signers of the Declaration of Independence

390 Pages·2013·23.52 MB·English

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OFTHE
SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION
OF
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE:
DECLARATION HISTORICALLY CONSIDERED
|
AND A SKETCH OF THE LEADING EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE
ADOPTION OF
THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.
AND OF
THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
BY LOSSING,
B. J.
AVTBOm OF "SEVENTEEN HUNDRED 4ND SEVENTT-SIX," "LIVia OFTHK
PRESIDENTS," &C.
ILLUSTRATED BY FIFTY PORTRAITS
AND OTHER ENORAVINOS.
NEW-YORK:
J. C. DERBY, 119 NASSAU STREET.
BOSTON:. PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & -CO.
Cincinnati: h. w. derby.
1856.
PREFACE.
There are lessons of deep, abiding interest, and of
inestimable value, to be learned in studying the lives of
the men who perilled their all to secure the blessed
inheritance of free institutions which we now enjoy.
We
do not learn merely the dignity and sacredness of
pure patriotism, by following them in their career amid
the storms of the Revolution, but all the virtues which
adorn humanity are pi'esented in such bold relief, in the
piivate and public actions of that venerated company,
that when we rise from a peiiisal of a narrative of their
lives, we feel as if all the noble qualities of our common
manhood had been passing before us in review, and
challenging our profound reverence.
The biographyofa great man, is an history ofhis own
times and when we have perused the record of the
;
actions ofthe men ofour Revolution, we have imbibed a
general knowledge ofthe great events ofthat struggle for
Freedom. If this proposition is true, then we feel that
this volume has a claim to the public regard, for we have
endeavored to comprise within as small a compass as a
perspicuous view of the subject would allow, the chief
events in the lives of the men who stood sponsors at the
baptism in blood ofour Infant Republic.
The memoirs are illustrated by copious notes explana-
tory ofevents alluded to in thecourse ofthe biographical
narrative, and these, we believe, will be found a highly
useful feature ofthe work.
IV PREFACE.
We
have made free use of materials long since laid
before the public by abler pens than our own. "We did
not expect to add much that is new to the biographical
facts already published our aim was to condense those
;
facts into the space ofa volume so small, that the price of
it would make it accessible to our whole population. It
is the mission of true patriotism to scatter the seeds of
knowledge broad-cast amid those in the humbler walks
of society, because adventitious circumstances deny them
access to the full gi'anary of information, where the
wealthy are filled; for these humbler ones are equal
inheritors of the throne of the people's sovereignty, and
are no less powerful than others at the ballot-box where
the nation decides who its rulers shall be.
The final adoption ofthe Federal Constitution, and the
organization of the present government of the United
—
States under it, formed the climax the crowning act
of the drama of which the Declaration of Independence
We
was the opening scene. therefore thought it propei
to append to the biographies, a brief sketch of the legis-
lative events which led to the formation and adoption
of the Constitution. The Declaration is preg—nant with
grave charges against the KingofGreatBritain charges
We
which his apologists have essayed to deny. have
taken them up in consecutive order as they stand in the
document, and adduced proofs from historical facts, ofthe
truth of those charges. These proofs might have been
multiplied, but our space would not permit amplification.
With these brief remarks, we send our volume forth
with the pleasing hope that it may prove useful to the
young and humble of our beloved land, unto whom we
affectionately dedicate it.
B. J. L.
New York, April," 1848.
CONTENTS.
PAGB, PAOS.
Prefacb, 3 JamesWilson, 126
Contents 5 GeorgeRoss, 130
Intkoduction, 7
Delaware.
NewHampshire.
CsesarRodney, 133
JWoUsliaihamBarWthlietptp,le, 1137 GTehoormgaesRMecaKde.an, 113471
Matthew.Thornton, 20
Maryland.
Massachusetts. Samuel Chase, 146
ThomasStone, 151
JohnHancock, 22 WiUiamPaca, 154
JohnAdams, 27 CharlesCarroll,ofCarroUton,.... 157
SamuelAdams, 33
,RobertTreatPaine, 37 Virs^inia.
RhodeIsland. GeorgeWythe 162
RichardHenryLee, 166
Elbridge(Jerry, ^ 40 ThomasJefl'erson, 174
Stephen Hopkins, 44 BenjaminHarrison, 184
WilliamEllery 47 ThomasNelson,Jr 188
FrancisLightfootLee, 194
Connecticut. CarterBraxton, 197
RogerSherman, 50 North Carolina.
SWialmluiealmHWuinltliinagmtso,n, ' 5536 WilliamHooper, 201
Oliver Wolcott, 59 JosephHewes, 205
JohtiPenn, 208
New York.
South Carolina,
WilliamFloyd, 63 EdwardRutledge, 211
PhilipLivingston, 67 Thomas Heyward, Jr 215
Francis Lewis, 71 Thomas Lynch,Jr 219
LewisMorris, 74 ArthurMiddleton, 323
NewJersey, Georgia.
RichardStockton, 77 ButtonGwinnett, 227
JohnWitherspoon 81 Lyman Hall, 229
FrancisHopkinson, 85 George Walton, 233
JohnHart, '. 87 Robert R. Livingston, (of New
AbrahamClark, 90 York,notasigner.) 238
The Declabation of Inde-
Pennsylvania. pendence, 244
ArticlesofConfederation, 310
RobertMorris, 93 The Federal Constitution,..- 329
BenjaminRush 99
BenjaminFranklin, 104 APPENDIX.
JohnMorton, 112
George Clymer, 114 TheStampAct, 371
JamesSmith 119 Names of Delegjates to the
GeorgeTaylor, 123 Constitutional Convention. 383
INTRODUCTION.
Independence Hall asit appearedin 1776.
ROM no point ofviewcanthe Declaration
of American Independence, the causes
which led to its adoption, and the events
'*/".''^^^^^J
which marked its maintenance, be ob-
serv'^ed, without exciting sentiments of profound vene-
rationfor themen who were the prominent actors in that
remarkable scene in the drama of the world's history.
Properlyto appreciate the true relative position in which
those men stoodto the then past and future, it is necessary
toview the chain of causes and effects, retrospective and
prospective, united in them by a brilliant Knk.
For a long series of years the commercial pohcy of
Great Britain, in her dealings with the American Colo-
nies, was narrow andselfish, and its effects influenced the
whole social co'mpact here. The colonists felt the injus-
tice ofmany laws, but their want ofrepresentation in the
National Legislature, and their inherent political weak-
ness, obliged them to submit. But when the wars witti
8 INTRODUCTION.
the French and Indians called forth their physical ener-
gies, and united, in a measure, the disjointed settlements,
scattered in isolated communities along the Atlantic sea-
board, marked by hardly a semblance ofunion in feeling
and interest, it was then that they perceived the strength
and value of unity, and talked witheach other respecting
their common rights and privileges.
The royalgoveniorsviewed the interchange ofpolitical
sentiments between the colonies with great disfavor, for
they saw thei-ein the harbinger of their own departing
strength. Their representations to the British Ministry,
more than any other single cause, contributed to the en-
actment oflaws respecting the colonies, that finally gene-
rated that rebellious spirit in the hearts of theAnglo-••
Americans, which would not, and did not, stop short of
absolute Political Independence.
The enactment of the Stamp Act in 1765, and the
kindred measures that soonfollowed, made it plain to the
minds ofthe colonists that even common justice would be
denied them bythe Home Government, ifits claimsinter-
fered with the avaricious demands of an exhausted trea-
sury. They saw plainly that the King and Parliament
were resolved to turn a deaf ear to all petitions and re-
monstrances that were based upon the righteous assump-
tion that " TAXATION AND EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION
ARE ONE AND INSEPARABLE." As this was aprinciple too
vitalinthe very constitution ofafi'ee people,tobe yielded,
the colonists felt the necessity ofa General Council to de-
liberate upon the solemn questionsinvolved. In this, the
great heart of colonial America seemed to beat with ou6
!
INTRODUCTION. 9
pulsation; and almost simultaneously, and without pre-
vious concert, the proposition for a General Congress was
put forth in several ofthe colonies.
The time and place for holding a Congi'ess weredesig-
nated,and onthe fifth ofSeptember, 1774, delegates fiom
the various colonies assembled in Cai'penter's Hall, in
Philadelphia. Their deliberations were orderly but finn.
Loyalty tothe crown,notwithstandingits oppressions, was
a leading theme in their debates. Not a word was whis-
pered of dismemberment and independence, but they
solemnly consulted with each other upon the best means
ofmaintaining the integiity ofthe British realm, compati-
ble with the preservation of their own inalienable rights.
To this end their efforts were directed, and they humbly
petitioned the King, remonstrated with Parliament, and
appealed to their brethren in Great Britain for justice.
Buttheir petitions andremonstrances werein vain. New
oppressions werelaid upon them,and the blood ofAmeri-
can citizens was shed by British soldiery at Lexington
and Concord
Another Congress assembled in May, 1775, organized
a temporary general government; made provisions for an
army, and appointed Washington commander-in-chief
And yet they talked not ofindependence. They armed in
defence of rights bestowed by the British Constitution,
and they were still willing to lay them down, and avow
their loyalty, when those rights should be respected.
Even with arms in their hands, and successfully opposing
the force of British bayonets, they petitioned and remon-
strated. But their petitions were unheeded their re-
;
1*
10 INTRODUCTION.
monstrances were insultingly answered and their de-
;
mands forjustice were met by swarms of armed merce-
naries, purchased by the British Government of petty
Gennan princes, and sent hither to butcher Biitish sub-
jects for assertingthe rights ofBritish subjects
!
Hope for reconciUation faded away at the opening of
1776, and in June of that year, Richard Henry Lee, of
Virginia, offered a resolution in the General Congress,
declaringall allegiance ofthecolonies to theBritishcrown,
at an end. This bold proposition was soon afterfollowed
by the appointment ofa committee to draft a Declaration
of Independence. This committee consisted of Thomas
Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sher-
man and Robert R. Livingston. The draft was made by
Jefferson,and after afew verbalalterations by Dr. Frank-
lin and Mr. Adams, it was submitted to Congress on the
twenty-eighth of June. It was laid upon the table until
the first of July, when it was taken up in committee of
the whole, and afterseveral amendments weremade,nine
StatesvotedforIndependence. The AssembliesofMary-
land and Pennsylvania refused their concunence but
;
conventions of the people having been called, majorities
were obtained, and on the fourth of July, votes from all
the Colonies were procured in its favor, and the thirteen
unitedColoniesweredeclaredfreeandindependentStates.
The Declaration was signed on that day, only by John
Hancocik, the President of Congress, and with his name
alone,it was firstsent forth to the world. It was ordered
to be engrossed upon the Journals of Congress, and on
the second day of August following, it was signed by all