The resolutions of independency of June 7th, introduced by R. H. Lee, in accordance with instructions from Virginia,[703] are not preserved either in the MS. or printed journals, and John Adams tells us (Works, iii. 45) much was purposely kept out of the records; but they have been found in the secretary's files, and are given in fac-simile in Force (4th ser., vi. p. 1700). Of the proceedings and debates which followed we have, beside the printed journals (i. 365, 392), three manuscript journals.[704] For details we must go to the memoranda made by Jefferson from notes taken near the time.[705] There seems no doubt that John Adams was the leading advocate of the Declaration[706] and such traces as are found of other speakers are noted in Bancroft, orig. ed., viii. 349; Wells's Sam. Adams, ii. 413, 433; Randall's Jefferson, i. 182. Bancroft draws John Adams's character with some vigor (viii. 309). Dickinson made the main speech against Adams. Bancroft abridges it from Dickinson's own report (viii. 452); Ramsay (i. 339) sketched it. (Cf. Niles's Principles, 1876, p. 400, and John Adams's Works, iii. 54.) Adams thought Dickinson's printed speech very different from the one delivered. Galloway, in his Examination before Parliament, gave only the flying rumors of what passed. The later writers summarize the debates and proceedings.[707]
There is some confusion in later days in the memory of participants, by which the decision for independence on July 2d is not kept quite distinct from the formal expression of it on July 4th. (Cf. McKean in John Adams, x. 88.)
It was the New York, and not the New Jersey, delegates who were not instructed to vote for the Declaration (Wells, i. 226). The position of New York is explained by W. L. Stone in Harper's Mag., July, 1883. The instructions from Pennsylvania and Delaware came late.[708]
ROGER SHERMAN
After a painting owned by a descendant in New Haven. Cf. portrait by Earle in Sanderson's Signers in Brotherhead's Book of Signers (1861), p. 75, will be found a view of his house. He was of the Committee to draft the Declaration of Independence.
Notwithstanding that the statements of both Jefferson (Writings, Boston, 1830, vol. i. 20, etc.) and Adams, made at a later day (Autobiography), and the printed Journals of Congress, seem to the effect that the Declaration was signed by the members present on July 4, 1776, it is almost certain that such was not the case.