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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THOMAS JEFFERSON 2determination might be put off to the next day, as he believed his col-
The autobiography of Thomas leagues, though they disapproved of the resolution, would then join in
it for the sake of unanimity. The ultimate question, whether the House
Jefferson: The Declaration of would agree to the resolution of the committee, was accordingly post-
poned to the next day, when it was again moved, and South Carolina
independence concurred in voting for it. In the meantime, a third member had come
post from the Delaware counties, and turned the vote of that colony in
It appearing in the course of these debates, that the colonies of favor of the resolution. Members of a different sentiment attending
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South that morning from Pennsylvania also, her vote was changed, so that
Carolina were not yet matured for falling from the parent stem, but the whole twelve colonies who were authorized to vote at all, gave
that they were fast advancing to that state, it was thought most prudent their voices for it; and, within a few days, the convention of New York
to wait for a while for them, and to postpone the final decision to July approved of it, and thus supplied the void occasioned by the withdraw-
1st; but, that this might occasion as little delay as possible, a committee ing of her delegates from the vote.
was appointed to prepare a Declaration of Independence. The com- Congress proceeded the same day to consider the Declaration of
mittee were John Adams, Dr. Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Independence, which had been reported and lain on the table the Fri-
Livingston, and myself. Committees were also appointed, at the same day preceding, and on Monday referred to a committee of the whole.
time, to prepare a plan of confederation for the colonies, and to state The pusillanimous idea that we had friends in England worth keeping
the terms proper to be proposed for foreign alliance. The committee terms with, still haunted the minds of many. For this reason, those
for drawing the Declaration of Independence, desired me to do it. It passages which conveyed censures on the people of England were
was accordingly done, and being approved by them, I reported it to the struck out, lest they should give them offense. The clause too, repro-
House on Friday, the 28th of June, when it was read, and ordered to bating the enslaving the inhabitants of Africa, was struck out in com-
lie on the table. On Monday, the 1st of July, the House resolved itself plaisance to South Carolina and Georgia, who had never attempted to
into a committee of the whole, and resumed the consideration of the restrain the importation of slaves, and who, on the contrary, still
original motion made by the delegates of Virginia, which, being again wished to continue it. Our northern brethren also, I believe, felt a little
debated through the day, was carried in the affirmative by the votes of tender under those censures; for though their people had very few
New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New slaves themselves, yet they had been pretty considerable carriers of
Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia. South Caro- them to others. The debates, having taken up the greater parts of the
lina and Pennsylvania voted against it. Delaware had but two members 2d, 3d, and 4th days of July, were, on the evening of the last, closed;
present, and they were divided. The delegates from New York de- the Declaration was reported by the committee, agreed to by the
clared they were for it themselves, and were assured their constituents House, and signed by every member present, except Mr. Dickinson. As
were for it; but that their instructions having been drawn near a the sentiments of men are known not only by what they receive, but
twelve-month before, when reconciliation was still the general object, what they reject also, I will state the form of the Declaration as origi-
they were enjoined by them to do nothing which should impede that nally reported. The parts struck out by Congress shall be distinguished
object. They, therefore, thought themselves not justifiable in voting on by a black line drawn under them, and those inserted by them shall be
either side, and asked leave to withdraw from the question: which was placed in the margin, or in a concurrent column.
given them. The committee rose and reported their resolution to the
House. Mr. Edward Rutledge, of South Carolina, then requested the
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