Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1910-07-23

of independence prepared by committee OF five,
headed by Thomas jefferson, was discussed and
accepted the resolution for independence was, as
these letters show, really adopted July 2
It took long time for the petitioners of the
colonies to conceive of independence. Leaders
like Samuel Adams waxed impatient with those
who believed peaceful settlement of the trouble
was possible without separation from the motner
country Yet Washington in the first congress
denied that the colonies desired or that 1t was 10
their interest to set up for independence. Frank
lin looked upon IL as an event Wh1ch, IL IL must
come, was lamentable.
Lexington and Concord and Bunker hill favored
the radicals June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee OF
the Virginia delegation. following the Instructions
which he had received from the council OF VIZ
ginia presented resolution, That these united
colonies are and OF right ought to be free ana
independent states; that they absolved from
all allegiance to the British crown; that all po1t'
cal connection between them and Great britain
is and ought to be totally dissolved" John Adams
seconded the motion and debate followed. Ihere
are no authentic reports OF these debates. The
war had not yet been won. Public report OF what
was said would have been OF extreme danger to
these men, who, indeed would have been hanged
had good King George been able to get them, but
hanging men Is like making rabbit pie-you must
first catch the rabbit.
1t is likely that those who led the debate In
support of the measure were John and Samuel
Adams Roger Sherman, Oliver Wolcott Richard
Henry Lee and George Wythe. Those opposing
were probably John Dickenson John Jay, James
Wilson and Robert r. Wilson. 1t appeared that
four New England colonies Massachusetts, Rhode
Island New Hampshire, Connecticut, and three
southern colonies, Virginia, Georgia and North
Carolina, prepared to vote at once In the
affirmative, but unanimity desired final
vote was postponed until July 1, and committee
compored of Thomas Jefferson Benjamin Frank
lin, John Adams. Roger Sherman and Robert r.
Livingston, was appointed to prepare formal
statement for the world
Lee the mover of the resolution, would per-
haps have been named chairman of the committee
had not his wife fallen ILL., AS 1t was, Jefferson
received the honor and save for few alterations
by Franklin and Adams the Declaration of Inde
pendence was written by him. The original draft
in the state department in Washington, save for
these interlineations by Franklin and Adams, is
In his handwriting.
July debate was resumed on the Lee resolu'
ton. July all the delegates but those from New
York voted in favor of 1t and It of this action
that John Adams wrote to his wife, The original
resolution having been carried, the formal decla-
ration prepared by the committee to show due
respect for the opinions of mankind was reported
and discussed until late July A. when 1t was finally
accepted and signed by the president of the con-
gress, John Hancock, and the secretary. Within
week the provincial congress of New York ex
pressed its approval. August an engrossed copy
of the declaration laid before congress and
received the signatures of delegates from 13 col