CONGRESS OF 1776: PROCEEDINGS PRELIMINARY TO, AND
ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; A COPY OF
THE DECLARATION ITSELF. 479-491
Meeting of Congress at Philadelphia, the 12th of May,
1776; state of the Colonies 479
Formidable preparations in England; effect of them upon
the Colonies different from that expected in England 479
The thirteen Colonies a unit for the defence of their
constitutional rights and liberties 479
Separation from England not even yet contemplated;
though resisting the King they were loyal to the
constitution and liberties of the Kingdom, as were the
Barons at Runnymede when they resisted King John to maintain
constitutional rights; the words of Washington and the New York
Provincial Congress (in a note) 480
The question of questions with the Congress; one
Republican, but the others professedly Monarchists;
Samuel Adams, his character and writings 481
Independence first moved in Congress, May, 1776; how
manipulated and promoted; not the spontaneous uprising
of the people 482
Agitation to prepare the minds of the people for independence 482
The writings of Tom Paine the chief instrument of
creating hatred to monarchy and a desire for
independence (in a note) 483
Congress itself divided on the question of independence;
what Provinces opposed to or not prepared for independence 483
Resolution for independence; long debates; postponed
for three weeks, by a vote of seven to five Colonies 484
Committee to prepare a Declaration appointed 485
Agitation to promote independence 485
Three days' debates on the question of independence 485
Decision to vote by Colonies, and that the decision on
each _question should be reported to the world as
unanimous_, whatever might be the votes in Congress 486
On the question of independence, _six_ Colonies
were in the affirmative and _six_ in the negative;
how Pennsylvania was brought over to vote for
independence, by one of its members being induced
to absent himself; and how the votes of other Colonies
were obtained for the affirmative (in a note) 486
The Declaration of Independence reported, discussed,
amended, and adopted, but not unanimously, though so
reported (in a note) 487
Remarks on the voting of Congress on the Declaration
of Independence 487
Copy of the Declaration of Independence 488