USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > An historical account of the old State house of Pennsylvania now known as the Hall of Independence > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
"Resolved, 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 CONNEC- TION BETWEEN THEM. AND THE STATE OF GREAT-BRITAIN, IS AND OUGHT TO BE TOTALLY DISSOLVED."
South Carolina, as well as Pennsylvania, and Delaware too, now added their voices to the will of the majority of the Colonies. Thus, on the second day of July, every State, except New York, concurred in the Virginia motion, and resolved themselves
FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES.
1 Among those participating in this vote were John Dickinson, Thomas Willing, Charles Humphreys, and John Rogers. As they were not members of Congress when the Declaration was signed, their fac-simile signatures are herewith presented.
V Deling
101
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
The Record of July 2d, further reads : -
" AGREEABLE TO THE ORDER OF THE DAY, THE CONGRESS .RESOLVED ITSELF INTO A COMMITEE OF THE WHOLE ; AND AFTER SOME TIME, THE PRESIDENT RESUMED THE CHAIR, AND MR. HARRISON REPORTED, THAT THE COMMITTEE HAVE HAD UNDER CONSIDERATION THE DECLARATION TO THEM REFERRED, BUT NOT HAVING HAD TIME TO GO THROUGH THE SAME, DESIRED HIM TO MOVE FOR LEAVE TO SIT AGAIN :
" Resolved, THAT THIS CONGRESS WILL TO-MORROW AGAIN RESOLVE IT- SELF INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, TO TAKE INTO THEIR FARTHER CONSIDERATION THE DECLARATION RESPECTING INDEPENDANCE."
Thus not only during the rest of the second day, but the whole of the third and of the fourth, in Committee of the Whole, was the Dec- laration, in explanation of their action, debated paragraph by para- graph.1 Late in the evening of the fourth it was finally passed, and ordered to be engrossed for the signatures of the Delegates from the various States.
It was not, however, till the next day that the official promulgation of Independence was ordered by the President of Congress.2
Congress sat, as was the custom with deliberative bodies at that day, with closed doors, its members pledged to secresy. So important a step
1 It is related that its author was discovered by Dr. Franklin " writhing under " the alterations. Whereupon he related an incident of his own early days, the case of one of his companions, who. having served out his time as an apprentice to a hatter, was about to open shop for himself, and desired a handsome sign board with an appropriate inscription. " He composed it in these words : 'John Thompson, Hatter, makes and sells Hats for ready money,' with a figure of a hat subjoined. But he thought he would submit it to his friends for their amendments. The first he showed it to thought the word Hatter tautologous, because followed by the words makes hats, which showed he was a hatter. It was struck out. The next observed that the word makes might as well be omitted, because his customers would not care who made the hats ; if good and to their mind, they would buy, by whom- soever made. He struck it out. A third said he thought the words for ready money were useless, as it was not the custom of the place to sell on credit. Every one who purchased expected to pay. They were parted with, and the inscription now stood, ' John Thompson sells hats.' . Sells hats! ! ' says his next friend, . why, nobody will expect you to give them away. What, then, is the use of that word? ' It was stricken out, and hats was stricken out, the rather as there was one painted on the board. So his inscription was reduced ultimately to ' John Thompson,' with the figure of a hat subjoined."
2 So many misconceptions, so many misstatements, have been made as to the time, place, and circumstances of promulgating the Declaration of Independence as to make it important to bear the actual facts in mind. The absurd stories of a blue- eyed boy and of the immense crowd besieging the doors of Congress on the 4th of July, and of the reading of Declaration by Charles Thomson, the Secretary of Con- gress, from the steps or balcony of the State House, are pure inventions.
------
JOHN NIXON.
· 103
THE PROMULGATION OF INDEPENDENCE ..
Committee of Safety ; they then marched to the State House Yard and collected about the Observatory. The constituted authorities, in- cluding a number of the Delegates in Congress, filed out from the rear entrance to do honor to the occasion. John Nixon, a prominent mem- ber of the Committee of Safety, stood on the balcony or platform of the Observatory, the popular rostrum of the day, and, in a voice clear and distinct enough to be heard on the opposite side of Fifth Street, read aloud to the people, for the first time, the Declaration of Inde- pendence. 1
The vast concourse of people greeted it by loud cheers and re- peated huzzas.
The royal insignia over the judges' seats were taken down and burnt, then the crowd left the square to exhibit, in other congenial ways in different parts of the city, their contempt for the King and his authority ; assembling again at five o'clock in the afternoon on the common to listen to the proclamation to the troops and to join in bon- fires, impromptu fire-works, and other demonstrations of joy. The night was star-light and beautiful.
The old State House Bell made its Biblical quotation intelligible to every ear. For a quarter of a century its familiar tones had been the signal for assembling the liegemen of a foreign potentate2 ; to-day it called together a sovereign people only to dismiss them with the bene- diction, all men are born free and independent.3
1 A printed broadside of the Declaration found among the papers of John Nixon, possibly the identical sheet from which he then read, has been deposited in Inde- pendence Hall by his great grand-daughter, Mrs. Charles Henry Hart.
2 In early days " those members who do not appear within half an hour after the ringing of the bell and the speaker assuming the chair shall pay a ten penny bit," etc., and again " those members who do not appear within half an hour after the As- sembly bell ceases to ring shall pay one shilling."
8 Even the bells of Christ Church joined in the chorus as merrily, ave and as steadily, as if the Rev. Jacob Duche, its Pastor, had that day espoused the patriot cause. In this gentleman's subsequent and famous letter to Washington, he states, that he persisted in using the public prayer for his sovereign and the royal family till the latest moment, though threatened with insults from the violence of a party; but that on the Declaration of Independence, not being able to consult his spiritual superior, he called his vestry together and solemnly put the question, whether they thought it best for the peace and welfare of the congregations (of St. Peters as well as Christ Church) to shut up the churches, or to continue the services, with- out using the petitions for the royal family."
The Minute Books, still extant in the careful custody of the Rev. Edward A. Fogzo, the present (1876) Rector, under the prompt date of July 4, 1776, show that their religious observances conformed to their public action in "chiming the chimers," though apparently to the surprise of Mr. John Adams. The Entry is -
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776.
he iunanimous Declarafront ofthe thirteen united States of America,
fett in the form of heavmor ow att at buenas meesforsy for onepeople to disolve the point bunits which have annested them with another ; and to afim among the house of the earth; the porate and spool Biohow to shock the Laws of Nature and of Nation's Good ontitle them , a decent respect to the opinions of mankind regenis that they frankl dech is the causes which ampel them to the Separation . We hold these truths toto fif content that all men autouted igual', that they are endowed by him bunter worth waiting wantonathe Rights, that among these are Life Liberty and the pinout of Happiness _ That to powe Have tights Governments are institutet among . Mens, during the post flowers from theroomend of the gerard, - Tout whenowe any Town of person in it becomes studies of the sevende, it is the Right ofthe Scope to attiecas to actich it and to institute new Government lagongatos foundation on such pronaples and a gunzony is flowers on such form as to them shall van most likely to jest these dakty and Happiness. Prudence indeed, "will dette that governments long established Should not be changed for light and transient causes and accordingly all esperana hath jiwon, Hast manhood and more disposed tofugesucht evde wie fokusalle, More to right themselves by abdlooking the forms to celach they are accustomed Bid when aling train of abases and upupations, furung invanoely thesame (inject) umas a drag to sauce the in under at solide Propostain, du Hove right,des baraduty to three of such Government , and to provide an Guards for the future fruity_ ty _ Juch has
Les the patient fofgrana of these Colinas, and fuck w now Be acpaty which andtrans them to atar the former Systems of Government. the history of the present King of frent Butare w atidary of spreaded ingames and refupations of having in dont syed the Jobbshment of an abolich Tyranny von these State To prove this is Facts is formatet to a ind He has ufel has apeut to down the most wholesome and mapway for the puste good The haw forruden his Governors to put Laws of ommediated
Hechas refuse.tto
andfucking inportanas anlips Suspended in the operation file has thesont should I detained and when os fuspended hechos atlanty wegintend to attend be Hem_
' page the Loss for the ammonod ation of large district of people untip those people would selengnash the night of Representation mother Segostature, a right in pomade tothers and formidable to tyunits only_ Die has called tegelice Regulative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable and distant from the depandory of the fluble Crecords for the wie furuse of fertigung them out
compliance ich -Tee has deprived Repetative Houses repeatedly for offering with many formais to marjons on the rights of the people He's his afused for si & Gambleition have utunal to the hope at large for the users , the Hate roman
along time after such depolations, to cause chins to be eased , whereis the Sopristine flowers incapable of any other means to eshowed to all the dangers ofinouscon from wathoud and convulsions willen_ He has condevoured to percent the population of these frates ; for that haspor istrue.
He has divinetel men
boy the das for Marsigation of Magnus afwant tohate otras to manage the megcabons father and varing the conditions A new dapronations of Souls
ildemonstration of justice by refusing to has desant to Lous for estationking fishcurry flowers- He has made fundyes dependent on the the alone for the berone of these tres Que the movie and payment ofthese values - He has ceded a meattinte if Vive Offres and ant butiles persones of guess to transfer our ficopie with you out the fucktrans-
wo as those of fosse Standing thomas without the consent for happiness _ He has anudet to under the Military muchfunbed of and aspouse & the beast frans'~
----
THE LIBERTY BELL.
105
THE DECLARATION MADE UNANIMOUS.
forces, in 1777, were about to leave Philadelphia, the Bell (and the chimes of Christ Church, its coadjutors in announcing Independence, shared its fortunes) was taken down by the Commissary and trans- ported to Allentown 1 to prevent its falling into the hands of the British, who were then about to occupy the city. Though brought back to town after the evacuation, it does not seem to have been re- stored to its original place in the old steeple.
On the fifteenth day of July the President received and laid before Congress a resolution, unanimously adopted by " the convention of the representatives of the State of New York," dated July 9th, 1776, from White Plains, " That the reasons assigned by the Continental Congress for declaring the United Colonies free and independent States are cogent and conclusive, and that while we lament the cruel necessity which has rendered that measure unavoidable, we approve the same, and will at the risk of our lives and fortunes join with the other colonies in supporting it."
Thus the chain became complete, and instructions were now given to the engrossing clerk to alter the heading of the Declaration of In- dependence, as the draft read (and as adopted by Congress, and as was actually proclaimed to the people on the 8th day of July), by the insertion of the words "The unanimous."
It was not, however. and this is a fact too often lost sight of, until the second day of August that the Declaration of Independence, en- grossed on parchment, was brought into the Chamber of Congress and placed upon the President's table for the signatures of the individual members.
All those actually present on that day, affixed their names, and
1 September 15, 1777. By order of the Executive Council, the bells of Christ Church (seven in number) as well as those of St. Peter's (two in number) were ordered to be taken down and removed to a place of safety, in anticipation of General Howe taking possession of Philadelphia. This was upon the recommenda- tion of Congress. The church wardens and vestry very seriously objected. on hearing what was about to be done, and they tried, through John Penn, to induce Congress to make an exception in favor of the church bells on account of the great risk in taking them down, the improbability of having a proper person to replace them, and a feeling on the part of the vestry that they were really in no danger; and receiving the reply that Congress had but recommended the measure, they then applied to the Executive Council, but without success, and Colonel Flower accord- ingly removed them. He, however, in October, 1778, replaced them at the public expense.
In passing through the streets of Bethlehem, the wagon containing the State House Bell broke down, and had to be unloaded.
106
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
many were thus included who had no share in debating or voting upon the document. It was then turned over to Charles Thomson, the secretary ; and, as each new member joined his colleagues, he was called upon to sign. Thus will be found the names, in some instances. of Representatives who were not concurrently in Congress.
The change of title from " A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled," into " The Unanimous Declaration," etc., has produced much needless confusion, and even misrepresentation.
Before the expiration of the week in which Independence was pro- claimed, the convention to form a constitution for the new State of Pennsylvania assembled in the State House. The Judicial Chamber, opposite that of Independence, seems to have been appropriated for its sessions. It met July 15, and continued in session until September 28, 1776.
Shortly after its organization, it unanimously approved the reso- lution declaring Pennsylvania, as well as the other United States of America, free and independent, and avowed " before God and the world, that we will support and maintain the freedom and independ- ence of this and the other United States of America, at the utmost risk of our lives and fortunes."
The Convention did not hesitate to assume the legislative functions required by the call. On the 20th day of July they elected delegates to Congress, fixed the number at nine, and authorized a majority, at any time present, to be a quorum. They reelected Messrs. Franklin, Robert Morris, and Wilson ; and superseded Messrs. Dickinson, Wil- ling, Humphreys, Biddle, and Allen, by George Ross, George Clymer, James Smith (three of their own members), Benjamin Rush, and George Taylor. Thus was constituted the delegation who officially signed the Declaration of Independence on behalf of Pennsylvania.
The Convention finally, on 28th September, " unanimously passed and confirmed " a declaration of rights and a frame of government for the Commonwealth. These served as the fundamental law, success- fully ruling the State throughout the whole of the Revolutionary Struggle.
The Executive, vested in a President and Council, and the Leg- islature, in a single House of Representatives, were, at the first, both accommodated in the chambers of the second story of the State House.
The Assembly met for the first time on the 28th November, 1776
·
-
107
EVACUATION OF PHILADELPHIA.
The character of its members seems to have been essentially changed, and we find it entered of record, " A quorum did not appear, in conse- quence of the absence of the members in the army." 1 This was from December 14, 1776, to January 13, 1777, when the House again met, and sat till 21st March, and again from May 12 to June 19, - without a quorum, however, from 12th to 21st May, - and from September 3d to 18th, - without a quorum for ten days. On the 18th September, an account having been received " that the enemy's army were in full march for this city, it was agreed that the General Assembly should adjourn to the borough of Lancaster, to meet there on 25th Septem- ber." 2
Congress had, upon similar apprehensions, left Philadelphia at the close of December, 1776, but had promptly returned, and reconvened in its chamber March 4, 1777.3
Now, however, their apprehensions were well founded ; they hur- ried away in the night of September 18, upon the actual approach of the British. After one meeting (27th September), at Lancaster, they adjourned to York, Pennsylvania, and sat there from 30th September, 1777, till June 27, 1778.
The British held possession of Philadelphia from September 26, 1777, till 18th June following.
During their occupation of the city under General Howe, the State House was used as a prison and hospital. It was here, that the so- called " arch fiend " Cunningham, the Provost Marshal, exercised his atrocities. This man had deserted from the American to the British employ, and some of the prisoners who escaped from his clutches stated to Francis Hopkinson that they had actually seen bodies of their fel- low sufferers lying in the State House Yard, who had died of mere famine, with unchewed grass hanging out of their mouths. They re- ported that a bucket full of broth had been sent, by some citizens, to the prisoners confined in the provost; that Cunningham had taken it into the State House Yard, and when the starving victims had gathered eagerly around it, he kicked over the bucket with his foot, and then
1 In the year preceding, we are told by Mr. Young, in a letter to Mrs. Fergusson, of Græme Park, " Our Honorable House made but a scurvy appearance the day the memorial was presented to them by the Committees, it was enough to make one sweat to see a parcel of Countrymen sitting with their hats on, great coarse cloth coats, Leather breeches, and woollen stockings in the month of July ; there was not a speech made the whole time, whether their silence proceeded from their mod- esty or from their inability to speak, I know not." MS.
2 It sat at Lancaster, September 29 to October 13, 1777.
8 They met in Baltimore from December 20, 1776, to February 27, 1777.
108
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL. .
laughed to see them, prostrate on the ground, lap up the slop like dogs.
Congress returned to their chamber in the State House on 2d July, 1778. Shortly after, took place the ceremonial reception of the Chevalier Conrad Alexandre Gérard, the first minister accredited to the United States from any foreign power. Much formality was hence given to it. M. Gerard had reached Philadelphia early in July, but it was not until 6th August that, escorted by Richard Henry Lee and Samuel Adams, in a chariot and six horses, he delivered personally his credentials. " The carriages being arrived at the State House," says a looker-on, " the two members of Congress, placing themselves at the Minister's left hand, introduced him to his chair in the Con- gress Chamber, the President and Congress sitting; the chair was placed, fronting the President. The Minister, being seated, handed his credentials to his Secretary, who advanced and delivered them to the President, Henry Laurens. The Secretary of Congress, Charles Thomson, then read and translated them, which being done, Mr. Lee announced The Minister to the President and Congress ; at this time the President, the Congress, and the Minister rose together; he bowed to the President and Congress, and they bowed to him, whereupon the whole seated themselves." After a speech by the Minister, and another by the President, and an interchange of copies thereof, mutual ceremonial bows as before, the Minister retired.
The description given of the sitting of Congress at this time affords us the best idea of their habits. " Within the bar of the House, the Congress formed a semicircle, on each side of the President, and the Minister ; the President, sitting at one extremity of the circle, at a table upon a platform, elevated two steps, the Minister sitting, at the opposite extremity of the circle, in an arm-chair upon the same level with the Congress." The door of the Congress Chamber was on this occasion thrown open, and without the Bar were admitted, to the audi- ence, the Vice President of the Supreme Executive Council of the State, the Speaker and the Assembly of Pennsylvania, foreigners of distinction, and officers of the army.
The newspapers of the day exclaim : " Thus has a new and noble sight been exhibited in this New World - the Representatives of the United States of America, solemnly giving public audience to a min- ister plenipotentiary from the most powerful prince in Europe. Four years ago such an event, at so near a day, was not in the view even of imagination ; but it is the Almighty who raiseth up; He hath sta- tioned America among the powers of the earth, and clothed her in robes of sovereignty."
109
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.
Upon the ninth day of July, 1778, and in " the 3d year of the Inde- pendence of America," the " Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union " between the United States of America had been signed in this same chamber, by the delegates in Congress of eight States, but it was not to be binding, until ratified by the whole thirteen.
The Resolution of 7th June, 1776, included a provision for "a plan of confederation," and a Committee was appointed on the 12th to prepare a draft therefor. This Committee consisted of Josiah Bartlett, Samuel Adams, Stephen Hopkins, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston, John Dickinson, Thomas Mckean, Thomas Stone, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Joseph Hewes, Edward Rutledge, and Button Gwinnett, - a Representative from each State.
John Dickinson was the mouth-piece of this eminent Committee, and reported, as early as July 12, 1776; but so many conflicting inter- ests were to be compromised, and such diversity of sentiment recon- ciled, that it was not until March 1, 1781, that the final ratification took place.1
The following members were signers of the Articles of Confedera- tion on the part and behalf of the State of -
New Hampshire.
JOSIAH BARTLETT. JOHN WENTWORTH, JR.
Massachusetts.
JOHN HANCOCK. SAMUEL ADAMS.
ELBRIDGE GERRY.
FRANCIS DANA. JAMES LOVELL. SAMUEL HOLTEN.
Rhode Island.
WILLIAM ELLERY.
JOHN COLLINS.
HENRY MARCHANT.
Connecticut.
ROGER SHERMAN. TITUS HOSMER.
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON. ANDREW ADAM.
OLIVER WOLCOTT.
1 " The eight states " were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con- necticut, New York, Pennsylvania. Virginia, and South Carolina. North Carolina ratified " The Articles of Confederation " on 21st July, Georgia on 24th, New Jersey on 26th November, Delaware on 5th May, 1779, and Maryland on 1st March, 1781.
110
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
New York.
JAMES DUANE. FRANCIS LEWIS.
WILLIAM DUER. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS,
New Jersey.
JOHN WITHERSPOON. NATHANIEL SCUDDER, .
Pennsylvania.
ROBERT MORRIS. WILLIAM CLINGAN. JOSEPH REED.
DANIEL ROBERDEAU.
JONATHAN BAYARD SMITH.
Delaware.
THOMAS MCKEAN. JOHN DICKINSON.
NICHOLAS VAN DYKE.
Maryland.
JOHN HANSON. DANIEL CARROLL.
Virginia.
RICHARD HENRY LEE.
JOHN BANNISTER.
JOHN HARVIE.
FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE.
THOMAS ADAMS.
North Carolina.
JOHN PENN. JOHN WILLIAMS.
CORNELIUS HARNETT.
South Carolina.
HENRY LAURENS. RICHARD HUTSON.
WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON. THOMAS HEYWARD, JR.
JOHN MATTHEWS.
Georgia.
JOHN WALTON. EDWARD LANGWORTHY.
EDWARD TELFAIR.
The form of government remained unchanged, but the powers of Congress - still consisting of one body- and of the respective States, were better defined ; while its defects were many, it is stated to have been " of extended benefit; to have met the pressing wants of the Union and thus strengthened it. It conferred a great educational ser- vice through the experience of its defects, and it carried the nation along until a more efficient system was provided. No less an author-
111
CONGRESS LEAVES PHILADELPHIIA.
ity than Chief Justice Marshall has declared that " this service alone entitles that instrument to the respectful recollections of the American people and its FRAMERS to their gratitude."
Thus not only was the Declaration of Independence debated and signed within the walls of our chamber, but so, also, the next step in the history of the Union was herein taken, and, as we shall presently see, herein too that union made more perfect by the framing and sign- ing of the Constitution of the United States itself. Throughout the residue of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress continued to hold its sessions and to debate every question of legislative im- portance in Independence Chamber.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.