America First Part 4

ROBERT MORRIS. [15]Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Continental Congress:--I am opposed to war first, last, and all the time. It is a relic of barbarism. I believe in the gospel of peace on earth, good will toward men. It would be better to settle our differences with England even by flipping a coin than by fighting and killing one another. Let us hearken unto the voice of G.o.d as it comes ringing down the centuries from Mount Sinai, "Thou shalt not kill." Shall this new government start out as the Cain among the nations of earth with the blood of our brethren upon our hands? G.o.d forbid that we make ourselves so foolish and so reckless as this! The history of trial by battle is the history of folly and wickedness. As we revert to those early periods in the history of the human race in which it prevailed, our minds are shocked at the barbarism which we behold; we are horror stricken at the awful subjection of justice to brute force.

Who told you, fond man! to regard that as glory when performed by a nation, which is condemned as a crime and a barbarism, when committed by an individual? In what vain conceit of wisdom and virtue do you find this degrading morality? Where is it declared that G.o.d, who is no respecter of persons, is a respecter of mult.i.tudes? Whence do you draw these partial laws of a powerful and impartial G.o.d? Man is immortal; but states are mortal. Man has a higher destiny than states. Shall states be less amenable to the great moral laws of G.o.d than man? Each individual is an atom of the ma.s.s. Must not the ma.s.s be like individuals of which it is composed? Shall the ma.s.s do what the individual may not do? No! A thousand times _NO_! The same laws which govern individuals govern ma.s.ses, as the same laws in nature prevail over large and small things, controlling the fall of an apple and the orbits of the planets.

And who is this G.o.d of battles that some of you men believe in with so much faith? It is Mars--man-slaying, blood-polluted, city-smiting, Mars!

Him we cannot adore. It is not he who causes the sun to shine on the just and the unjust. It is not he who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. It is not he who distills the oil of gladness in every upright heart. It is not he who fills the fountain of mercy and goodness. He is not the G.o.d of love and justice. The G.o.d of battles is not the G.o.d of Christians; to him can ascend no prayer of Christian thanksgiving; for him no words of worship in Christian temples, no swelling anthem to peal the note of praise.

Let us cease, then, to look for a lamp to our feet in the feeble tapers that glimmer in the sepulchers of the past. Rather let us hail those ever-burning lights above in whose beams is the brightness of the noon-day. As the cedars of Lebanon are higher than the gra.s.s of the valley, as the heavens are higher than the earth, as man is higher than the beasts of the field, as the angels are higher than man, as he that ruleth his spirit is higher than he that taketh a city; so are the virtues and glories and victories of peace higher than the virtues and victories of war.

To this great work of world-wide peace let me summon you. Believe that you can do it, and you can do it. Blessed are the peace-makers for they are the children of G.o.d.

(_Loud clamor for recognition, the chair recognizing Patrick Henry of Virginia._)

PATRICK HENRY. [16]Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Continental Congress:--We have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have pet.i.tioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our pet.i.tions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free--if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the n.o.ble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon, until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the G.o.d of Hosts is all that is left us.

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make proper use of those means which the G.o.d of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just G.o.d who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston. The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale, that sweeps from the north, will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty G.o.d! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

(_At the close of Mr. Henry's speech there are loud calls for a vote upon the question. President Hanc.o.c.k orders the secretary to call the roll of colonies in geographic order beginning with New Hampshire._)

SECRETARY THOMSON. New Hampshire!

Josiah Bartlett. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--New Hampshire is represented in the Congress by three delegates. Her people have appealed to us and have instructed us to work for and vote for Independence. I believe everybody knows more than any body. I consider it a signal honor, sir, and it is the happiest hour of my life, to lead in this roll call in favor of this Declaration. New Hampshire votes _aye_.

(_Shouts of "Three cheers for New Hampshire."_)

SECRETARY THOMSON. Ma.s.sachusetts!

SAMUEL ADAMS. Mr. President:--The king of England has set a price upon your head and mine. If this Declaration is not made good by the people of these colonies you and I will be shot, hanged by the neck till dead, or burned at the stake as traitors. If we fail, my only regret will be that I have but one life to give for my country. But with faith in the people and in G.o.d to carry our cause through to a glorious victory, the delegates from Ma.s.sachusetts stand as one man for Independence.

Ma.s.sachusetts, therefore, votes _aye_.

(_Shouts of "Three cheers for Ma.s.sachusetts, and long live Samuel Adams and John Hanc.o.c.k. Down with the tyrant king of England!"_)

SECRETARY THOMSON. Rhode Island!

STEPHEN HOPKINS. Mr. President:--Rhode Island is a small colony. She is represented in this Congress by only two delegates. But all that we are and all we hope to be we are ready here and now to give for Independence. Rhode Island votes _aye_.

(_Shouts of "Three cheers for brave Rhode Island, Stephen Hopkins, and William Ellery."_)

SECRETARY THOMSON. Connecticut!

ROGER SHERMAN. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--I have already addressed you at some length in favor of this Declaration. It becomes my happy duty now to cast the unanimous vote of the four delegates from Connecticut for independence. Connecticut votes _aye_.

(_Shouts of "Long live Roger Sherman! Three cheers for Connecticut."_)

_Secretary Thomson._ New York!

WILLIAM FLOYD. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--The instructions against independence for the delegates from New York have never been recalled.

We, therefore, request the privilege to refrain from voting on this question. We regret the situation, gentlemen!

PRESIDENT HANc.o.c.k. New York is excused from voting on this question.

SECRETARY THOMSON. New Jersey!

RICHARD STOCKTON. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--I am happy to say that New Jersey has given her five delegates in this Congress instructions to vote for independence. New Jersey, therefore, votes _aye_.

(_Shouts of "Three cheers for New Jersey."_)

SECRETARY THOMSON. Pennsylvania!

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--From the beginning of this Congress the delegates from Pennsylvania have labored under instructions against independence. But during the past three months the friends of independence in this commonwealth have worked in season and out of season to have these instructions canceled and permission given us to vote for independence. At a ma.s.s meeting in Philadelphia on June 18, presided over by that distinguished and influential radical, Colonel Daniel Roberdeau, and attended by over 7,000 citizens from all sections of the state, a public sentiment was created and started that resulted in the overthrow of the old government of the aristocrats of the old a.s.sembly and then established a new government of the people under the authority of the Conference of Committees which has given the delegates from Pennsylvania instructions to vote for independence. Two of our delegates, John d.i.c.kinson and Robert Morris, have retired from this Congress considering such instructions a recall of their membership in this body. Two other delegates from Pennsylvania, Charles Humphreys and William Williams, question the authority of the Conference of Committees and hold that the instructions of the old defunct a.s.sembly are still binding upon them. They vote against independence. But James Wilson who has been opposed to Independence bows to the will of the people and joins John Morton and myself in voting for Independence. Under the rule of this Congress made in its beginning session that a majority of the delegates from each colony, present and voting determines its vote upon such a question as this, Pennsylvania casts two votes against independence and three votes for independence and therefore votes _aye_.

(_Shouts of "Three cheers for Pennsylvania! Long live Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, and James Wilson!"_)

(_Immediately following the applause for Franklin, Caesar Rodney, a delegate from Delaware, makes his appearance just in time to vote.

He has come eighty miles on horseback and has not had time to change his boots and spurs and still carries a riding whip. He is given a great ovation._)

SECRETARY THOMSON. Delaware!

THOMAS McKEAN. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--Until this moment the vote for Delaware has been in doubt. George Read, my colleague, will vote against independence. But thank G.o.d the timely arrival of Caesar Rodney who joins me in voting for independence, places Delaware on the right side of this question. To make sure of this I sent an express rider at my own expense to Dover, Delaware, for Mr. Rodney. He has come eighty miles on horseback at post-haste. He has not had time to change his riding attire, but he is here in time to join me in voting for independence. Posterity will erect a monument in his honor[17] as they will to that other famous revolutionary rider--Paul Revere. Mr.

President, under the rule as stated by Mr. Franklin governing the votes of colonies in this Congress, Delaware votes _aye_.

(_Shouts of "Hurrah for Delaware! Long live Thomas McKean and Caesar Rodney!"_)

SECRETARY THOMSON. Maryland!

SAMUEL CHASE. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--Maryland has pa.s.sed through a similar struggle to that in Pennsylvania as described by Mr. Franklin.

An appeal has been made to every county committee and one after another they have directed their representatives in the state convention to vote for new instructions to the delegates in this Congress. At last the old instructions against independence have been canceled and new instructions given us in an unanimous resolve to vote for independence.

See the glorious effect of county instructions! Our people have fire if not smothered. And, therefore, Maryland votes _aye_.

(_Shouts of "Three cheers for Maryland and Samuel Chase!"_)

SECRETARY THOMSON. Virginia!

BENJAMIN HARRISON. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--Virginia is here with a solid delegation for independence. Our battle cry has been so well stated by Mr. Henry that we need but to repeat it now--Liberty or Death!

Virginia votes _aye_.

(_Shouts of "Three cheers for Virginia! Long live Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry!"_)

SECRETARY THOMSON. North Carolina!

JOSEPH HEWES. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--We have had a hard struggle in North Carolina between aristocracy on one hand and democracy on the other. But at last the people have won and North Carolina votes _aye_.

(_Shouts of "Three cheers for North Carolina!_")

[Ill.u.s.tration: From the painting by Trumbull

THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS]