Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-07-07

that are most dear and by many held
as American in essence, yet every ~ -
thought announced was ancient in I#E
conception, though it never fully i&#
found community declaration until at
Philadelphia on July 4. 1916 In the
study of great events one is i'm a I
pressed with the influence that mere
frlHes exert on the ultimate outcome I
OF venture. Our history abounds in S
instances where trivial matters wera KS
the cause OF great changes and innu I$W
Ineraole are the occasions where the Ey
uestlny OF an individual career was E%$&
modlhed by a circumstance LITTLE enc IE%$
pected OF possessing any element of I3zS
lolce' III the research of data rela- lE&$&
i've TO the Declaration of Indenen IE
aehce the thought occurred Was the
illness or Mrs Richard Henry loo
responsible for the present WORDING
OF our first national proclamation9 M
Close investigation of this triyioI -
c1dent leads absolutely TO the apsu,or IM
'net ihoihas Jenerson's association HIS
WIN 'ne committee on independence Hes
was olousht ABOUT because of the i'll -
ness or Mrs. Lee. and sufficient cir 6
cumstantial evidence is at hand 20 70
suostantiate this statement @
Richard Henry Lee was a DISTINGUISHED de.
oater from Virginia. and when he was dele
gated TO represent the "Old Colony" in the
continental congress he was instructed nv the
legislature OF Virginia to introduce resolution
INTO the continental body declaring complete
remuneration of colonial allegiance to mother
England. and If there is a man in all history
VINO learIessly championed the principle of in
dlVldual rights and personal liberty il was
Richard Henry Lee.
The records show that his 'eloquence was
matchless, and his logic the very soundest
when he. on June I, introduced the following
resolution, declaring: That these united colo
MES 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 he
totally dissolved
This rebellious resolution brought consterna
ton to many of the delegates and only a man
Of great mental strength could have won so
glorious victory, since the delegates were at
this time unprepared to accept such a declara-
ton, and few indeed entertained seriously the
thought of proclaiming thus boldly for free
dom. Lee we'll knew that if his resolution
tailed to receive support he would be uncom-
Portable In the congress, and might expect
death at the hands of England for his words
OF rebellion and action as traitor.
Americans underestimate his power, his wis
dom. and his depth of patriotism-for he was
indeed the Samuel Adams of the SOUTH and
his fiery orations. filled with inspiring cli-
l.,
when we contemplate the magnitude of colo
niai separation. Further investigation will
show that the assembled delegates, though
thoroughly aroused by the eloquence of Lee
Selt the necessity OF shielding so daring per-
sonage. and Immediately after Lees motion
demanding separation seconded by John
Adams Of Massachusetts, there appears in the
Journal of Congress this protecting or shield
ing entry of certain resolutions respecting
independence being moved and seconded, Re-
solved That the consideration of them be
deferred ." The records then show
that the congress directs that the secretary
omit the names of its mover and seconder,
from the Journals" What better evidence do
we require that Lee was in advance of his
.compatriots and that his attitude was ex-
&remely dangerous.
The delegates were not anxious to consider
the rebellous resolution, but Mr.. Lee was in
earnest and had won a few of the giants to
his cause and though the delegates had ex-
pressed the hope of considering the step on
June at 10 in the morning, nothing was done
until June 10, when after few warm speeches
for and against, the resolution was held to
come before the congress July 1. Lee antci-
pated that a committee might be appointed
and he had prepared an outline of the griev-
ances setting forth the attitude of the colonies
i'm fact, he knew he would be named the
chairman of the committee on declaration. and
was busy preparing himself for the colossal
task of drafting the Magma Charta of the dis
turbed colonies when by stage mail" he was
informed OF the sudden and severe illness OF
his wife His devotion to her was proverbial
Nd the great Loo now stood between love