production among those intended to show the dangers which
threatened the liberties of the country, and to encourage the
people in their defence. In June, 1775, he was elected a
member of the Continental Congress, as successor to Peyton
Randolph, who had resigned his place on account of ill
health, and took his seat in that body on the twenty-first of
the same month.
26. And now, fellow-citizens, without pursuing the biography of these illustrious men farther, for the present, let us turn our attention to the most prominent act of their lives, their participation in the Declaration of Independence.
27. Preparatory to the introduction of that important measure, a committee, at the head of which was Mr. Adams, had reported a resolution, which Congress adopted on the 10th of May, recommending, in substance, to all the Colonies which had not already established governments suited to the exigencies of their affairs, to adopt such government as would, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general.
28. This significant vote was soon followed by the direct proposition which Richard Henry Lee had the honor to submit to Congress, by resolution, on the seventh day of June. The published journal does not expressly state it, but there is no doubt, I suppose, that this resolution was in the same words, when originally submitted by Mr. Lee, as when finally passed. Having been discussed on Saturday, the 8th, and Monday, the 10th of June, this resolution was on the last-mentioned day postponed for further consideration to the first day of July; and at the same time it was voted, that a committee be appointed to prepare a Declaration to the effect of the resolution. This committee was elected by ballot, on the following day, and consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingstone.[1]
- ↑ It will be noticed that this committee appointed to prepare a Declaration was composed of five of the ablest men in the Congress, and in the country for that matter. The preceding life as well as the succeeding career of these five men is an interesting topic for collateral reading.
