Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-19

mittee of the whole and took up the
resolution that had been prepared by
Thomas Jefferson NJ the instigation OF
tho leaders Of that body. a count OF
noses. as we would say. these days,
Disclosed that there was much opposi-
ton to it's passage, but II wns found TINT
all the - colonies. but Delaware might
vote for the Declaration That is 10
sly. n majority of The delegates from
each of the other ~ colonies could bo
brought TO favor the Declaration Of In
dependence resolution. Thomas Nc
Kenn. one Of Deiawares delegates.
knew that one of his conforees. George
Read was opposed 10 such u drastic
action, which automatically meant war
with Great Britain. and. also, that
Cnesar Rodney had gone 10 his Kent
county home ON business connected
with the further organization Of the
state militia SO Della was dead
locked on the subject Of independence.
II is probable that Mexican surmsed
that Cesar Rodney would favor the
Declaration of Independence; but pos-
sibly the matter had not been directly
discnssed hy them. lie. however. must
have gauged Rodney'F attitude hY his
stand ON other isaueB before Congress,
and evidently was sure nc would sup
ply the vote that would make tho
action of the colonies unanimous
on tho resolution, which breathed de-
! fianee and war.
II was after some such reasoning that
| Mexican deeided 10 despatch n mos
;, senEer for tho absent Della ware dele
/ gate. aprrising him ~ The situation agd
urging him to come IT once 10 saVe the
situation--tn make tho action of Con-
! gross unanmous--as IL IN answer 10
the neeeasity of unity once vuiced hy
Franklin that we must hang together
or will hang separately"
The messenger to Rodney started or
horseback from Philadelphia late In the
afternoon If July / with instructionr
70 atop 70 nothing untll the absent
delegate had been appriaed If tho nneC
for his immediate preFerea ~ Congress
There IN no record n the light oi
TINT lone horaennn rs hr rode through
hester and Wilmington t. Dover e
miles IN al tie light aud next Iay -
hot ne the breath II n furnace. tn
taads hst tttIs trgtet thau cow paths
aith m4nk streams 10 cross ane
marshes - detuar There * no evi
dence IF ref eshed or relayed horse
helng supplied ~ any point II mug
have been late in 'he afternoon of Jul'
L. to quote Nr. Bayard's address r.
ferred - elsewhere befor" Mr.. Nc
kean.s messenger left Philadelphia. an'
i must have h.e0 remarkable hors'
~ Il relav fbat could haze brought hin
10 Doset 80 mileal before The night q
July =
Another local historian. worths =
full eredance deelares thaf McKean.
messenger found Caesar Rodney ~ hi
Poplar Grove home rear Dover. hus7
arRpuigirR militia and - soon IS III
COMMUNICATION WIS delivered ta bin D.
mounted his horse that was tied p
fence nearby ard without any prepara
tinn whatever. he set og FOR PhHadet
phia The writer says lie mouut.f
his horse and rested until he rcac het
the Convention Hall On PhiiadelphIa
eayerirg the stance. 50 miles Or more
hotwcen Dover and Philadelphia i
time - cast his precious vote
Thomas Mexican. writing of the ar
rival Of the Delaware delegate at tn
meeting place ~ Congress. tells Caesa
4 Rodney a nephew i met YOU
uncle Caesar Rodney al the Sfats Hous
door IN his boots & spurrs az The mem
bers We're assembling after friendl
salutation. without 4 word on the busi
ness w went into the Hail ~ Congress
together. ard found We were among n
latest. proceedings immediately com
tnenced, and after a few minutes IN
great question was nit Wnen he Not
u Delaware was cai.ed ya4r lincle aros
aud said As 1eiie.e the choice Of NJ
constituents ard of all s.aslbie an
honest men is il favor q Iadepeudenc
and my own judgment oncurs Wit
them, I vote for Independence. An
80 he put Delaware ou record as favor
sng the Independence - the Colonie
ard thus finally mad. the 3, S.on of N
thirteen colonies UNANIMOUS \ ire
uendous achievement
Evidently. Caesaf Rodney id nc