Jersey recalled all their delegates who had voted against independence, and sent new ones expressly to vote for it. The last debate but one was the most copious and animated; but the question was now evaded by a motion to postpone it to another day; some members, however, declaring that, if the question should be now demanded, they should vote for it, but they wished for a day or two more to consider it. When that day arrived, some of the new members desired to hear the arguments for and against the measure. When these were summarily recapitulated, the question was put and carried. There were no yeas and nays in those times. in those times. A Committee was appointed to draw a declaration; when reported, it underwent abundance of criticism and alteration; but, when finally accepted, all those members who had voted against independence, now declared they would sign and support it."

The Journal for June 11th 45 says:

Resolved That a committee to prepare the Declaration consist of five members

The members chosen Mr Jefferson, Mr J Adams 46, Mr Franklin Mr Shearman & Mr R. R. Livingston 47

48

John Adams, in his Autobiography 8, tells us: "[J] Mr. Jefferson had been now about a year a member of Congress, but had attended his duty in the house a very small part of the time, and, when there, had never spoken in public. During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together. It will naturally be inquired how it happened that he was

appointed on a committee of such importance. There were more reasons than one. Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen; he had been chosen a delegate in Virginia, in consequence of a very handsome public paper which he had written for the House of Burgesses Another reason was, that Mr. Richard Henry Lee was not beloved 49 by the most of his colleagues from Virginia, and Mr. Jefferson was set up to rival and supplant him. This could be done only by the pen, for Mr. Jefferson could stand no competition with him or anyone else in elocution and public debate." "[Qy] Jefferson was chairman because he had most votes and he had most votes because We united in him, to the Exclusion of R. H. Lee in [or]der to keep out Harrison."

In his letter of 1822 to Pickering, he says: "[Ms] You enquire 50 why so young a man as Jefferson was placed at the head of the Committee for preparing a declaration of Independence? I answer, it was the Frankfort advice 51, to place Virginia at the head of everything. M Richard Henry Lee, might be gone to Virginia to his sick family, for ought I know, but that was not 52 the reason of M Jefferson's appointment. appointment. There were three Committees appointed at the same time. One for the Declaration of Independence; another for preparing Articles of Confederation; and another for preparing a Treaty to be proposed to France. M' Lee was chosen. for the Committee of confederation, and it was not thought convenient that the same person should be upon both. M' Jefferson came into Congress in June 1775. and brought with him a reputation for literature, science, and a happy talent of composition. Writings of his were

Jersey recalled all their delegates who independence, and sent new ones expr it. The last debate but one was the I animated; but the question was now eve to postpone it to another day; some me declaring that, if the question should be they should vote for it, but they wished more to consider it. When that day? the new members desired to hear the ar against the measure. When these were su ulated, the question was put and carrie no yeas and nays in those times. A Co pointed to draw a declaration; when rer went abundance of criticism and alterat finally accepted, all those members w against independence, now declared they support it."

The Journal for June 11th says:

Resolved That a committee to prepare the Dec five members

The members chosen M' Jefferson, Mr J Ad lin Mr Shearman & Mr R. R. Livingston 47

John Adams, in his Autobiography 48, tel.. Jefferson had been now about a year a n. gress, but had attended his duty in the ho... part of the time, and, when there, had public. During the whole time I sat wit gress, I never heard him utter three sent. It will naturally be inquired how it happe

Jersey recalled all their delegates who had voted against independence, and sent new ones expressly to vote for it. The last debate but one was the most copious and animated; but the question was now evaded by a motion to postpone it to another day; some members, however, declaring that, if the question should be now demanded, they should vote for it, but they wished for a day or two more to consider it. When that day arrived, some of the new members desired to hear the arguments for and against the measure. When these were summarily recapitulated, the question was put and carried. There were no yeas and nays in those times. in those times. A Committee was appointed to draw a declaration; when reported, it underwent abundance of criticism and alteration; but, when finally accepted, all those members who had voted against independence, now declared they would sign and support it."

Resolved That a committee to prepare the Declaration consist of five members

The members chosen Mr Jefferson, Mr J Adams 6, Mr Franklin Mr Shearman & Mr R. R. Livingston "

47

John Adams, in his Autobiography 48, tells us: "[J] Mr. Jefferson had been now about a year a member of Congress, but had attended his duty in the house a very small part of the time, and, when there, had never spoken in public. During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together. It will naturally be inquired how it happened that he was