“Gentlemen， I make the motion that these UnitedColonies are， and of right ought to be free andindependent states， that they be absolved from allallegiance to the British Crown， and that all politicalconnection between them and the state of GreatBritain is， and ought to be totally dissolved.”
Lee’s astounding motion was discussed fervently，and at such length that he began to lose patience.
Finally， after days of argument， he again took thefloor， and declared， in a clear， firm voice， “Mr. President， we have discussed this issue for days. Itis the only course for us to follow. Why， then Sir，do we longer delay？ Why still deliberate？ Let thishappy day give birth to an American Republic.
Let her arise， not to devastate and to conquer， butto reestablish the reign of peace， and of law. Theeyes of Europe are fixed upon us. She demands ofus a living example of freedom， that may exhibita contrast， in the felicity of the citizen， to the everincreasing tyranny.”
Before his motion was finally voted upon， Lee wascalled back to Virginia， because of serious familyillness， but before leaving， he placed his cause in thehands of his friend， Thomas Jefferson， who promisedto fight until favorable action was taken. Shortlythereafter the President of the Congress （Hancock），appointed Jefferson as Chairman of a Committee todraw up a Declaration of Independence.
Long and hard the Committee labored， on a document which would mean， when accepted by theCongress， that EVERY MAN WHO SIGNED IT， WOULDBE SIGNING HIS OWN DEATH WARRANT， should theColonies lose in the fight with Great Britain， whichwas sure to follow.
The document was drawn， and on June 28， theoriginal draft was read before the Congress. Forseveral days it was discussed， altered， and madeready. On July 4， 1776， Thomas Jefferson stoodbefore the Assembly， and fearlessly read the mostmomentus DECISION ever placed upon paper.
When in the course of human events it is necessary for one people to dissolve the politicalbands which have connected them with another，and to assume， among the powers of the earth， theseparate and equal station to which the laws ofNature， and of Nature’s God entitle them， a decentrespect to the opinions of mankind requires that theyshould declare the causes which impel them to theseparation. . .
When Jefferson finished， the document was votedupon， accepted， and signed by the fifty-six men，every one staking his own life upon his DECISIONto write his name. By that DECISION came intoexistence a nation destined to bring to mankindforever， the privilege of making DECISIONS.
By decisions made in a similar spirit of Faith， andonly by such decisions， can men solve their personalproblems， and win for themselves high estates ofmaterial and spiritual wealth. Let us not forget this！
Analyze the events which led to the Declarationof Independence， and be convinced that this nation，which now holds a position of commanding respectand power among all nations of the world， wasborn of a DECISION created by a Master Mind，consisting of fifty-six men. Note well， the fact thatit was their DECISION which insured the successof Washington’s armies， because the spirit of thatdecision was in the heart of every soldier who foughtwith him， and served as a spiritual power whichrecognizes no such thing as FAILURE.
