Provocative thoughts

[Vexari]

Why then sir, why do we longer delay?

Why still deliberate?

Let this happy day give birth to an American Republic

Let her arise

not to devastate and to conquer

but to reestablish the reign of peace and law

The eyes of Europe are fixed upon us

She demands of us a living example of freedom

that may exhibit a contrast in the felicity of the citizen

to the ever-increasing tyranny

which desolates her polluted shores

She invites us to prepare an asylum

where the unhappy may find solace

and the persecuted repose

If we are not this day

wanting in our duty

the names of the American legislators of 1776

will be placed by posterity

at the side of all of those whose memory

has been and ever will be dear

to virtuous men and good citizens..


~ Richard Henry Lee ~ (1732-1794)

Founding Father

Source.. introduced the resolution to adopt the Declaration of Independence in June of 1776.