Resolution proposing a Declaration
of Independence, June 7, 1776
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.” Source: Yale Law Library
Acting under the instruction of the Virginia Convention, Richard Henry Lee on June 7, 1776, introduced a resolution in the Second Continental Congress proposing independence for the colonies. The Lee Resolution contained three parts: a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances, and “a plan for confederation.” The document that is included on page 22 is the complete resolution in Richard Henry Lee’s handwriting.
On June 11, 1776, the Congress appointed three concurrent committees in response to the Lee Resolution: one to draft a declaration of independence, a second to draw up a plan “for forming foreign alliances,” and a third to “prepare and digest the form of a confederation.”
Because many members of the Congress believed action such as Lee proposed to be premature or wanted instructions from their colonies before voting, approval was deferred until July 2. On that date, Congress adopted the first part (the declaration). The affirmative votes of 12 colonies are listed at the right. New York cast no vote until the newly elected New York Convention upheld the Declaration of Independence on July 9, 1776.
The plan for making treaties was not approved until September of 1776; the plan of confederation was delayed until November of 1777.
The Second Continental Congress began their sessions on May 10, 1775 as essentially a reconvening of the First Continental Congress. Many of the same 56 delegates were present. Peyton Randolph was again elected President of the Congress with Charles Thomson once again Secretary. Within two weeks Randolph was called back to Virginia to sit in the House of Burgesses. This led to a new member as a replacement, Thomas Jefferson. Other new members were Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock. Henry Middleton was elected President, but declined, so Hancock took the position.
Excerpts from the resolution that started a revolution: “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.”
“The first maxim of a man who loves liberty, should be never to grant to rulers an atom of power that is not most clearly and indispensably necessary for the safety and well being of society.” – Richard Lee
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Here’s another history lesson from Bill Whittle.
Bill Whittle Lays Out The History Of The Democratic Party:
http://chicksontheright.com/blog/item/29712-bill-whittle-lays-out-the-history-of-the-democratic-party
Brilliant article. Nice to know they still walk amongst us.
Don’t remove history’s lessons:
“It’s not hard to imagine how life was conducted in 1776 as you stand where 56 men signed a document severing them from Great Britain.
River rock remains the bumpy surface for the grid of streets between old buildings that grandly stand more than 200 years after serving as the seat of defiance, rebellion and, yes, treason.
Today, kids on field trips bounce between tourists eager to connect with and understand the past. They all walk through the interconnecting yards of structures where history was made — the Declaration of Independence was signed here, the cracked Liberty Bell lay in state there, the old City Tavern still serves mugs of stout and Ben Franklin lies in his final resting place.
When we look back from the distance of time, it all seems so regal, so uncluttered from today’s political battles raging on social media or among panels of partisans on cable news.
Nothing could be further from the truth; so much divisional politics existed in 1776 that it makes us look like amateurs.”
Continued..
http://triblive.com/opinion/salena/8658082-74/history-1776-independence#ixzz3f4ujH8cY
This seems like a good place to remind everyone that we are, and were meant to be, the united STATES of America!
The Blaze has an article to remind us that the Constitution was written to protect individual freedom:
All across America people are waking up to the overreach of the national/federal government. Bill Whittles brilliant history of the Democrat Party is one example. This is a party that seeks absolute power at the federal level against the purpose of the Constitution and is willing to use people, deceive people, and lie to achieve this aim.
Thought provoking article, Jack. Belated happy Independence Day everyone!
Another great article on what the Declaration really claimed in The Washington Post today is very instructive.
Over reach like trying to declare state religions.
Trying to make law off religious beliefs.
claiming people have no right to water and must pay for it to survive.
trade deals that tell us it is illegal to mark the country of origin on our meat packages because it hurts foreign profit
laws to privatize everything then saying the shareholder profit is the reason for existence and the workers must work cheaper for investor profits to keep increasing
Tell Human people – Corporations are people and money is free speech. Who ever has the most money gets heard.
tell people they have no right to organize labor and must do as the corporation wants
create profit wars on a lie and then tell the people they must go into austerity and poverty to pay for the trillions the 1%made off the wars
Somehow I do not think that is what the founding fathers had in mind.
Dewey, you are getting pretty irritating with stupid statements that put down our Christian values, “Over reach like trying to declare state religions. Trying to make law off religious beliefs…”
In case you haven’t notice the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution, (two rather significant legal documents) drew many of their principles right out of the Christian Bible. We founded this nation on Christian morality, it came straight out of the Bible Dewser.
Dewey you need to dial it back again, stick with facts you can back up, because reading your wild exaggerations is not only unfit for debate, its boring.