As I wrote in my last blog, on May 15, 1776, after two days of debate, the Fifth Virginia Convention unanimously declared independence from Great Britain, the first of the 13 colonies to do so:
Resolved, unanimously, That the Delegates appointed to represent this Colony in General Congress be instructed to propose to that respectable body to declare the United Colonies free and independent States, absolved from all allegiance to, or dependence upon, the Crown or Parliament of Great Britain; and that they give the assent of this Colony to such declaration, and to whatever measures may be thought proper and necessary by the Congress for forming foreign alliances, and a Confederation of the Colonies, at such time and in the manner as to them shall seem best: Provided, That the power of forming Government for, and the regulations of the internal concerns of each Colony, be left to the respective Colonial Legislatures. -Preamble and Resolution of the Virginia Convention, May 15, 1776
Thus, the message was sent posthaste to Philadelphia, received by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. (more on his role in the next blog post)
LEE RESOLVES
Soon after receiving the news in Philadelphia, Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate to the Second Continental Congress, wrote his infamous resolution while attending to floor business.
On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee presented to the floor of the congress:
Resolved, 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.
That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.
That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.
In response, John Adams of Massachusetts seconded the motion.
DEBATE
Debate followed.
While Dickinson and Rutledge of Pennsylvania hesitated, Wilson and Morris of Pennsylvania, and Robert Livingston of New York – considered themselves to be “friends of the measure” and agreed it was not possible that the colonies “ever again be united with Great Britain.” But as Jefferson recorded in his notes of the debate, they opposed the motion because several delegations – in particular Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and New York – were “not yet ripe for bidding adieu” to England and had not received instructions from their state legislatures. If a vote were forced upon them too soon, some delegates would “retire and possibly their colonies might secede from the Union. The newly arrived John Witherspoon of New Jersey supposedly quipped that in his judgment Congress was not only ripe for independence but in danger of becoming rotten for lack of it. –The Making of the American Mind: The Story of our Declaration of Independence by Matthew Spalding, p30-31
Thus, voting on the resolution was postponed to July 2 to allow the delegates time for ripening. –The Making of the American Mind: The Story of our Declaration of Independence by Matthew Spalding, p31
Meanwhile committees were formed, one for each of the three parts of Lee’s resolution, as fully prescribed by the Fifth Virginia Convention: independence, formation of alliances, and a Confederation of the Colonies.
COMMITTEE OF FIVE
The Committee of Five chosen to compose a declaration included John Adams (Massachusetts), Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania), Thomas Jefferson (Virginia), Robert Livingston (New York), and Roger Sherman (Connecticut).
Since the latter two have lesser known histories to most of us today, I’ve included their short resumes.
Robert Sherman of Connecticut might be better known than we might initially believe, because he is the gent who proposed the Connecticut Compromise at the 1787 Constitutional Convention.
Distinctively, Sherman’s signature is on all four American documents: the Continental Association (1774), the Declaration of Indepenence (1776), the Articles of Confederation (1777), and the Constitution (1787).
The Continental Association of 1774, was proposed by Richard Henry Lee who based his ideas on a similar embargo measure George Washington and George Mason of Virginia had written, the 1769 Virginia Association.
Robert Livingston of New York served as the first United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1781-1783), administered the presidential oath of office to George Washington at his first inauguration (1789), ), and negotiated the Louisiana Purchase as minister of France, appointed by President Thomas Jefferson (1803).
Importantly, the Committee of Five represented the 13 colonies by having as members two northern delegates, two delegates from the middle states, and one southern delegate. The committee didn’t include John Dickinson, as he was assigned to a separate committee to prepare a plan of confederation based on Lee’s third resolution. Nor did it include Richard Henry Lee, who, in mid-June, along with delegate George Wythe, returned to Williamsburg to contribute to the process of drafting a Virginia state constitution. –The Making of the American Mind: The Story of our Declaration of Independence by Matthew Spalding, p32
COMMITTEE WORK
John Adams wrote that “the Committee had several meetings, in which were proposed the Articles of which the Declaration was to consist, and minutes made of them,” meaning the committee made an outline for the document and made notes of the contents for each section. –The Making of the American Mind: The Story of our Declaration of Independence by Matthew Spalding, p32
WHO WILL DRAFT?
When it came to determining who would draft the document, the choice was between Adams and Jefferson, as Franklin wa suffering from gout so severe that he had quit attending Congress before the committee was created, Livingston opposed independence at the time, and Sherman was a man of good sense but not good writing. –The Making of the American Mind: The Story of our Declaration of Independence by Matthew Spalding, p32
The Committee then appointed Mr. Jefferson and me…when Mr. Jefferson desired me to take them to my Lodgings and make the Draught. This I declined and gave several reasons for declining. 1. that he was a Virginian and I a Massachusettsian. 2. that he was a southern Man and I northern one. 3. That I had been so obnoxious for my early and constant Zeal in promoting the Measure, that any draught of mine, would undergo a more severe Scrutiny and Criticism in Congress…4thly and that would be reason enough if there were no other, I had a great Opinion of the Elegance of his pen and none at all of my own. I therefore insisted that no hesitation should be made on his part. He accordingly took the Minutes and in a day or two produced to me his Draught. -John Adams, journal
JEFFERSON’S WRITING
Writing much of the declaration at his Philadelphia apartment, he possibly also worked while attending the Congress.
EDITS WITH ADAMS AND FRANKLIN
Adams and Franklin (though bedridden with gout) would help Jefferson with edits of the various drafts before presenting them before the Congress on June 28th.
More on that in my next posts…
For more photos of historic Philadelphia, check my Flickr set.
