What would you give for liberty? The price they paid
Happy Independence Day! On Friday, the United States of America will celebrate its 249th birthday, marking the start of its 250th year of existence. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring that the 13 colonies “are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States” and are “Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown.”
Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Revolutionary War was already in full swing, having begun on April 19, 1775, and it did not end until Sept. 3, 1783. The signers knew the document they were signing was more than just a piece of parchment; it was an act of open rebellion that may very well cost them their lives. However, they believed that the cause of freedom was worth it, and theirs was a justifiable act of resistance against tyranny. They mutually pledged to each other their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor.”
The Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776, but not actually signed until Aug. 2, 1776. (Some of the delegates were not present at the Continental Congress in August and didn’t sign until later.) Dr. Benjamin Rush, considered the father of American medicine and one of the signers, wrote about the solemnity of that day in his diary.
“Do you recollect the pensive and awful silence which pervaded the House when we were called up, one after another, to the table of the President of Congress to subscribe to what was believed by many at that time to be our death warrants? The silence and gloom of the morning was interrupted, I well recollect, only for a moment by Colonel Harrison of Virginia [a big man] who said to Mr. Gerry [small in stature] at the table: ‘I shall have a great advantage over you, Mr. Gerry, when we are all hung for what we are now doing… From the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air an hour or two before you are dead.’ This speech procured a transient smile, but it was soon succeeded by the solemnity with which the whole business was conducted.”
While they might not have been hanged for their signatures, many signers sacrificed tremendously for the cause of freedom— whether financially, physically, or by giving up their own ease and comfort. Two suffered battle wounds and were held as prisoners of war. Two others were imprisoned. Eight of them fled their homes to evade capture. In addition, 17 signers lost their homes or property, whether by arson or looting. Other signers suffered family hardship. For example, two of Abraham Clark’s sons were taken as prisoners; Francis Lewis’ wife was held captive for months, resulting in broken health, leading to her untimely death; and John Witherspoon’s eldest son lost his life during the Battle of Germantown.
Robert Morris of Pennsylvania is an example of a signer who put his money where his mouth was. For the first three years of the Revolution, no banks were willing to give any loans to fund the American army. Congress could not have procured a loan for even 1,000 dollars at the time, but Morris stepped in and effected loans on his own credit for tens of thousands of dollars. The United States was unable to repay him because there was no money, but Morris did not complain, as he had given his word.
Great Britain relinquished control of the 13 colonies following the Treaty of Paris, which was signed on Sept. 3, 1783. Several of the signers did not live to see the independence they sought come to fruition. None of them knew exactly what our country would become or could have envisioned the U.S.A. as it is today. But they gave anyway.
The example of the signers asks us to consider for what cause we would be willing to give our lives. Are we willing to forego pleasure or comfort to build a better life for future generations?
Although we may not be called upon to give our lives for the cause of freedom, there are several ways we can commemorate the anniversary of our nation’s independence. We ought to:
• Be grateful to God for the blessing of living in the freest country in the history of planet Earth and for all the rights and freedoms we enjoy. As Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant said, “In all these marked stages of national progress, from the Declaration of Independence to the recent amendments of the Constitution, it is impossible not to perceive a providential series and succession of events.”
• Remember and thank our service membersandveteransforthesacrifices they have made.
• Participate in our government by voting and choosing the candidates who best represent our country’s values and will honor the rule of law.
• Educate ourselves and our children on our nation’s history.
• Stand up for what is right.
• Show respect and honor for our flag and all it represents.
• Strive to live in accordance with our ideals of truth, justice, and equal protection under the law. We should endeavor to live fruitful lives and work hard to achieve success, maximizing the opportunities we’ve been given – because they did not come without a cost. And, we ought to help others and show generosity along the way, because that’s the American way.
I will end with President John F. Kennedy’s words from his on July 4, 1962, Address at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
“[The] Declaration unleashed not merely a revolution against the British but a revolution in human affairs. Its authors were highly conscious of its worldwide implications. And George Washington declared that liberty and self-government everywhere were, in his words, ‘finally staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.’ This prophecy has been borne out… This doctrine of national independence has shaken the globe.”
Information taken from WallBuilders.com.
