Year: 1876

the historians letter dated "Quincy, 1907,
but not printed until within a few years. wher
! il was inserted by Mr.. rockingham i'll the ap
pendix to his invaluable Rise Of the Republic
OF the United States" The important passagt
| is as follows


II remember very we'll what did say but
will previously state fact as 1t lies in my
memory, which may be somewhat explanatory
of it. In the previous multiplied debates
which we had upon the subject Of independence
the delegates from New Jersey had voted
against us /; their constituents were Informed
of it and recalled them, and sent us a new sci
on purpose to vote for Independence. Among
these were Chief Justice Stockton and DIR.
Witherspoon. In a morning when Congress
and carried without any further debate be-
cause we knew we had a majority, and thought
that argument had been exhausted on both
sides, as indeed it was, for nothing new was
ever afterward advanced ON either side. But
the Jersey delegates, appearing for the first
time desired that the question might be dis
cussed. We observed TO them that the ques-
ton was so public, and had been 80 longsdis-
cussed in pamphlets, newspapers, and at every
fireside, that they could not be uniformed,
and must have made up their minds. They
said il was true they had not been inattentive
to what had been passing abroad but they had
not heard the arguments in Congress, and did





should hear the sentiments of members there.
Judge Stockton was most particularly impor-
tunate, till the members began to say, Let
the gentlemen be gratifed and the eyes Of the
assembly were turned upon me, and several OF
them said Come, Mr.. Adams you have had
the subject longer at heart than any Of us, and
you must recapitulate the arguments. i was
somewhat confused at this personal application
to me, and would have been very glad to be
excused but as no other person rose, after
some time said This is the first time in
my life when l seriously wished for the genius
and eloquence of the celebrated orators Of
Athens and Rome called in this unexpected
and unprepared manner to exhibit all the argu-
ments in favor Of measure the most impor-
tant, in my judgment, that had ever been dis
cussed in civil or political society, had no art
or oratory to exhibit, and could produce moth
ing but simple reason and plain common sense.
felt myself oppressed by the weight of the
subject, and / believed il Demosthenes or
Cicero had ever been called to deliberate OIL
so great question, neither would have relied
on his own talents without supplication to
Minerva, and sacrifice to Mercury or the God
Of Eloquence.' All this, to be sure, was but a
flourish, and not, AZ / conceive, very bright
eXordium but felt awkwardly.


II wish some one had remembered the
speech, for il is almost the only one / ever
made that wish was literally preserved"


John Adams said Jefferson long after
ward to Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Ticlnor, "was
our Colossus on the floor. He was not grace
full, nor elegant, nor remarkably fluent, but he
came out occasionally with power Of thought
and expression that moved us from our seats"
1t seems pity that no adequate specimen re-
mains to us Of this straightforward eloquence.
And yet it is cause for congratulation, ON the
whole that the only speech fully written out
after that debate, was the leading argument
for the negative. Long years have made us
familiar with the considerations that led to ma
tional independence the thing Of interest is
to know what was said against it and this is
just what we happen to know, through the
record Of single speech.


After any great measure has been carried
through, men speedily forget the objections
and the objectors, and in a hundred years
can hardly believe that any serious opposition
was ever made. How utterly has the name Of
John Dickinson passed into oblivion and
yet, up to the year 1776, he had, doubtless, con-
tributed more than any one man, except Thomas
Paine, to the political emancipation, 30 far as
the press could effect it. of the American peo-
pie. The Farmers Letters" had been re-
printed in London with preface by DIR. Frank
lin (; they had been translated into French, and
they had been more widely read in America
than any patriotic pamphlet, excepting only the
" Common Sense" of Paine. Now their author
is forgotten-except through the college he
founded-because he shrank at the last mo-
ment before the storm he had aroused. Who
can deny the attribute OF moral courage to the
man who stood up in the Continental Congress
to argue against independence? But John
Adams reports that Dickinson's mother used to
say to him Johnny, you will be hanged !;
your estate will be forfeited or confscated you
will leave your excellent wife a widow" " and 80
on and Adams admits that if his wife and
mother had held such language, it would have
made him miserable, at least. And it was under
this restraining influence, 80 unlike the fear
less counsels Of Abby Adams, that Dickinson
rose on that 1st Of July and spoke thus


Il value the love of NV country as ought,
but value my country more and desire this
illustrious assembly to witness the integrity, il
not the policy, of my conduct. The first cam
paign will be decisive of the controversy. The
Declaration will not strengthen US by one man,
or by the least supply while il may expose our
soldiers to additional crueltes and outrages.
Without some prelusory trials of our strength,
we ought not to commit our country upon an
alternative, where to recede would be infamy,
and to persist might be destruction.


"No nstancei recollected Of people witn-
out battle fought, or an ally gained sbrogat-
ing forever their connection with warlke
commercial empire. It might unite the differ
ent parties in Great Britain against us, and it
might create disunion among ourselves.


with other powers, 1t would rather injure
than avail us. Foreign aid will not be obtained
but by our actions in the field, which are the
only evidences of our union aud vigor that will
be respected. In the war between the United
Provinces and Spain, France and England as
sisted the provinces before they declared them
selves independent il it is the interest OF any
European kingdom to aid US, we shall be aided
without such Declaration il it is not, we shall
not be aided with it. Before such an irrevoca-
BILE step shall be taken, we ought to know the
disposition of the great powers, and how far
they will permit one or more of them TO inter
fere. The erection Of an Independent empire
on this continent is phenomenon in the
world its effects will be immense, and may
vibrste round the globe. How they may affect,
or be supposed to affect, old establishments,
is not ascertained. 1t Is singularly disrespect-
| ful to France to make the Declaration before
| her sense is known, as we have sent an agent
expressly TO inquire whether such Declaration
would be acceptable to her, and we have reason
| to believe he is now arrived at the Court of
| Versailles. The measure ought to be delayed
| till the common interests shall in the best man
ner be consulted. by common consent. Be
sides the door TO accommodation with Grea
Britain ought not to be shut, until we know
| what terms can be obtained from some compe
tent power. Thus to break with her before w
have compacted with another, is to make ex
perments on the lives and liberties OF M
countrymen. which 1 would sooner die thai


agree TO make. At best, il is TO throw us int


the hands OF some other power and to lie a


mercy for we shall have passed the river ths


is never to be repassed. We ought TO retail


the Declaration and remain masters OF our ow


fame and fate


These were the opinions Of the " Penneylvs