2105. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, Action in Congress.—
On the
15th of May, 1776, the Convention of Virginia
instructed their delegates in Congress, to propose
to that body to declare the Colonies independent
of Great Britain, and appointed a
committee to prepare a declaration of rights,
and plan of government.
“In Congress, Friday, June 7, 1776. The
delegates [129]
from Virginia moved, in obedience
to instructions from their constituents that the
Congress should declare, that these United Colonies
are, and of right ought to be, free and
independent 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;
that measures should be immediately
taken for procuring the assistance of foreign
powers, and a Confederation be formed to
bind the Colonies more closely together. The
House being obliged to attend at that time to
some other business, the proposition was referred
to the next day, when the members were
ordered to attend punctually at ten o'clock.
Saturday, June 8. They proceeded to take
it into consideration, and referred it to a committee
of the whole, into which they immediately
resolved themselves, and passed that day
and Monday, the 10th, in debating on the subject.
”*—
Autobiography. Washington ed. i, 12.
Ford ed., i, 18.
(1821) [130]
