We Hold These Truths
Jul 4, 2023 16:30:37 #
We Hold These Truths
© John M. Alexander,
July 4, 2020
It almost didn’t happen!
They had been gathered in Philadelphia for over a week and still weren’t sure how it would come out.
Part of the representatives of the 13 colonies wanted to break away from England. Others wanted to stay with King George. Still others were not sure. Debate raged. James Madison presided and took notes. John Adams spoke about Liberty and Freedom. Men from Pennsylvania focused on economic security if they didn’t rebel and sure defeat if they did.
The New York representative still had not received orders from Albany and kept abstaining.
Southern colonies needed the income from the British cotton trade. Smaller colonies in New England were tired of the southern colonies always getting their way. Debate raged on.
It was finally decided that on Tuesday, July 2, 1776, they would vote. (The vote was taken on July 2nd. On July 4th the Declaration of Independence was copied and ready to be signed.)
They knew it had to be unanimous; all in or all out. Britain could not be allowed to have a foothold in one of the colonies. Franklin said that all 13 clocks must chime as one.
The sticking point was the seven representatives from Pennsylvania. Four of them voted against independence. Three others (Franklin included) voted for separation. More debate. More votes were taken. Still deadlocked. It was early evening on Monday, July 1st and they still did not have everyone on one side or the other.
The vote on the resolution for independence was the next day, Tuesday, July 2, 1776, at 10:00 AM.
Now, no one knows what horse-trading and negotiations were had among the representatives the evening and night of July 1st in the pubs and taverns in Philadelphia. But, when they assembled the next day not seven but only five of the Pennsylvania men showed up. The other two had somehow been convinced to go fishing or stay home or sleep in that morning. With only five members present in the Pennsylvania delegation the vote was three to two in favor of independence.
Pennsylvania voted for independence and, with it, the others fell into line.
And, it was done.
Jefferson’s masterpiece Declaration was approved, and it was signed on Thursday, the Fourth of July, 1776.
Thirteen rag-tag colonies took on the world’s strongest army and navy. To an outsider it probably looked like a sure slaughter for the colonial “army” and death by hanging to the men who signed the Declaration.
Please remember that we – in our generation and our day and age – we know how it came out. All they knew was that they were willing to risk everything, even to die, for a chance, only a chance, to have a country based on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Their liberty and freedom (and ours) were important enough… to die for.
Our United States of America is the only country in the history of Mankind that is founded on those three things: The right to live. The right to be free. The right to pursue your dreams and your happiness.
And the recognition that those three most-precious rights came from our “Creator”, not some king or government.
Our American Trinity is:
Liberty,
E Pluribus Unum,
In God We Trust.
So, every day let us raise a glass and say a prayer of thanks for the men of 1776. And also that they were willing to risk death for OUR freedom, too.
© John M. Alexander,
July 4, 2020
It almost didn’t happen!
They had been gathered in Philadelphia for over a week and still weren’t sure how it would come out.
Part of the representatives of the 13 colonies wanted to break away from England. Others wanted to stay with King George. Still others were not sure. Debate raged. James Madison presided and took notes. John Adams spoke about Liberty and Freedom. Men from Pennsylvania focused on economic security if they didn’t rebel and sure defeat if they did.
The New York representative still had not received orders from Albany and kept abstaining.
Southern colonies needed the income from the British cotton trade. Smaller colonies in New England were tired of the southern colonies always getting their way. Debate raged on.
It was finally decided that on Tuesday, July 2, 1776, they would vote. (The vote was taken on July 2nd. On July 4th the Declaration of Independence was copied and ready to be signed.)
They knew it had to be unanimous; all in or all out. Britain could not be allowed to have a foothold in one of the colonies. Franklin said that all 13 clocks must chime as one.
The sticking point was the seven representatives from Pennsylvania. Four of them voted against independence. Three others (Franklin included) voted for separation. More debate. More votes were taken. Still deadlocked. It was early evening on Monday, July 1st and they still did not have everyone on one side or the other.
The vote on the resolution for independence was the next day, Tuesday, July 2, 1776, at 10:00 AM.
Now, no one knows what horse-trading and negotiations were had among the representatives the evening and night of July 1st in the pubs and taverns in Philadelphia. But, when they assembled the next day not seven but only five of the Pennsylvania men showed up. The other two had somehow been convinced to go fishing or stay home or sleep in that morning. With only five members present in the Pennsylvania delegation the vote was three to two in favor of independence.
Pennsylvania voted for independence and, with it, the others fell into line.
And, it was done.
Jefferson’s masterpiece Declaration was approved, and it was signed on Thursday, the Fourth of July, 1776.
Thirteen rag-tag colonies took on the world’s strongest army and navy. To an outsider it probably looked like a sure slaughter for the colonial “army” and death by hanging to the men who signed the Declaration.
Please remember that we – in our generation and our day and age – we know how it came out. All they knew was that they were willing to risk everything, even to die, for a chance, only a chance, to have a country based on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Their liberty and freedom (and ours) were important enough… to die for.
Our United States of America is the only country in the history of Mankind that is founded on those three things: The right to live. The right to be free. The right to pursue your dreams and your happiness.
And the recognition that those three most-precious rights came from our “Creator”, not some king or government.
Our American Trinity is:
Liberty,
E Pluribus Unum,
In God We Trust.
So, every day let us raise a glass and say a prayer of thanks for the men of 1776. And also that they were willing to risk death for OUR freedom, too.
Jul 4, 2023 21:11:14 #
Jul 5, 2023 08:44:14 #
Jul 5, 2023 09:00:02 #
Destiny was on our side and we, today, enjoy the freedoms we have because of the sacrifices so many paid along the way. God willing, we'll be able to hold it all together. Sometimes, that appears doubtful.
Jul 5, 2023 09:34:05 #
Jul 5, 2023 09:34:21 #
Jul 5, 2023 09:34:43 #
black mamba wrote:
Destiny was on our side and we, today, enjoy the freedoms we have because of the sacrifices so many paid along the way. God willing, we'll be able to hold it all together. Sometimes, that appears doubtful.
Jul 5, 2023 10:58:46 #
black mamba wrote:
Destiny was on our side and we, today, enjoy the freedoms we have because of the sacrifices so many paid along the way. God willing, we'll be able to hold it all together. Sometimes, that appears doubtful.
We need to stand up for our freedom & never forget the sacrifices made by some to build our great country.
Jul 5, 2023 14:58:04 #
whatdat wrote:
We need to stand up for our freedom & never forget the sacrifices made by some to build our great country.
Jul 5, 2023 17:26:58 #
Jul 5, 2023 17:30:33 #
Jul 15, 2023 08:24:47 #
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