all of these
members signed the Declaration, al
though some Of them, 1t has been
shown, were not even members at that
time, and four members were absent.
Thomas Mclean Of Delaware was
the last to sign and did not do so until
FIVE years after the adoption of the
Declaration and at time when the
war virtually was at an end. 1t was
through no fault of Mclean. His name
was omitted from the printed copy in
the journal.
The popular, traditional idea of the
signing Of the Declaration Of indie
pendence presents It as graceful and
formal function taking place July a,
1776, in large. handsomely furnished
chamber in Independence hall, Phila-
delphia. To give the necessary touch
Of vivacity to the picture there is the
scene of the small boy darting from
the door as the last signer sets his
autograph to the parchment and DASH
ing down the street, calling to his
grandfather to "Ringi oh, ring for
libertyT
As a matter Of fact the Declaration
Of Independence was signed behind
locked doors. The city was not breath
lessly awaiting the event outside, nor
did the Liberty Bell peal forth on that
day the triumphal note Of freedom.
From these facts 1t appears that the
Fourth Of July" might with good rea-
son have fallen upon either July or
August 2 instead OF upon July L