Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-16
Hy j. Mark Int,


Will" tn. seven Virginia patriots
VINO signed tho Declaration OF indie
p"h"cncc on July {. l77G. arc rcmcm-
bered and revercd by the hurried
student OF history only FOR this par
hcuihr work. yet In each case there
were mhny other things they did that
cniitl" them to fame and ,hs adm.
ration of the world Theik servics
In giving TO America Il. document
Which should be AT once an inspira-
ton 10 democracy and a chart OF
IA" principles underlying the truo
republic Is a matter OF historical roc
"rd. We! known but in all cases II
Is no, generally remembered what
th"y .did in addition To this.
All tn" s!gncrs were actively en-.
gagged In efforts 10 further the
cause az education in the nuw coun-
try. Tn" necessity Of having scnts
OF learning 10 develop tho youth Of
tho land seemed 50 great and go
urgent that Thomas Jefferson. nu-
thor az ia" immortal document. In
ciud"d In IN" bri"f record ~ his ne
written by his own hand for his
Tombstone. the fact that n" was
founder of tho University Of Virginia.
lic did not deem II Important TO rec
ORD also that he was twice President
OF lii" United States
single I'nrngrnph Altered.
80 highly regarded was JcT"rSOn
by his c"iupatriois In the declaration
OF principles n. human liberty, and
such was their approval OF the draft
"t tho declaration ho submitted. that
only single paragraph was altered
The document written ~ the Sage
OF Monticello expressed exactly thrir
attitude toward the hutocratic gov
crnmcnt under which they were !iv-
ing ard their ycnruing for IN" free
a lls F..1
right OF all men.
Richard licnry Lee, o. virginia
was another sipner, who worked hard
TO max" the ideals and idea oi the
declaration assured successes An
orator such AS jefferson could never
hope 10 he. ne had moved thn, the
colonies ought and should hc free
lndc:atigahle In his effort 10 over
come prcjudic. and secure IN" sigma
tur"s OF the Delegates. Ice probably
'a!Icd TO hc its author s--rctary only
through the Illness OF hir wife When
hc was summoned to her bedside. JEFF
i"Tson was given the opportunity 20
act "a second choice Of the Congress.
Francis Lightfoot Lee. another VIZ
ginian ana sigHer. was no, as bril-
, Ilant statesman as Richard Henry
Lee. yet his solid and rnatcriRlis,tc
h'Ind insisted not only on the free
navigation OF tho Mississippi. River.
but that America should enjoy fishing
rights on the coast OF Newfoundland
iic was a nne horHcman. like All the
Lees. and often rode with Washing
ton on fox hunts. Reing IA practical
FARMER also. h. had many sugr.s-
tons q" offer ~ Ia the Agricultural
conditions at Mount Vernon
Defenders Of SlnNcry
.
the republic saw the dangers in
slavery. Although JvT.Nrson. Xix.
ms great hinSman. George Mason. Of
funston. g eager To- hav" a para
Erhph !nser ed In the Declaration that
would automatically fire." the slaves
10y the year 1900. this Humanitarian
ISM was refused Later his opinions
were vindicht'd when tins question
plunged tho country into Strif. and
caused tho death Of thousands be-.
| FOR" abolition WAS accomplished.
In ~" IinrriS"us, OF virginia. VINO
have ever played Il notable part in
IN" history OF America. ". SEQ that
! being sign"r was only one claim
10 fame, An crs,wh nil" Governor a.
Virginia. BENJAMIN iinrrison's son
great grandson. both became I'r.si.
dents OF IA" United states. Carter
Harrison. Of chicago and I;ur,n,
''''' 49, - W.. '''lINilNS, a. 'IpN'Futr Df
IN" Philippines. proved their mcttle.
Win the family estate at Brandon.
on tn. James River. the iiarrisops.
entertained the Prince Of Wales
tking f.dward), with foN hunt in
style behttinR descendants Of tn.
Cavaliers.
In addition Ia Jefferson In the
"ducationa! neid among the sign.rs
Is CHIEF Justice Wythc. himself JET
f"rson'S teacher at Old William and
Mary College. Not only did he free
his slaves. but provided for them
untii they could become scIf-sup-
porting
Nelson Sacrificed Fortune.
steps t" liberty had to l.. financed
IN those early days ana il was among
the Virginia Sicncrs that We find an
other patriot who sacrificed his nri-
Natc fortune To the n.N country
Thomas Nelson. Of Yorktown who
stood with Lafayette at yorktown.
ana who is remembered as Instruct,
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