The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1910-07-02

of independence prepared by committee of five,
headed by Thomas Jefferson, discussed and
accepted, the resolution for independence was as
these letters show, really adopted July 2.
1t 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
possible without separation from the mother
country Yet Washington in the first congress
denied that the colonies desired or that it was to
their interest to set up for independence. Frank
lin looked upon it event which. If it must
come, was lamentable
Lexington and Concord and Bunker hill favored
the radicals. June Z, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of
the Virginia delegation, following the instructions
which he had received from the council of Vir-
ginia, presented resolution, "That these united
colonies are and of right ought to be free and
Independent states; that they absolved from
all allegiance to the British crown; that all polit1
cal connection between them and Great Britain
Is and ought to be totally dissolved" John Adams
seconded the motion and debate followed. There
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
It 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 Dickinson, John Jay, James
Wilson and Robert r. Wilson. It appeared that
four New England colonies, Massachusetts,, Rhode
Island, New Hampshire. Connecticut, and three
southern colonies, Virginia, Georgia and North
Carolina were prepared to vote at once in the
affirmative, but unanimity was desired a final
vote was postponed until July 1, and committee
competed Of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Frank
lin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert r.
Livingston, 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 a 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 1t was 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 a due
respect for the opinions of mankind was reported
and discussed until late July 4, 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 2 an engrossed copy
Of the declaration was laid before congress and
received the signatures Of delegates from Is col