Although we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, that famous document was actually signed on July 2, 1776.

John Adams, one of the signers and the second president of the United States, wrote to his wife, Abigail, on July 3, "I am apt to believe that (the signing) will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

John Quincy Adams, son of John and Abigail, and sixth president of the United States, delivered Fourth of July orations in 1793, 1821 and 1831. His son, Charles Francis Adams, spoke on the Fourth in 1843, 1856, 1860 and 1876. A newspaper account of the 1843 speech said, "It was characterized by strength of language, boldness of thought, and fearless independence."

If that was what was expected of Fourth of July speakers, there were those in Idaho with the talent and personal popularity to meet the demand. In Idaho City in 1870 the Idaho World reported: "About 3 o'clock p.m. the meeting was called to order by Hon. Samuel A. Merritt, who, after indulging in a few brief and appropriate remarks, introduced Jonas W. Brown, Esq. Mr. Brown, in a clear and distinct voice, read the Declaration of Independence, and after music by the Idaho Brass Band, Col. Merritt then introduced Frank Miller, Esq., the orator of the day. ... It was well-written and well-delivered, and was replete with interesting historical facts."

By 1875 a traditional "Order of Ceremonies" had been firmly established. The Statesman of July 1, 1875, listed: "1. Singing of Star Spangled Banner. 2. Reading Declaration of Independence. 3. Singing Red White and Blue. 4. Oration. 5. Lunch."

In Dixie Valley, six miles below Middleton, the declaration was read, followed by the oration, music, potluck dinner and dancing all night in the schoolhouse. Although it was usually a lawyer who was invited to deliver the Fourth of July speech, Boise's speaker in 1878 was New Yorker Solomon Hasbrouck, an accountant.

The 1881 celebrations in Idaho and across the land were solemn. President James A. Garfield had been shot only two days before, and the nation was praying for his recovery. He died of his wound on Sept. 19, 1881. In 1882, the Statesman reported that Boise's Fourth of July was marked by a celebration of the hanging of Charles Guiteau, Garfield's assassin.

That year, because the Wood River gold rush was still attracting new settlers, attorney H.E. Prickett, who had served as Boise's first mayor in 1867, was the orator at Ketchum's celebration.

Of all the orators who ever spoke on the Fourth of July in Idaho, William E. Borah was probably the most gifted. In 1891, he was the speaker at Boise's celebration.

On July 2, 1893, the Idaho Statesman reported: "W.E. Borah, Boise's well-known attorney, has accepted an invitation to deliver the Fourth of July oration at Mountain Home. Mr. Borah is an able and eloquent speaker and the citizens of Elmore's capital will be treated to an oration that will equal if not excel any delivered in Idaho on Independence Day, 1893."

As a U.S. senator from Idaho from 1907 until his death in 1940, Borah's reputation as a speaker continued to grow. It was recalled by a veteran congressional reporter years later that whenever Borah rose to speak, the call "Borah's up! Borah's up!" spread like wildfire throughout the capitol and people rushed to hear him. His speeches during Idaho trials, as reported in the Statesman, sometimes moved juries and courtroom audiences to tears.

Arthur Hart writes this column on Idaho history for the Idaho Statesman each Sunday. E-mail histnart@mindspring.com.