Ought to be free

Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Jefferson did not write the actual “Declaration of Independence.” Richard Henry Lee did. A fellow delegate from Virginia to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Lee rose to address Congress this week (June 7) in 1776, declaring, “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.” Finally, what had been on everyone’s mind was out in the open, and fellow delegate John Adams quickly seconded Lee’s motion.

But in the subsequent debate not everyone agreed that this was the most auspicious moment for such a declaration. Several members of Congress, while professing to be personally in favor of independence, thought the gathered assembly had no right to make this declaration without first running such a radical proposal by the people back home in the 13 colonies (soon to be states). Additionally, a number of reluctant members of Congress came from the mid-Atlantic states – New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware – whose economies largely depended on trade with Great Britain. Thus, it was decided that Congress would delay a vote on this declaration for a month, giving members time to sample public opinion and the views of their state legislatures, either in person or by post. In the meantime, it was agreed that there was no harm in preparing a written declaration of independence, so a Committee of Five was established, whose members were Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and the young Virginian, Tom Jefferson. Lee would have been a member of that committee but had to leave Philadelphia to attend to his ailing wife. BRUCE G. KAUFFMANN

Emailauthor BruceG. Kauffmann atbruce@ history lessons.net