Page 51 - ASM Book 9/2020

Congress Spent Days Editing & Voting
July 2-4, 1776
After 12 colonies approved the Virginia Resolution on July 2, Congress proceeded to the Declaration of Independence. The first order of business was for Secretary Thomson to read the Declaration.
“When he finished reading, Benjamin Harrison suggested that the committee of the whole review the document line-by-line to give each delegate the opportunity to offer any changes they might like to make. ‘I know you are as impressed with Jefferson’s work as I am. However, we do not want anyone to misunderstand our motives. We want to make certain this declaration is a clear and concise statement that everyone will understand. Mr. Thomson, please begin to read . . . slowly . . . sentence-by-sentence.’
“Thomson stood and moved in front of his worktable. He held the document with both hands, cleared his throat and began to read very slowly and deliberately.
“When in the course . . . of human events . . . it becomes necessary . . . for one people . . . to dissolve the political bands . . . which have connected them . . . with another, . . .
“One by one, the delegates began to make suggestions for changes. Jefferson never attempted to defend his work. He left that to John Adams. Instead, he listened to every word that was said and made notes of the changes.
“However, as the delegates reviewed the declaration, Franklin observed that his young friend was visibly upset by the changes that were being made. So he told Jefferson a story about a friend who wanted to get a sign painted for his new hatter’s shop. . . .
“This little story amused Jefferson. He thanked his friend for understanding his feelings. ‘But, I am afraid our friends are doing the same thing to the declaration that happened to the hatter’s sign. It is being mutilated. Nothing will be left when they finish.’”
Changes, additions and deletions to the text continued onto July 3.
“By late afternoon, the delegates were ready to consider the last offense – the slavery clause that John Adams had warned Jefferson about when he read the draft for the first time on June 24. . . .
“In very strong language, Jefferson had condemned the slave trade and criticized King George III for protecting it. Over the years, some colonies had passed laws to reduce or ban the importation of slaves, but the king always vetoed them because of the revenues his government received. . . .
“Speaking on behalf of the South Carolina and Georgia delegates, Edward Rutledge argued that: ‘Slave labor is essential to the economies of our colonies. . . . Unless this section is removed, we have no other choice but to vote against ratification of the declaration.’”
Editing the Declaration continued on July 4.
“Finally, when it was obvious their minds were not going to be changed, Jefferson very reluctantly gave his approval for the slave clause to be omitted. Congress then turned its attention to editing the last three paragraphs. When that was completed, President Hancock directed Secretary Thomson to read the edited Declaration aloud.
“The room remained silent when Thomson finished. No one spoke for what seemed like a long time. Hancock broke the silence by telling the delegates that it was time for them to vote on accepting the Declaration of Independence as amended. . . .
“A short time later when all the votes had been cast and counted, Hancock stood, looked over at Jefferson, the two Adamses and Franklin, and gave them a big grin. At a few minutes past two o’clock Hancock proudly announced: ‘Fellow delegates, 12 colonies have agreed to the written Declaration of Independence; New York has abstained. I am proud to announce that the Declaration of Independence by the representatives of the United States of America has been approved.’”
- Excerpts from Jefferson’s Masterpiece, pages 73-74, 79-80, 85 and 88-89
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