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Page 5 Declaration of Independence: Historically Considered On the eighth, Congress discussed the resolutions in committee of the whole house, and finally deferred the farther consideration of them until Monday, the tenth. On that day it was "Resolved, That the consideration of the first resolution [motion for independence] be postponed to the first Monday in July next, and, in the meanwhile, that no time be lost, in case the Congress agree thereto, a committee be appointed to prepare a declaration, to the effect of the first resolution, which is in these words, to wit: 'That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown; and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.'" Richard Henry Lee, and John Adams, were the chief speakers in favor of the resolutions, during the debates which occurred from the seventh to the tenth of June inclusive; and they left no argument unused that was calculated to convince the hesitating, confirm the wavering, or persuade and encourage the timid and fearful. Lee, in particular, was incessant in his labors; and his sweet, persuasive eloquence, with all its wonted allurements, was constantly employed. His first speech on the resolution fixed the earnest attention of the Congress, and the Concluding sentences, as recorded by Botta, were replete with eloquent force: "Why then, sir," he exclaimed, "do we longer delay? Why still deliberate? Let this happy day give birth to an American republic! Let her arise, not to devastate and conquer, but to re-establish the reign of peace and law. The eyes of Europe are fixed upon us; she demands of us a living example of freedom, that may exhibit a contrast, in the felicity of the citizen, to the ever-increasing tyranny which desolates her polluted shores. She invites us to prepare an asylum, where the unhappy may find solace, and the persecuted repose. She entreats us to cultivate a propitious soil, where that genuine plant, which first sprang and grew in England, but is now withered by the blasts of Scottish tyranny, may revive and flourish, sheltering under its salubrious and interminable shade all the unfortunate of the human race. If we are not this day wanting in our duty to our country, the names of the American legislators of '76 will be placed by posterity at the side of those of Theseus, of Lycurgus, of Romulus, of Numa, of the three Williams of Nassau, and of all those whose memory has been, and forever will be, dear to virtuous men and good citizens." The resolution to postpone the further consideration of the subject, and to appoint a committee to prepare a declaration of independence, was adopted, and the next day (the eleventh) a committee of five was formed, consisting of Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, John Adams, of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin, of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman, of Connecticut, and Robert R. Livingston, of New York. On the evening of the tenth, Mr. Lee received intelligence, by express, from Virginia, that his lady was seriously ill, and he was compelled to ask leave of absence for a short time. He left Philadelphia the next morning before the committee was formed, and this circumstance deprived him of the honor of being a member of it, and of acting as chairman, which position usual legislative courtesy would have assigned him. Mr. Jefferson was appointed chairman of the committee, and his colleagues assigned to him the task of preparing a draft of the declaration to be presented to Congress. It was unanimously adopted by the committee after a few verbal alterations by Mr. Adams and Doctor Franklin, and on the first of July, according to the resolution of the tenth of June, Congress resumed the consideration of Mr. Lee's resolution, and the committee reported the draft of a declaration of independence. The following is a copy of the original draft, before any amendments were made in Committee of the Whole.11 The passages omitted by Congress, are printed in Italics, and the substitutions are given at the bottom of each page. 11 On the eighth of July, four days after the Declaration, as amended, was adopted, Mr. Jefferson wrote the following letter, and sent it, with the original draft, to Mr. Lee:- PHILADELPHIA, July 8, 1776. DEAR SIR,—For news, I refer you to your brother who writes on that head. I enclose you a copy of the Declaration of Independence, as agreed to by the House, and Rise as originally framed; you will judge whether it is the better or the worse for the critics. I shall return to Virginia after the 11th of August. I wish my successor may be certain to come before that time: in that case, I shall hope to see you, and not Wythe, in convention, that the business of government, which is of everlasting concern, may receive your aid. Adieu, and believe me to be, Your friend and servant, To Richard Henry Lee, Esq. Thomas Jefferson < Prev Page Next Page > Designed and Edited by John Vinci Last modified December 23, 2004