A long-forgotten fact for many of us is that when our forefathers were going to take a vote and declare our independence from Britain, everyone agreed that if any colony votes against it then the Declaration would be null and void. A couple of colonies were holding out including New York and South Carolina.
It took a few meetings, but South Carolina came around and voted yes while New York decided to abstain from the vote which would allow the Declaration of Independence to pass. The reason they didn't vote, is that the New York Colony was being attacked by Britain because of various rebellions taking place there due to things like increased taxation.
People were rightly concerned about putting their name on a document to cut ties with Britain. If New York would’ve signed the Declaration and Washington’s army lost the war up there, then the representatives who signed the document would’ve been hung for treason and quite frankly everyone living in the New York Colony would’ve been worse off because it would appear everyone wanted to defect from Britain. Not signing the Declaration was their safest bet.
Our legislators feel like they’re under stress (and attacks), now as they work on critical issues like illegal immigration. How many of our current representatives would be tough enough and brave enough to accomplish what our forefathers did?
It took a few meetings, but South Carolina came around and voted yes while New York decided to abstain from the vote which would allow the Declaration of Independence to pass. The reason they didn't vote, is that the New York Colony was being attacked by Britain because of various rebellions taking place there due to things like increased taxation.
People were rightly concerned about putting their name on a document to cut ties with Britain. If New York would’ve signed the Declaration and Washington’s army lost the war up there, then the representatives who signed the document would’ve been hung for treason and quite frankly everyone living in the New York Colony would’ve been worse off because it would appear everyone wanted to defect from Britain. Not signing the Declaration was their safest bet.
Our legislators feel like they’re under stress (and attacks), now as they work on critical issues like illegal immigration. How many of our current representatives would be tough enough and brave enough to accomplish what our forefathers did?
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