The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-06-24

he once learned In the MS
ST tory books at school and a
IIU similar remembrance Of what
KIP he saw in the painting "Slgn-
w ing the Declaration of indie
pendence" by John Trumbull, prob
ably will answer you in something Of
this fashion:
"Why, that was the day that we
declared our freedom from. England,
when Thomas Jefferson, the author Of
the Declaration Of Independence, wrote
that immortal document in which he
said that all men are born free and
eQual.l After he had written it. he pre-
scented 1t to the Continental congress
and John Hancock signed it in that
bold handwriting which the king of
England could read without spectacles.
Then the members of congress, WASH
ington and Franklin and John Adams
and all the others signed It, After that
they read it to the people outside
Independence hall and the patriots
cheered and rushed away to ring the
Liberty bell until 1t was cracked"
That, Of course, Is rather free
translation of a. composite American,
idea about the historic events which
gave us our greatest national holiday,
the one hundred fifty-first anniversary
of which is being celebrated all over
the country on, July A, 1927. Like so
many other composite ideas. usually
characterized as popular Beliefs" it
Is also a composite of fiction and fact.
Despite all that has been written
about the Declaration of Independence
and the signing thereof. few Amer
leans, unless they be professional his
torians, have clear-cut idea of just
what did take place on that day. And
even among the professional historians
there is some disagreement, caused by
difference in the Interpretation of
words and phrases. Here are few
facts and a bit Of chronology which
may make the matter clearer:
Richard Henry Lee certainly has
some claim to share the title of
"Author of the Declaration of indie
pendence'' with his fellow Virginian,
Thomas jefferson, for on June Z, 1776,
he presented to the Continental con-
gress his resolution which begins:
Resolved, That these United Colonies
are, and of right ought to be free and
Independent States: that they are alb
solved from all allegiance to the Brit
ish Crown and that all political con-
ha&x hay ovl6 In SfOt
of Great Britain is and ought to be
totally dissolved. fa-s
This, as one historian has pointed
out, was a pure declaration of indie
pendence." 1t was promptly seconded
by John Adams Of Massachusetts, but
when considered by committee of
the whole, no action was taken upon
1t because some of the members felt
that the colonies We're not yet ready
for so radical step. On June 10
congress voted to postpone final action
on the resolution until July l. On
June II committee composed Of
Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin,
John Adams, Roger Sherman and
Robert r. Livingston was appointed to
prepare formal declaration of indie
pendence and have it ready in case it
was wanted.
1t was at the time of the postpone
ment of action on a resolution of in
dependence that Franklin uttered one
of his most famous sayings. When
the postponement was proposed, in
order to give certain delegates time
to receive Instructions from their col
onies as to what their attitude toward
independence should be and to make
. sure of the necessary unanimity of
action on the matter, Franklin re-
marked dryly, "We must all hang to-