|
Posted on 07/04/2004 12:04:47 AM PDT by snippy_about_it
|
|
 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
|
| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
|
 EyeWitness to History The summer of 1776 was a harrowing time for the British colonies in America. Open warfare with the mother country had erupted a year earlier and the future was filled with political and military uncertainties. In this tense climate, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia with the intention of voting for independence from England. In anticipation of this vote, the Congress selected a committee to draft a declaration of independence. The committee, composed of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman, in turn instructed Thomas Jefferson to write the declaration. Jefferson began his work on June 11 and toiled in seclusion writing a number of drafts. After presenting his final draft, the committee further revised the document and submitted it to the Continental Congress on June 28. On July 2, the Continental Congress voted for independence and refined its Declaration of Independence before releasing it to the public on July 4th. History in the Making The Declaration of Independence stands with Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address as one of the noblest of America's official documents. In 1822, John Adams wrote a letter to Timothy Pickering responding to Pickering's questions about the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Adams' letters were published in 1850: "You inquire why so young a man as Mr. Jefferson was placed at the head of the committee for preparing a Declaration of Independence? I answer: It was the Frankfort advice, to place Virginia at the head of everything. Mr. Richard Henry Lee might be gone to Virginia, to his sick family, for aught I know, but that was not the reason of Mr. Jefferson's 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. Mr. Lee was chosen for the Committee of Confederation, and it was not thought convenient that the same person should be upon both. Mr. 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 handed about, remarkable for the peculiar felicity of expression. Though a silent member in Congress, he was so prompt, frank, explicit, and decisive upon committees and in conversation - not even Samuel Adams was more so - that he soon seized upon my heart; and upon this occasion I gave him my vote, and did all in my power to procure the votes of others. I think he had one more vote than any other, and that placed him at the head of the committee. I had the next highest number, and that placed me the second. The committee met, discussed the subject, and then appointed Mr. Jefferson and me to make the draft, I suppose because we were the two first on the list.  The subcommittee met. Jefferson proposed to me to make the draft. I said, 'I will not,' 'You should do it.' 'Oh! no.' 'Why will you not? You ought to do it.' 'I will not.' 'Why?' 'Reasons enough.' 'What can be your reasons?' 'Reason first, you are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason second, I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third, you can write ten times better than I can.' 'Well,' said Jefferson, 'if you are decided, I will do as well as I can.' 'Very well. When you have drawn it up, we will have a meeting.' A meeting we accordingly had, and conned the paper over. I was delighted with its high tone and the flights of oratory with which it abounded, especially that concerning Negro slavery, which, though I knew his Southern brethren would never suffer to pass in Congress, I certainly never would oppose. There were other expressions which I would not have inserted if I had drawn it up, particularly that which called the King tyrant. I thought this too personal, for I never believed George to be a tyrant in disposition and in nature; I always believed him to be deceived by his courtiers on both sides of the Atlantic, and in his official capacity, only, cruel. I thought the expression too passionate, and too much like scolding, for so grave and solemn a document; but as Franklin and Sherman were to inspect it afterwards, I thought it would not become me to strike it out. I consented to report it, and do not now remember that I made or suggested a single alteration.  The mural depicts (from left to right) Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and John Adams. On the wall in the background is a portrait of English philosopher John Locke, whose Second Essay on Government argued that the rights of man include the right of revolution. We reported it to the committee of five. It was read, and I do not remember that Franklin or Sherman criticized anything. We were all in haste. Congress was impatient, and the instrument was reported, as I believe, in Jefferson's handwriting, as he first drew it. Congress cut off about a quarter of it, as I expected they would; but they obliterated some of the best of it, and left all that was exceptionable, if anything in it was. I have long wondered that the original draft had not been published. I suppose the reason is the vehement philippic against Negro slavery. As you justly observe, there is not an idea in it but what had been hackneyed in Congress for two years before. The substance of it is contained in the declaration of rights and the violation of those rights in the Journals of Congress in 1774. Indeed, the essence of it is contained in a pamphlet, voted and printed by the town of Boston, before the first Congress met, composed by James Otis, as I suppose, in one of his lucid intervals, and pruned and polished by Samuel Adams." References: Adams, John (Charles Francis Adams ed.), The Works of John Adams, vol II, The Diary (1850) reprinted in Commager, H.S. and Nevins, A., The Heritage of America (1939); Maier Pauline, American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence (1997).      |
Read: 1 Peter 2:1-10
You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people. —1 Peter 2:9
Bible In One Year: Job 28-29; Acts 13:1-25
The Declaration of Independence of the United States speaks of all people being“created equal”and that we are endowed with certain“unalienable rights.”The Constitution guarantees that the government will protect those rights for all its citizens. These two documents clearly reveal that the nation’s freedom depends largely on a strong constitution.
The Bible is a more far-reaching“bill of rights”than either of these documents. It originated with God, who backs it with His justice, His concern for all people, and His sovereignty. And it is the only charter that guarantees freedom from sin’s penalty and power.
A man went to a clergyman to get some advice about religious virtue and the freedom it brings.“What must I do to attain holiness?”he asked. The pastor replied,“Follow your heart.”Then he added,“To follow your heart you are going to need a strong constitution."“Which constitution?”asked the man.“The Bible!”said the pastor.
Peter said that Christians, as“a holy nation,”are to“ proclaim the praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light”(1 Peter 2:9). There we find true freedom. When we live by our“ constitution,”we will be able to enjoy our rights and fulfill our calling. —Dennis De Haan
The best constitution in the world is the Bible.
even us good 'ole rebels LOVE the 4th!
free dixie,sw
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on July 04:
1546 Murad III, sultan of Turkey (1574-95)
1715 Christian Gellert Saxony, poet, novelist (Fables & Tales)
1753 Jean-Pierre-Francois Blanchard 1st balloon flights in England, US
1804 Nathaniel Hawthorne Mass, author (House of 7 Gables, Scarlet Letter)
1807 Giuseppe Garibaldi unified Italy
1826 - Green Clay Smith, Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1895
1828 James Johnston Pettigrew, Brig General (Confederate Army)
1826 Stephen Foster Lawrenceville, Pa, composer (Oh! Susanna, Swanee River)
1847 James Anthony Bailey Detroit, circus impresario (Barnum & Bailey)
1867 Stephen Mather organized US National Park Service
1872 Calvin Coolidge, [Silent Cal], Plymouth Vt, (R) 30th pres (1923-29)
1875 Giovanni & Giacomo Tocci Italy, siamese twins
1878 George M Cohan entertainer, A Yankee Doodle
1883 Rube Goldberg who made the easy outrageously difficult
1885 Louis B Mayer Minsk Russia, motion-picture executive (MGM)
1898 Johnny Lee Missouri, actor (Calhoun-Amos 'n' Andy)
1900 Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong New Orleans LA, jazz musician (Hello Dolly)
1902 George Murphy New Haven Ct, (Sen-R-Calif)/actor/dancer (MGM Parade)
1902 Meyer Lansky mobster (Started numbers)
1905 Lionel Trilling author (1969 Poses Award, Liberal Imagination)
1910 William T "Champion Jack" Dupree, US boxer/Blues pianist
1911 Mitch Miller Rochester NY, sing along with Mitch (Yellow Rose of Tx)
1916 Tokyo Rose (Iva Toguri D'Aquino" WW II propogandist
1918 Abigail Van Buren twin sister, advice columnist
1918 Ann Landers twin sister, advice columnist
1918 Taufa'ahau Tupou IV king of Tonga (1965- )
1920 Leona Helmsley (wife of Harry), real estate billionaire (Starts with B rhymes with rich)
1924 Eva Marie Saint Newark NJ, actress (On the Waterfront)
1926 Mary Stuart Miami Fla, actress (Jo-Search for Tomorrow)
1927 Gina Lollobrigida Subiaco Italy, actress (Trapeze, Falcon Crest)
1927 Neil Simon playwright (Odd Couple, Plaza Suite, Biloxi Blues)
1928 Stephen Boyd actor (Fantastic Voyage, Ben-Hur)
1929 Al Davis Brocton Mass, NFL team owner (LA Raiders)
1930 George Steinbrenner NY Yankees owner/ship builder/horse owner
1938 Bill Withers WV, rhythm & blues singer (Lean on Me)
1943 Al "Blind Owl" Wilson, rock guitarist/vocalist (Canned Heat)
1946 Michael Milken LA Calif, partner (Intl Capital Access Group)
1946 Ron Kovic disabled vietnam vet (Born on 4th of July)
1955 John Waite singer (Babies/Bad English-Forget Me Not)
Happy Independence Day!
Happy Fourth to the Foxhole!
My laddies from Glamorgan and Powys done good, mate.
"Fix bayonets and die like British soldiers, lads."
I could rant about how sad it can be to celebrate knowing we are less free than we were at the time of the revolution. We are still servants as long as we are taxed to death. A small tax was and would have been acceptable, outrageous taxes and fees are not, yet look at us. Our founding fathers are probably not amused. We are still the best country on earth but it could be a whole lot better. And I have the freedom to say that thanks to men like you.
Good morning and Happy Fourth.
Good morning EGC. Are you cooking out today, any family visiting?
Viking Kitties Bump. You've collected a lot of great graphics over there.
Interesting. From reading about the background to the Revolution, I realize how much of a close thing it was.
Anyway, a gentler hand on the Colonies would have forestalled the whole affair
I agree with you there, it may not have forestalled it forever and it wouldn't have stopped men like Adams from trying, but there may have been no public support for independance at that time.
Hi Race, I saw this on your thread, thanks for letting those who read the Foxhole know about it. I'm not in a position to help but maybe others will be. Good luck on this venture.
The thought never crossed my mind. :-)
Morning Aeronaut.
Morning E.G.C. Beautiful blue skies here this morning.
Your welcome. Good to see you "fall in" today.
Thanks RaceBannon.
I passed on the info to my AMVETS post. Since we do "Toys For Tots" every year, I'm sure we'll support a Sports Good Drive
Morning Feather.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
