Tomorrow could be the
beginning of the end for all them, their declaration doubling as a death
warrant. Sleep was the furthest thing from Thomas Jefferson's mind.
The words he had written, read and re-read by John Adams, hashed
and re-hashed by Benjamin Franklin, considered and reworked by representatives
from thirteen colonies, were finally ready to show the world.
“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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted
among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
The months of discussion, disagreement, and compromise had
come to an end. Tomorrow Patrick Henry’s
demand for liberty or death would be met – perhaps with both.
It was just a piece of paper. They could still go back. They could apologize to England for their rebellion and
reaffirm their allegiance to King George.
“Never,” his mind reminded him. “There is no turning
back.”
Just a year ago Jefferson had pronounced on behalf of the patriots: “We most solemnly, before God and
the world, declare…with unabating firmness and perseverance…being with one mind resolved to die freemen
rather than to live slaves.”
"So it has come to that," he thought. Indeed, tomorrow the United States of America would be
born, a nation beholden to no king but God, a nation ruled by its people.
On that warm summer night Jefferson didn’t have the history books to tell him how things would turn out. For all he knew, he may die in his pursuit of liberty. The independence they were about to declare would pit them against the greatest military and economic power on earth. Odds would not be in their favor, and they knew it.
The morning of July 4, 1776 came as any other would, the brilliant colors of sunswept clouds filling the eastern horizon. But the hearts of the colonists beat faster that day, full of anticipation and fear. For better or for worse, America was taking her first step.
“We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare that these united colonies are…FREE AND INDPENDENT STATES…”
Jefferson’s eyes caught the final line of the document, and he breathed a heavy sigh. “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence (God), we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor.”
Writing those words was the easy part; now they would need to be defended.
He glanced at the pen in Hancock’s hand.
Life, fortune, sacred honor; everything. This was it.
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