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Grapesoda · 07-04-2007, 08:41 AM

for those of you that can or will read that is....

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pb...D=200770703108

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Inde-pendence was adopted. Three days before, Thomas Jeff-erson?s draft had been read aloud and debated. After minor alterations it was finally put to a vote.

The 56 signers who pledged ?Our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor,? by the signing committed an act of treason against Great Britain. Most of us know the names of some of them: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Hancock and Jefferson; but few know much about the other signers and what happened to them.

Franklin was the oldest, in his 80s. Eighteen were younger than 40; three were in their 20s. Half were lawyers or judges. Eleven were merchants. Nine were large landowners and 12 were doctors, politicians or ministers. Most held substantial property, were well-educated and had standing in their communities. All of them had more to lose from the Revolution than they had to gain.

Huge risks

Hancock, among the richest men in America, already had a price of 500 pounds on his head. He signed in large letters so ?that his Majesty could now read his name without glasses and could now double the reward.?

Franklin commented: ?Indeed we must all hang together, otherwise we shall assuredly hang separately.?

The penalty for treason was death by hanging, and there was a large British fleet at anchor in New York Harbor.

Two of them later became presidents of the United States. Seven became state governors. Several became members of Congress.

Even before the Declaration was published, the British declared every member of Congress suspected of having voted for the Declaration guilty of treason. All of them became the objects of manhunts. Some were captured. Some, like Jefferson, had narrow escapes. All who had property or families near British-occupied areas suffered.

Suffering losses

Francis Lewis, New York delegate, and his wife were captured. His home was destroyed and his wife died in captivity. William Floyd, another New York delegate, escaped with his family, but his home was destroyed. All of Phillip Livingstone?s holdings in New York were confiscated and his family driven out of their home.

John Hart of New Jersey suffered the loss of his wife, who died when his homestead and farm were destroyed. He died in 1779 without knowing what happened to his 13 children.

Dr. John Witherspoon was president of the College of New Jersey, later Princeton. The British occupied the college and burned the finest library in the country. Judge Richard Stockton evacuated his family but a Tory sympathizer betrayed them. He was brutally beaten by the arresting soldiers. His household was looted. He died from his injuries.

George Clymer, Pennsy-vania signer, escaped with his family but their property was destroyed. Dr. Benjamin Rush was forced to flee from his home. He had several narrow escapes and became a heroic surgeon with the army. South Carolina signers Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton and Thomas Haywood were captured by the British in the siege of Charleston. Taken as prisoners of war to St. Augustine, Fla., they survived, though their property was devastated.

No defections

Of the 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons and families. All were subject to manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes destroyed. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word.

The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence proved by their commitment that they made no idle boast when they mutually pledged to each other ?our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.?

I would imagine that most households have a copy of the Declaration of Independence somewhere in their home ? in an old history book, or encyclopedia or some ?parchment? one of the children brought home from school. I suggest that each of us take the time this Fourth of July to read through the text of the Declaration and pause for thought when we get to ?We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.?

These words underly ideas that have sustained this nation for more than two centuries. ?Sacred honor? isn?t a phrase we use much these days, but it was a legacy of the Founders who risked everything.

07-04-2007, 08:41 AM
Grapesoda So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Montana Posts: 46,238	interesting read::: for those of you that can or will read that is.... http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pb...D=200770703108 On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Inde-pendence was adopted. Three days before, Thomas Jeff-erson?s draft had been read aloud and debated. After minor alterations it was finally put to a vote. The 56 signers who pledged ?Our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor,? by the signing committed an act of treason against Great Britain. Most of us know the names of some of them: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Hancock and Jefferson; but few know much about the other signers and what happened to them. Franklin was the oldest, in his 80s. Eighteen were younger than 40; three were in their 20s. Half were lawyers or judges. Eleven were merchants. Nine were large landowners and 12 were doctors, politicians or ministers. Most held substantial property, were well-educated and had standing in their communities. All of them had more to lose from the Revolution than they had to gain. Huge risks Hancock, among the richest men in America, already had a price of 500 pounds on his head. He signed in large letters so ?that his Majesty could now read his name without glasses and could now double the reward.? Franklin commented: ?Indeed we must all hang together, otherwise we shall assuredly hang separately.? The penalty for treason was death by hanging, and there was a large British fleet at anchor in New York Harbor. Two of them later became presidents of the United States. Seven became state governors. Several became members of Congress. Even before the Declaration was published, the British declared every member of Congress suspected of having voted for the Declaration guilty of treason. All of them became the objects of manhunts. Some were captured. Some, like Jefferson, had narrow escapes. All who had property or families near British-occupied areas suffered. Suffering losses Francis Lewis, New York delegate, and his wife were captured. His home was destroyed and his wife died in captivity. William Floyd, another New York delegate, escaped with his family, but his home was destroyed. All of Phillip Livingstone?s holdings in New York were confiscated and his family driven out of their home. John Hart of New Jersey suffered the loss of his wife, who died when his homestead and farm were destroyed. He died in 1779 without knowing what happened to his 13 children. Dr. John Witherspoon was president of the College of New Jersey, later Princeton. The British occupied the college and burned the finest library in the country. Judge Richard Stockton evacuated his family but a Tory sympathizer betrayed them. He was brutally beaten by the arresting soldiers. His household was looted. He died from his injuries. George Clymer, Pennsy-vania signer, escaped with his family but their property was destroyed. Dr. Benjamin Rush was forced to flee from his home. He had several narrow escapes and became a heroic surgeon with the army. South Carolina signers Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton and Thomas Haywood were captured by the British in the siege of Charleston. Taken as prisoners of war to St. Augustine, Fla., they survived, though their property was devastated. No defections Of the 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons and families. All were subject to manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes destroyed. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word. The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence proved by their commitment that they made no idle boast when they mutually pledged to each other ?our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.? I would imagine that most households have a copy of the Declaration of Independence somewhere in their home ? in an old history book, or encyclopedia or some ?parchment? one of the children brought home from school. I suggest that each of us take the time this Fourth of July to read through the text of the Declaration and pause for thought when we get to ?We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.? These words underly ideas that have sustained this nation for more than two centuries. ?Sacred honor? isn?t a phrase we use much these days, but it was a legacy of the Founders who risked everything.