(Taken from the July 6, 1950 issue of the Teutopolis Press.)
This news story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 is written as though the event were occurring today. Its purpose is to give this all-important document the currency it ought to have these days. The Declaration of Independence, for all that it was written 174 years ago, remains predicated on the living issue of human freedom. Consider, as you read, that all this well might be happening right now.
Philadelphia, July 4, 1776 - These American colonies today became the United States of America as 56 members of the Second Continental Congress signed a Declaration of Independence without a dissenting vote. The vote came after a long day of bitter debate during which many members of the Congress publicly said they were not "ready for an open break with England."
The congress, which had been meeting behind closed doors for some time, had been actively working on the declaration since last June 10. Prior to that day, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, had introduced a resolution urging the absolvence of all allegiance to the British crown.
John Dickinson, leader of the conservative middle colonies, opposed the measure, urging moderation, conciliation, and postponement.
On last June 10, however, the measure was back before the body and a committee was appointed to draw up the preamble to the resolution. Members of that committee were delegates Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.
Franklin, who at the time was in bed with an attack of gout, was unable to assist in the writing of the declaration. Adams, Sherman, and Livingston were also unable to assist in the writing since they had numerous other congressional affairs occupying their time.
The task thus fell upon the shoulders of young Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. He submitted his draft to Congress six days ago. It was passed aside, however, and was not brought back before the Congress until the first day of this month when the body resolved itself into a committee of the whole and resumed consideration of Lee's original proposal. What followed was probably the most bitter debate in the Second Congress thus far, members reported.
At one time Benjamin Franklin, oldest delegate is reported to have taken the floor to warn the gentlemen that either "they would hang together or hang separately."
The motion placed before the Congress by Mr. Lee read: "That these United Colonies 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 political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved."
As news of the signing seeped through this city, a state of unbelievable surprise was the first reaction. It was quickly overcome, however, by an undertone of determination and the realization that a full-scale war might soon be a reality.
Franklin was the oldest of the signers, while Edward Ruthledge, 27, of Charleston, S.C., was the youngest. The youngest and the oldest congratulated each other. Ruthledge is reported to have said to Franklin as the two men shook hands, "Sir, this parchment must outlive time itself!"
The last paragraph of the Declaration of Independence reads as follows:
"We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name and by authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies 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 political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
The following 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence risked everything they had including their lives, their possessions, and their reputation in order to become a free nation. Their names are as follows: John Hancock, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, Geo. Walton, Wm. Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn, Edward Rutledge, Thos. Heyward, Junr., Thomas Lynch, Junr., Arthur Middleton, Samuel Chase, Wm. Paca, Thos. Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, James Wilson, Geo. Ross, Caesar Rodney, Geo. Reed, Tho. M. Kean, Wm. Floyd, Phil Livingston, Frans. Lewis, Lewis Morris, Richd. Stockton, Jno. Witherspoon, Fras. Hopkinson, John Hart, Abra Clark, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Th. Jefferson, Benja. Harrison, Thos. Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton, Robt. Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benja. Franklin, John Morton, Geo. Clymer, Jas. Smith, Geo. Taylor, Josiah Bartlett, Wm. Hipple, Saml. Adams, John Adams, Robt. Treat Payne, Eldridge Gerry, Step. Hopkins, William Ellery, Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, Wm. Williams, Oliver Woolcott, and Matthew Thornton.
The beginning of the Declaration of Independence contains the following famous lines: "When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitles them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness..."
Much of the rest of the document lists "the repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these states" by the King of Great Britain at that time. After reading the document, no one can doubt why the United States wanted their freedom from Great Britain. It is a small document that is well worth reading more than once.
Happy 234th Independence Day - July 4, 2010.
