The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-07-25
FOOTPRINTS SEVEHTY-SIx

The people of the colonies were only
gradually brought to the idea of separa-
ton from the mother country. To the
very last, many of the leading men were
hopeful of peaceful settlement of the
difficulties Washington was one Of these,
while Henry and others, of more impul-
sive spirit, early predicted and advocated
not merely deliverance from bonds, but
severance of allegiance from England
"a total and final separation from the
mother country began, meanwhile, to be
publicly discussed. That encountered
strenuous opposition, but was everywhere
making rapid progress.
New Hampshire and South Carolina, in
obedience to the recommendation of Con-
gress "to establish such form of govern
ment' as would "best produce the happi-
ness of the people, and most effectually
secure peace and good order in the prov
inccs," set up governments. On the other
hand, the assemblies OF Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and Maryland, were instructing
their delegates in Congress to ''dissent
from, and utterly ly reject, any proposition,
should such be made, that may cause, or
lead to separation from our mother coun-
try"
Events were constantly occurring, how
ever, which powerfully affected the people.
"Funmors ravages in Virginia. says Hill
dreth., "and tory instructions in North
Carolina, gave strong impulse to the
idea Of independence in the Southern
provinces, while the evacuation Of Boston
greatly strengthened the friends of that
measure in the North"
The publications of Thomas Paine were
arousing the people as much as anything
else They were freely circulated over
the land, and even publicly read to the
soldiers. We give a passage from his
pamphlet entitled Common Sense, which
appeared early in ITO at matters little
now," he declares, "what the King of
England either says or does. He hath
broken through every moral and human
obligation, trampled nature and conscience
beneath his feet, and, by steady and
constitutional spirit of insolence and cru
city, produced for himself universal ha-
tired. 1t is now the sentiment of America
to provide for herself : Z ;" Inde-
pendence Is the only bond that will tie and
keep US together. We shall then see our
object; and our ears will be legally shut
against the schemes Of an Intriguing as
well as cruel enemy"
The North Carolina delegates were now
authorized to join with the other colonies
Gin declaring independence" and the Vir-
ginia delegates were instructed to propose
that the United Colonies be declared ''free
and independent States" The assemblies
| of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Con-
aecticut also favored the measure.
On the 18th of June, 1776, the subject
came up in Congress. Richard Henry
Lee, of Virginia, offered resolution de-
claring sthat the United Colonies are and
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" This resolution was debated
the next day in Committee of the Whole
1t was sustained by Lee, Wythe and every
earnestly by John Adams" The opposi-
ton came from Dickinson, of Pennsylva-
MIA, Livingston, of New York, and Rut-
ledge, of South Carolina. 1t was objected
to "not as bad, but premature. 1t passed
in committee by vote of seven to six
and in the House, action was postponed
until the first of July. Meanwhile com
mittee was appointed to draft Declaration