The National tribune., 1904-06-30

document which was to be the cornerstone
of the greatest Nation on earth. How we
wish we might know all that they said and
did throughout that long afternoon and
evening How it would enrich history! 1t
is true that the arraignment of old King
George was ample evidence that the pre-
cious moments were not wasted. and it is
true. also. that never before in human his
tory had half hundred men performed so
prOdigious a feat.
For nearly four weeks, or, to be exact.
since the 9TH day of June. these 30 men,
Delegates from the IL Colonies sitting in
Congress, in Philadelphia. had been debat-
ing resolution introduced in that body
by Richard Henry Lee. 1t was short and
to the point:
Resolved. That the United Colonies are
and ought TO be free and independent
States and their political connection with
Great Britain is and ought to be dis
solved"
Then Bunker Hill. June II, 1775. light
ed the torch of Revolut on in the United
Colonies. just as Ruffin's shot on Sumter
The people had not done much thinking
about what was going TO happen. up to
nat time, but the leaders knew that the
issue was fairly before them. and that IT
must be fought to finish They felt from
the first that there could be but one end
Ing.
"THE SIGNS OF THE TINES
pointed to independence. Each Of the Col
onies had its agitatOrs. and these set to
work with renewed activity. The leaven
thus planted was by degrees diffused
throughout the then settled portion of the
United States North Carolina took the
lead as province" and her convention
empowered its delegates in Congress Ito
concur with those in the other Colonies
In declaring independency." Virginia.
May Is. went a step further and in
structed" her delegates unanimously, Ito
propose to that respectable body. to declare
the united Colonies free and Independent
States, absolved from all allegiance or de-
pendence upon the Crown or Parliament
of Great Britain; and to give the assent
Of that Colony to such declaration
During that same month Massachusetts
and Rhode Island virtually adopted SINH
Mr resolutions. So it was that Congress
had been watching the trend of public
opinion and the procession of events, and
personally each had counted the cost.
''Their lives. their fortunes and their
sacred honor" was the sacrifice they offered
for the cornerstone of Liberty's great
monument.
So it happened that when Mr.. Lee Of
fered his resolution it was not the shock
that it might have been had the Colonies
not been foresighted enough to conclude
that they could not long exist as dependen-
cies of Great Britain. and that they must
liberate themselves, or die. There were
men in that Congress, however. who were
not willing TO raise the issue. So the reso-
luton went over to the next day. On the
9Th Of June the resolution was taken up
and debated in Committee of the Whole.
Its stanchest supporters were its mover,
Richard Henry Lee, Of Virginia, and John
Adams, of Massachusetts. Unexpected op-
position came from the delegates from
Pennsylvania and Maryland, who were in
structed by their State Conventions to op
structed, and hesitated to vote on so mo-
ment0us a matter until the delegates haC
been instructed by the State Convention
Delaware opposed the resolution, then and
efterward.
The resolution was put to a vote in the
Committee of the Whole on the 10th oi
June, 1915, and by bare majority of the
Colonies carried.
As SO many of the Delegates were unin
structed and hesitated to go on record unit
their States had told them what to do, j,
was decided not to cali the resolution M
in the House Immediately, but to give tn.
hesitating Delegates time to hear from their
constituents on the subject: so further ac
tion was postponed until July 1.
AND THEN CANE BUNKER HILL!
In the meantime, a committee, consist
ing Of Messrs. Jefferson, John Adams, Ben
jamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Rob
ert X. Livingstone was appointed to pre-
pare a Declaration of Independence, ant
the Delegates who desired to take this sum
mary action Immediately set to work t,
make sentiment for independence.
The State Conventions were called on I,
instruct their Delegates in Congress, i
they had not already done so. June IA
Connecticut, conservative then as now, in
structed her delegates TO ''join the othe
Colonies on this question" New Hamp
shire followed with the same instructions
June u. New Jersey fell into line on tn
21st, On June %. Maryland, seeing hoy
the land lay. rescinded her action of
month previous, and instructed her Dele
gates to vote for Independence. Pennsyl
vania, seeing the handwriting on the wall
did the same thing, recalling the forme
instructions and ordering her Delegates Z
vote for Independence.
Notwithstanding this, when July came
and all these instructions were laid befor
Congress, Pennsylvania gave four vote
against Independence and three for il
Delaware had present but two delegates
and they divided, being one, Thomas Nc
Kean, for and George Read against Inde
pendence. The resolution was reported &
the House July /, but on request wen
ever till the I'd, when it was passed, exactl