Show i ti 1 cr f 1 1 J sf c. c I t J I. I vi i f j f. f Z t t. t f. f r P JULY SECOND SECORD THE DAY GOVERNMENT HISTORIAN SAYS SAY HEAL INDEPENDENCE IS NOT BOT THE FOURTH Colonies Made 1 Declaration Against t England Previous to Drawing Historical ills His cal tur japer Final Signing 01 oi Document on August Second According to the opinions of the latest historical authorities both the school children of bygone gone days and those of the present time have been taught Incorrectly as to the proper Independence Independence Independence In In- dependence day of the nation No one date seems to develop such excitable emotions as does the mention of the Fourth of July but how unattractive would it seem if we were to state that the second of July is the day of ot firecrackers firecrackers firecrackers fire fire- crackers bombs and Roman candles And yet according to Mr William H. H Michael Chief Chiet Clerk and Historian of i ithe the Department of State The real Independence Independence Independence In In- dependence Day is the second of July Since we bent over our childhood histories we have always had an Idea that our fathers severed the ties with Great Britain on the Fourth of ot July 1776 and we have had word of ot no lessan less lessan an n authority than Thomas Jefferson author Luthor of that hallowed Instrument that hat the Declaration was signed on that hat date on whose anniversary the great father of democracy died But Mr dr Michael says no and for tor years he has toiled tolled for his country beneath the same ame roof which shelters the sacred document has had the nations nation's archives arch arch- ives yes at his fingers' fingers ends INDEPENDENCE ON JULY 2 The independence of the United States was declared red by resolution on the of July and the adoption of the form of Declaration on the of July was a secondary matter says Mr Michael It Is a little strange that more importance was not attached to the of July in connection with the Declaration of Independence The resolution resolution resolution res res- res- res introduced by Richard Henry Lee was passed on that day July 2 1776 This was really the vital point the the crucial juncture The real act of independence which Mr Michael l has had reproduced In fac- fac facsimile fac fac- simile was then the Lee resolution declaring That these United colonies are and of right ought to be t free and lI d dr r P t tota- tota arn Absolved t h g r from all allegiance c to the BritIsh Crown and that all political connection between them and the State of or Great Britain Is and ought to be totally dissolved I I SIGNED AUGUST 2 2 Concerning the actual date of ot the Declarations Declaration's signing Mr Michael says says' Mr Jefferson In his account states that all the members present except Mr Dickinson signed the Declaration Declaration Dec Dee in the evening of the Fourth of July The journal shows that no noone noone noone one signed It that evening except Mr Hancock and Mr Thomson The j Journal entry Is Is- Is Signed John Hancock Hancock Han Han- cock President Attest Charles Thomson Thomson Thom Thorn On August son Secretary under Declaration as engrossed 2 2 the the order of Congress was signed by byall byall byall all of the members of ot Congress present What really did happen on July 4 of that year of ot years was the final o A In nt nf n. n l draft of ot the form ot of announcing in-g in the the- the fact to the world decreed that Independence had been before Jefferson had bad written written writ writ- I two wo days ten this draft In his Philadelphia apartments consisting of ot a ready ready fur fur furnished parlor and bedroom in the new brick house of Hyman Gratz at the southwest corner of and Market streets on the outskirts of the city The Penn National Bank now occupying occupying occupying occupy occupy- ing the site of this dwelling is In the very business heart of Philadelphia WRITTEN LATE IN JULY TULY But the original Declaration which all pilgrims to Washington formerly gazed upon In awe and reverence was not ordered written for more than two weeks after that long jong but unjustly hallowed July 4 On July 19 19 Congress Con Con- Congress gress ordered that the Declaration be fairly engrossed on parchment and that the same when engrossed be signed b by every member of Congress Some time within the next two weeks the beautiful pen work which thousands thousands ands of Americans have since marveled mar mar- at and admired was executed upon th the gie great t strip of sheepskin now locked away awa In the Department of State at w Washington On August 2 1776 Just a month after the real stroke of ot independence this great sheepskin was unrolled inthe in inthe Inthe Continental Congress Congress Con Con- the th-e pr presence sence of the gress in Independence Hall Holl with the wording of the corrected draft it was carefully compared at the table This formality gone through with it was spread out upon a desk and signed by all aU of the members of Congress Congress Con gress present Fifty of these fathers of ot the republic signed on that day Six of the revered signers did not affix their signatures until later dates George Wythe of Virginia signed abort August t 27 Richard Henry V Lee e Virginia Eldridge Gerry setta and Oliver Wolcott Connecticut time in Sen Sep lid did not Mt slim sign until pome fome Matthy l titan Thou of New Hampshire did not add his name until of November and Thomas McKean Delaware probably did not affix his the final until five years vears 1781 Matthew Thornton later or to Con ConS was not appointed by the tho way until September and I did not press Iness take his seat until November November tour four months after the adoption of the Declaration Dee Dee- Other signers who were 1 not members of Congress on July 2 or 4 4 were allowed to sign on August S ri t 5 t Ft 2 the general signing day These Them were Benjamin Rush James Wilson George Ross George Clymer and G George Taylor |