The Yale expositor., 1910-07-01

of independence prepared by a committee OF i've,
headed by Thomas Jefferson, was discussed and
accepted, the resolution for independence was, as
these letters show, really adopted July 2.
1t took a 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 mother
country. Yet Washington in the first congress
denied that the colonies desired or that 1t was TO
their interest to set up for independence. Frank
lin looked upon 1t an event which. II 1t 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 Vir-
ginia presented resolution THAT these united
colonies and Of right ought to be free and
independent states; that they are absolved from
all allegiance the British crown that all politi
cal connection between them and Great Britain
is and ought to be totally dissolved" John Adams
seconded the motion and debate followed. There
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 we're John and Samuel
Adams Roger Sherman, oliver Wolcott, Richard
Henry Lee and George Wythe Those opposing
we're 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 unanimty desired final
vote was postponed until July 1. and committee
composed 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 It was. Jefferson
received the honor and save for few alterations
by Franklin and Adams the Declaration OF indie
pendence was written by him. The original draft
In the state department I'm Washington, save for
these interneations by Franklin and Adams, Is
in his handwriting
July l debate was resumed on the Lee resolu-
ton July all the delegates but those from New
York voted in favor of Il and It of this action
that John Adams wrote to his wife The original
resolution having been carried. the formal deca-
ration prepared by the committee to show a due
respect for the opinions OF mankind was reported
and discussed until late July 4. when Il finally
accepted and signed by the president of the con-
gress, John Hancock, and the secretary. Within
a week the provincial congress OF New York ex.
pressed its approval. August 2 engrossed copy
Of the declaration laid before congress and
received the signatures of delegates from 13 col