JAMES WILSON headed by a petition from Wilson's home county, Cumberland, the Pennsylvania As sembly yielded, and on June 14, sent new instructions to the delegates in Congress, concluding as follows : "The situation of public affairs is since so greatly altered, that we now think ourselves justifiable in removing the restrictions laid upon you." On the same day Delaware took similar action. On June 19, a Pennsylvania Pro vincial Conference assembled, composed of committees of the people from the various counties, and on June 24 its members for themselves and their constituents announced their "willingness to concur in a vote of the Congress declaring the United Colonies free and independent States." Wilson's policy was being speedily vindicated. On June 21, the day after the certificate by Hancock, Jefferson, etc., concerning Wilson's course, had been given, New Jersey authorized her delegates to concur in declaring Independ ence. Three days later the Pennsylvania Conference took the similar action noted supra. On June 28, Maryland concurred. Thus was Wilson successful in holding off the vote until every state save one, New York, was swung into line for Richard Henry Lee's resolution, which was adopted July 2, 1776, and which constitutes the real Declaration of Independence, the resolution being as follows: "Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and inde pendent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." Thus on the 2d of July, every State save New York, concurred in the resolution de
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claring Independence; but the delegates of New York were still bound by their instruc tions; unanimity had not yet been secured and was still imperilled. On July fourth the Declaration in sup port of Independence (drawn by the com mittee of which Jefferson had been made chairman, because Lee of Virginia had been called away by the illness of his wife) was adopted by the vote of all the states save New York, and the old Liberty Bell pealed forth. The Biblical prophecy emblazoned on its side when it was cast in the mold, — "And ye shall . . . proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the INHABITANTS THEREOF" was fulfilled The seed sown through Wilson's pam phlet of August, 1774, had not only grown, but had taken deep root and was bearing its fruits. On July 15 th there was laid before the Congress a resolution unanimously adopted by "The Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York," dated July 9th, as follows: "That the reasons assigned by the Con tinental Congress for declaring the United Colonies free and independent states are cogent and conclusive, and that while we lament the cruel necessity which has ren dered that measure unavoidable, we ap prove the same, and will at the risk of our lives and fortunes join with the other colo nies in supporting it." Thus, at last, was unanimity secured The American Colonies were for the first time united, — the Declaration of Indepen dence was a reality. James Wilson's first great mission to America had been achieved. (To be continued.) Philadelphia, Pa., December, 1906.
