The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-01

the ground, the whole shrine being sur rounded by n white marble rail,
 The shrine was unveiled recently by the chief librarian of the library of congress. The President was there, with Mrs. Coolidge, the secretary of state and many members of Congress, but the ceremony was notable by reason of its simplicity. Thus quietly and unobtru- sively the Declaration of Independence was brought after years of wandering, to a permanent and appropriate resting place.
 A Wagon Ride
 The declaration, after it was signed, was, given into the care of Charles Thomson, secretary of the continental congress, and kept in his office in the Pennsylvania state house, which after ward became known as Independence hall. Within few months, in Decem- Der, 1776, the British forced Washing ton back over the Delaware, and Con gress moved to Baltimore, taking the declaration and other important papers with it in light wagon.
 As soon as the British had been driven back, Congress returned, but was obliged to leave again within six months on account of General Howe's arrival with large endorsements. This time the government moved to Lancas- ter, Pa., and then to York, Pa, where the declaration was placed for safety in the court house.
 July ?, 177S, it was brought back once more ito Philadelphia, and two days later Congress ordered the first cele- bration of Independence Day, exactly two years after the signing of the dec laration.
 The first year of it's eventful life had been one of danger and difficulty, but by the end of the second year victory and the vindication of the principles set forth in it were well within sight The day was celebrated by a parade of the army, a salute of thirteen guns and cheers for the perpetual and undis- turbed independence of the United States of America" followed by a dou- ble issue of the daily rum ration to the soldiers.
 Flight To New Jersey
 These soldiers were the cause of the declaration's next journey. Clamoring for their pay, which Congress at the mo- ment was unable to produce from an empty treasury, band of soldiers marched on Philadelphia in June, 1783, drew up before the state house, and at the point of the bayonet demanded their money. Unable to cope with the situa- tion, the lawmakers fled to Princeton, N. J. They assembled again in Novem- Der at Annapolis, Md; the following year saw them at Trenton, N. J., and in 1785, the>seat of government was trans- ferred to New York.
 Here the declaration, which had been carried along on all these wanderings, remained till December, 1790. The first Congress of the United States having replaced the continental congress, and George Washington having become Pres ident, all the state documents were handed over to him, and later taken to Philadelphia. During it's stay in New York the declaration was kept in the second story of the old federal hall, which stood at Wall and Nassau streets. In Philadelphia the document was kept this time at the department of state.
 Ten years later, when Washington was officially chosen to be the nations capital, the records of the state depart ment were taken to that city and housed in the building intended for the treas ury, this being the only place then avail able. Shortly afterward a group known as the .tSeven Buildings" was completed. and here the state department moved with all it's records. This was followed by another move less than a year later to the new war office building, which occupied the site of the west front of the present state, war and navy de- partments.
 Then came the war of 1872, the Bat tie of Blaydensburg, the march of the British on Washington and another move for the declaration. It was in Au- gust, 1874. that the, British reached the city and set fire to certain government