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THE DECLARATION OF independ

ENCE, JULY 4, 1776.

HOW IT CAME TO BE Adopted.

THE First Continental Congress, which met at Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, on the 5th of September, 1774, was convened for purposes of consultation only. Its members assembled together in alarm, unresolved as to what should be done, viewing each new encroachment of the British ministry as an addition to evils which were already intolerable. Twelve colonies were represented by delegates in that assembly. Georgia was not represented. Protests only were the weapons by which these representatives hoped to avert the calamities which impended. The king was loyally and humbly addressed. The people of Great Britain were besought to use their influence to prevent the injustice and injury which would result from the execution of the acts of Parliament hostile to America. Resistance was not determined upon further than by declaration that no obedience was due from the province of Massachusetts Bay "to the late cruel, unjust and oppressive acts of the British Parliament; but that they should be rejected as the attempt of a wicked administration." A resolution against the importation, use or purchase of British goods after the 1st of December, 1775, and a determination that all exports from the American colonies to Great Britain and the British West Indies should cease on the 1st of September, 1775, unless the grievances complained of were removed, were the most aggressive acts of this conference. On the 26th of October the Congress adjourned, recommending to the people of the American colonies that another Congress should be held in Philadelphia on the 10th of May, 1775, unless the American colonies should be sooner relieved of their grievances.

The hope under which the first Congress adjourned was illusory. There was no disposition in the British ministry or in the Parliament to allow the complaints of the Americans to disturb the policy of the administration. The second Congress met at the State-house in Philadelphia on the roth of May, 1775. The delegates to this assembly came together under circumstances varying in regard to the amount of authority which they held. Some were elected by the provincial assemblies and represented the established colonial governments, some were sent by popular conferences and conventions which had been held in defiance of the wishes of the colonial authorities, who were not in sympathy with American feeling. Under the circumstances the delegates were justified in acting with extreme caution. Those who were sent by the colonial assemblies dared not act further than express authority seemed to allow. Those who were sent by the people were even less justified in assuming a broad license, and they were compelled by the circumstances which brought them together to act with discretion, which might seem to many to be timidity. The delegates were governed, therefore, very strictly by their instructions; and although the battles of Lexington and Concord had been fought before the Congress assembled, the members confined themselves strictly to the authorization of measures of defence against the tyrannical outrages of the Crown. In doing this much they might have exceeded the limit of their instructions. But the actual necessity controlled. Even in the

organization of armies and the authorization of hostilities the members of Congress regarded as near as might be under the circumstances the spirit of their instructions.

Connecticut appointed her delegates on the 3d of November, 1774, "to join, consult and advise with the other colonies in British America on proper measures for advancing the best good of the colonies." To join in proper measures was the greatest extent of this authority, and whether the words were sufficient license for acts of war may well be questioned. Massachusetts Bay, through her provincial convention, having suffered most by British oppression, was boldest in the commission to her delegates, who were chosen on the 5th of December, 1774. They were granted "full power with the delegates of the other colonies to concert, agree upon, direct and order such further measures as to them shall appear best calculated for the recovery and establishment of American rights and liberties, and for restoring harmony between Great Britain and the colonies.

Maryland, by convention of deputies, on the 12th of September, 1774, gave to her delegates in Congress power "to consult and agree to all measures which such Congress shall deem necessary and effectual to obtain a redress of American grievances. And this province bind themselves to execute to the utmost of their power all resolutions which the said Congress may adopt." This was an unlimited authority, subject only to the determination of other colonies.

Pennsylvania, by vote of her assembly, elected her delegates September 15, 1774, with direction merely that they should attend the Congress, and with no instruction as to what they should do.

South Carolina, on the 11th of January, 1775, in provincial convention, chose her delegates "with full power to concert, agree upon, direct and order such further measures as in the opinion of the said deputies and the delegates of the other American colonies to be assembled shall appear necessary for the recovery and establishment of American rights and liberties, and for restoring harmony between Great Britain and the colonies.' The commons house of assembly of South Carolina ratified these appointments on the 3d of February, "with full power and authority to concert, agree to and effectually prosecute such measures as in the opinion of the said deputies and of the deputies to be assembled shall be most likely to obtain redress of American grievances.'

New Jersey appointed her delegates on the 24th of January, 1775, by the assembly, without instructions, except to report what had been done.

New Hampshire, by convention, on the 25th of January, 1775, gave to her delegates "full and ample power in behalf of this province to consent and agree to all measures which said Congress shall deem necessary to obtain redress of American grievances."

The lower counties on the Delaware (now the State of Delaware), by resolution of the assembly, 16th of March, 1775, gave to her delegates power "to concert and agree upon such further measures as shall appear to them best calculated for the accommodation of the unhappy differences between Great Britain and her colonies on a constitutional foundation, which the house most ardently wish for."

Virginia elected her delegates March 20, 1775, without instruction.

North Carolina, April 5, 1775, by convention,

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2 5 9 4 9 24 6.3 2 439 44 10 2.6.4 3 3 3 22 10 22 10 41 6.5 3 43 4 311 2 11 22 6.5 26 4 48 11 45 THE Public Ledger of Philadelphia, it is be6lieved, has now the largest circulation of any daily paper in the United States, with perhaps one exception, and for the accommodation of its advertisers, and to give a reasonable amount of reading matter, issues every Wednesday and Saturday a supplement. As an evidence of the amount of its business, nearly two thousand advertisements Apr. 9 were handed in at its counter on Saturday last for publication, being a larger number by far than were ever offered in one day to any other Phila14 delphia paper. The daily circulation of the Led16 ger is now 92,000, with a steady increase. June 4

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The increasing demands upon its columns show that the public fully appreciate its advantages and cheapness as an advertising medium. At an estimate of five persons in each family reading the Ledger, an advertisement is brought to bear upon the minds of over 460,000 persons. It has always been a very desirable and appreciable paper to the citizens of Philadelphia, and it reaches and is read by all classes, bringing to them a vast amount of valuable and well-ascertained matters of fact and news. Its great success is traceable to the fact of the genuineness and character of its reading matter. It is really the model newspaper of its day and age, but it has required a vast deal of labor and patience to accomplish this great work.-Daily News, West Chester, Pa., April 16, 1875.

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gave her delegates "such powers as may make
any acts done by them or by any of them, or con-
sent given on behalf of this province, obligatory on
honor upon every inhabitant thereof." The as-
sembly of that province ratified the nominations
two days afterward.

New York, by provincial convention, April
22d, three days after the battle of Lexington, news
of which had already been received, appointed
delegates "to concert and determine upon such
measures as shall be judged most effectual for the
preservation and re-establishment of American
rights and restoration of harmony between Great
Britain and the colonies."

Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, by vote of assembly, on the 7th of May, instructed the delegates to consult with delegates of other colonies "upon proper measures to obtain a repeal of the several acts of the British Parliament for levying taxes upon His Majesty's subjects in America without their consent; also to consult upon proper measures to establish the rights and liberties of the colonies upon a just and proper foundation."

Georgia, which had no delegates in the first Congress, sent none to the second until four months after it had assembled. It is true that Dr. Lyman Hall, on the 13th of May, appeared as representative of the parish of St. John's, appointed by the citizens of that parish, and was admitted to a seat. But the colony of Georgia chose no delegates until the 4th of July, 1775, and they did not make their appearance at Philadelphia until the 13th of September. The Georgia convention instructed its delegates "to do, transact, join and concur with the several delegates from the other colonies and provinces upon this continent in all such matters and things as shall appear eligible and fit at this alarming time for the preservation and defence of our rights and liberties, and for the restoration of harmony upon constitutional principles between Great Britain and America."

ten in favor of independence until, on the 15th of
January, 1776, Robert Bell, bookseller, in Third
street, Philadelphia, issued the first copies of an
anonymous pamphlet, entitled "Common Sense."
It was an argument in favor of independence of
the control of Great Britain. It was well writ-
ten and plausible, and it struck a keynote to the
thoughts of every patriot. Several editions of this
publication were issued, and the author was soon
found to be Thomas Paine, an Englishman, who
had been in America scarcely more than a year.
"Common Sense" was replied to by
"Plain
Truth and many other pamphlets, and sud-
denly this question of independence became para-
mount throughout America. The delegates in
Congress were still under the control of the cau-
tious instructions which had been passed by the
appointing authorities generally months before.
After "Common Sense" was published, New
Jersey elected her delegates on the 14th of Feb-
ruary, but gave them no new instructions.

The house of representatives of the lower coun-
ties on Delaware, on the 22d of March, instructed
their delegates to "embrace every opportunity to
effect a reconciliation with Great Britain on such
principles as may ensure to your constituents a
full and lasting enjoyment of all their just rights
and privileges." North Carolina gave the first
actual approval by a vote of convention, on the
22d of April, at which time the representatives of
the colony were empowered "to concur with those
of other colonies in establishing independence."
The convention of Virginia, on the 15th of May,
unanimously resolved "that their delegates be in-
structed to propose to that body to declare the
united colonies free and independent States-ab-
solved from all allegiance or dependence upon the
Crown or Parliament of Great Britain-and that
they give the assent of this colony to such declara-
tion and to measures for forming foreign alliances
and a confederation of the colonies; provided that
the power of forming a government for and the reg-
ulation of the internal concerns of each colony be
left to the respective colonial legislatures.'
was upon this authority that Richard Henry Lee
of Virginia, on Friday, the 7th of June, offered the
following resolution, which was seconded by John
Adams of Massachusetts:

It

and

"Resolved, That these united colonies are, 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."

The object apparent with all the colonies was, if possible, a restoration of harmony with Great Britain. If the British ministry could have understood the spirit of the Americans more clearly than they did, an unhappy error would have been avoided. But they were proud, conceited and stubborn, and imagined that chastisement would bring the colonists to terms. They were correct in believing that America did not wish to break away from Great Britain, but they did not seem to understand that continued coercion would force the colonies to assume independence. And so for This resolution was considered June 8th and eight weary months hostilities went on. Bunker 10th, upon the latter day in committee of the Hill had been assaulted by the British, and carried whole. It was then resolved to postpone the subby them with great loss. Charlestown was burned, ject until Monday, the 1st of July," and in the Ticonderoga and Crown Point were captured by meanwhile, that no time be lost in case the Conthe Americans, the Canadian expedition under gress agree thereto, that a committee be appointed Arnold and Montgomery had penetrated the wil- to prepare a declaration to the effect of the first derness, and after brave fighting and much suf- said resolution." President Hancock next day fering the effort proved a failure. New York announced this committee to be composed of was captured by the British. There had been Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of engagements by land and sea, and yet it was the Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylcase of English subjects only fighting to secure vania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut and Robert the rights which English subjects were believed R. Livingston of New York. The next day a to possess. Strong Whigs were thinking of inde- committee was appointed, Josiah Bartlett of New pendence, and wondering how the great act was Hampshire chairman, "to prepare and digest the to be accomplished. Some were fearing that an form of a confederation to be entered into by these attempt to break off from Great Britain might colonies;" also a committee "to prepare a plan soon be made, and they were alarmed at the pros-of treaties to be proposed to foreign powers," John pect. Still, nothing had been publicly said or writ- Dickinson of Pennsylvania chairman.

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MARCH.

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First: A Partial Eclipse of the Moon, beginning at 10h, 56m. P.M., March 9, Philadelphia mean time. When the Moon enters the Penumbra, the first appearance of the Shadow will be at oh. 20m. A.M. of the roth. The middle of the Eclipse at th. 20m. A. M. Disappearance of the Shadow 2h. zom. A.M., and the Moon leaves the Penumbra at 3h. 44m. A.M. The Shadow will cover less than one-third of the Moon's face.

Second: An Annular Eclipse of the Sun, beginning at oh. 28m P.M., March 23, Philadelphia mean time, near the Sandwich Islands, and ending at 5h. 40m. P.M., near Greenland. The Eclipse will be visible over the whole of North America,

4.42 A.M. h rises. 3.30 P.M. 10.04 P.M. ÓŸ¿. 3.57 P.M. 65 4. 11.09 P.M. Sirius sets. 1.24 P.M. U S. A

and westward over three or four thousand miles of the Pacific Ocean. It will begin at Philadelphia near 4 P.M., and end about sunset.

Third: A Partial Eclipse of the Moon, beginning at 1h. 46m. P.M., Sept. 3, Philadelphia mean time, and ending at 6h, 56m. P.M. This Eclipse will not be visible in any part of the Western Continent. It will be principally visible in Europe.

Fourth: A Total Eclipse of the Sun, beginning at 2h. 11m. P.M., Sept. 17, Philadelphia mean time, in the region of Australia, and ending at 7h. 25m., near the South Pole. The islands of the Pacific will have the exclusive opportunity of seeing this Eclipse, New Zealand and the islands north of it being favorably located.

THE PUBLIC LEDGER ALMANAC, freely distributed by Mr. Childs with his admirable daily, is a costly and handsome affair, adapted, among other uses, to serve as a handy guide-book to the city of Philadelphia. As we have always been exceedingly proud of our neighbor sheet, we are glad to learn that its shadow never was greater, and it still "has, perhaps with but one exception, the largest circulation of any daily printed.Evening Bulletin, Philadelphia.

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