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America’s independence is commonly associated with the date of July 4, 1776, but July 8 of that year also is a significant milestone in the United States’ fight for freedom from Great Britain.
Before Terry White read the Declaration of Independence Wednesday evening at the Kosciusko County Courthouse, Ken Locke explained why it was being read on July 8 as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
“I had more people say, ‘Why are we doing this on July 8th?’ They thought I was being unAmerican or something. Let me give you a quick background on why we’re reading this on July 8th,” Locke said.
“On Monday, July 8, 1776, it was announced to the public that the Declaration of Independence would be read to the citizens of Philadelphia. Prior to that, on July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted for Independence. On Thursday, July 4th, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. The delay of four days allowed for the preparation and dissemination of the document to the people, ensuring that citizens were informed of their new status as independent states,” he continued.
The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence occurred on July 8, 1776, in Philadelphia at noon when Col. John Nixon read the document aloud at the Pennsylvania State House yard, now known as Independence Square, to a gathered crowd after city bells summoned residents.
“The event sparked mixed reactions, with some cheering and others shouting, ‘Treason!’ or ‘Long live the king!’ while celebrations and bell ringing continued into the night,” Locke said.
George Washington read the Declaration the next day in New York City.
“This moment marked a pivotal point in American history, as it was the first time the colonies publicly declared their intention to separate from British rule,” Locke stated. “The reading not only informed the public of their newfound independence, but also set the stage for the revolutionary spirit that would define the coming years.
“Today, 250 years later, we join thousands of people across this nation, and even across the world, reading at 6 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the Declaration of Independence.”
White then proceeded to read the Declaration of Independence: “In Congress, July 4, 1776, the unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America, 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 entitle 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 unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
“Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present king of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.”
The Declaration then lists 27 specific grievances against the King of England, which White did not read.
He then continued: “In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
“Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
“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 to 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 Declaration was signed by 57 representatives, including John Hancock of Massachusetts, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Harrison of Virginia, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Samuel John Adams of Massachusetts, White said.
Locke reminded everyone that at 6 p.m. Friday at the County Courthouse the Liberty Tree would be dedicated and all the items would be placed into a time capsule.
“I’m just grateful we can stand here in this land and freely stand here reading ... without worrying about being arrested or anyone throwing tomatoes,” he said. “Believe me, when you read about that first reading, though, it wasn’t as pleasant as this one. But thank you, all, for not throwing tomatoes or rotten eggs or some of the stuff that happened at that point.”
The event concluded with a prayer from Locke.
Wednesday’s reading of the Declaration of Independence was hosted and organized by the ML Community Impact Alliance, Freedom Fest, Our America 250 and many community partners.
