appointed on a committee of such importance. There were more reasons than one. Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen; he had been chosen a delegate in Virginia, in consequence of a very handsome public paper which he had written for the House of Burgesses . . Another reason was, that Mr. Richard Henry Lee was not beloved 49 by the most of his colleagues from Virginia, and Mr. Jefferson was set up to rival and supplant him. This could be done only by the pen, for Mr. Jefferson could stand no competition with him or anyone else in elocution and public debate." "[Qy] Jefferson was chairman because he had most votes and he had most votes because We united in him, to the Exclusion of R. H. Lee in [or]der to keep out Harrison."

In his letter of 1822 to Pickering, he says: "[Ms] You enquire 50 why so young a man as Jefferson was placed at the head of the Committee for preparing a declaration of Independence? I answer, it was the Frankfort advice 51, to place Virginia at the head of everything. M: Richard Henry Lee, might be gone to Virginia to his sick family, for ought I know, but that was not 52 the reason of M: Jefferson's appointment. There were three Committees appointed at the same time. One for the Declaration of Independence; another for preparing Articles of Confederation; and another for preparing a Treaty to be proposed to France. M' Lee was chosen for the Committee of confederation, and it was not thought convenient that the same person should be upon both. M' Jefferson came into Congress in June 1775. and brought with him a reputation for literature, science, and a happy talent of composition. Writings of his were

handed about remarkable for the peculiar felicity of expression. Though a silent member in Congress, he was so prompt, frank, explicit and decisive upon committees and in conversation, not even Sam' Adams was more so, that he soon seized upon my heart, and upon this occasion I gave him my vote and did all in my power to procure the votes of others. I think he had one more. vote than any other, and that placed him at the head of the Committee. I had the next highest number and that placed me the second."

Samuel Adams was 53 years old; Hancock, 39; R. H. Lee, 44; Harrison, about 36; John Adams, 40; Jefferson 3, 33; Franklin, 70; Sherman, 55; and R. R. Livingston, 29.

53

T

V

THE POSTPONEMENT

HE consideration of the initial resolution of June 7th was postponed, on the 10th, as seen, to July 1st. This postponement was made upon the motion of Edward Rutledge. Its purpose, Gerry writes, to James Warren, June 11th, was "to give the Assemblies of the Middle Colonies an opportunity to take off their restrictions and let their Delegates unite in the measure." Jefferson, in his notes, as shown, is even more specific:

It appearing in the course of these debates that the colonies of

& South Carolina 3

N. York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania2, Delaware & Maryland Λ had not yet advanced to were not yet matured for falling off from the parent stem, but that they were fast advancing to that state, it was thought most prudent to wait a while for them

Curiously enough, the Provincial Congress of New Jersey had already been called (at Burlington) for the very day of the postponement. An insufficient number of Deputies attending, however, it adjourned to the morning of the 11th, and thence to the afternoon.

4

On the 12th was read the resolution of the Convention of Virginia of May 15th, forwarded by Pendleton. Sergeant and Cooper, two of the Delegates to Con

gress, and John Hart, Abraham Clark and Dr. John Witherspoon all of whom had been elected Deputies

were present.

Three days later, Sergeant writes (from Burlington), to John Adams: "[Qy] Jacta est Alea. We are passing the Rubicon & our Delegates in Congress on the first of July will vote plump. — The Bearer is a staunch Whigg & will answer any Questions You may need to ask. I have been very busy here & have stole a Minute from Business to write this [.]"

The election was held sometime after 3 o'clock on the afternoon of the 22d-Sergeant, Cooper, Hart, Clark and Witherspoon still being present. Five new Delegates Richard Stockton 10, Clark 10, Hart 10, Francis Hopkinson 10 and Witherspoon 10 11 were elected. Sergeant writes, on the 24th, to Samuel Adams: "[SA] I have declined to be appointed anew to the Continental Congress for Reasons which I have no Room to explain (this being the only white Piece of Paper in Bristol)

-

I am confident that it is better that I stay in the Colony for the present than in the Continental Congress The People of this Colony were quite in the dark as to the Sentiments of their Delegates until lately. Our new ones I trust will not deceive us; but lest they should I wish I could promptly learn their conduct whenever they may by any means be found tripping."

Samuel Adams, in a letter to R. H. Lee, dated July 15th, says 12: "[A] All of them appear to be zealously attached to the American Cause

The Delegates were empowered and directed, as shown by the Journal of Congress, "in the name of this colony

to join with the delegates of the other colonies. . . in the most vigorous measures for supporting the just rights and liberties of America & if you shall judge it necessary or expedient for this purpose we impower you to join with them in declaring the united colonies independant of great Britain ".

Six days later (the 28th), the Journal of Congress tells us, "Francis Hopkinson 13 Esquire one of the Delegates for New Jersey attended & produced the credentials of their appointment . .

M:Kean 14 (though it is possible-but not probable - that Rodney 15 also was instrumental) seems to have assumed the brunt of the battle in Delaware. On June 14th, he "delivered in at the Chair" in the House of Representatives, at Newcastle, a certified copy of the resolution 16 of Congress of the 15th of May; and, on the 17th (evidently 1), John Adams writes to Chase: "[QyC] McKean has returned from the Lower Counties with Full Powers. Their Instructions are in the same Words with the new ones 18 to the Delegates of Pensilvania.

Maryland too came into line, though more slowly 19. On June 11th- the day following the postponement Tilghman, Stone and Rogers" wrote, from Philadelphia, to their Council of Safety, at Annapolis: "[Md] This postpone was made to give an opportunity to the Delegates from those Colonies, which had not as yet given Authority to adopt this decisive measure, to consult their constituents; It will be necessary that the Convention of Maryland should meet as soon as possible to