1776 Page #4

Whoa!

"From the Commander, army of the

United Colonies to New York,

"dispatch number 1, 137."

Ah, sweet Jesus!

"To the Honorable Congress,

John Hancock, president.

"Dear sir, it is with grave apprehension

that I have learned this day

"of the sailing from Halifax,

Nova Scotia,

"of a considerable force

of British troops

"in the company of

foreign mercenaries

"and under the command

of General Sir William Howe."

"There can be no doubt that

their destination is New York,

"for to take and hold this city

and the Hudson Valley beyond

"would serve to separate New England

from the rest of the colonies,

"permitting both sections

to be crushed in turn.

"Sadly, I see no way of stopping

them at the present time,

"as my army is

absolutely falling apart.

"My military chest

is totally exhausted.

"My commissary general has

strained his credit to the last.

"My quartermaster has no food,

no arms, no ammunition,

"and my troops are in

a state of near mutiny.

"I pray God some relief arrives

"before the armada,

but fear it will not.

"Your obedient,

"G. Washington."

Mr. President!

Colonel McKean.

Surely we have

managed to promote

the gloomiest man on this continent

to the head of our troops.

Those dispatches are the

most depressing accumulation

of disaster, doom and despair in the

entire annals of military history.

Colonel McKean, please!

What?

It's too hot.

Well, I suppose so.

General Washington will continue

wording his dispatches as he sees fit.

And I'm sure we all pray

he finds happier thoughts

to convey in the near future.

Mr. Thomson,

are there any resolutions?

Dr. Josiah Bartlett

of New Hampshire.

"Resolved, that for the duration

of the present hostilities,

"the Congress discourage every type

of extravagance and dissipation,

"elaborate funerals and

other expensive diversions,

"especially all

horse racing, gambling,

"and other forms of

sinful activity, which..."

Fire wagon!

Where's the fire?

Can anybody tell?

Looks like the Pemberton House.

It couldn't be.

It's brand new.

It might be the city tavern.

Bite your tongue, man.

Whoo-hoo!

Benjy, I'm back!

I'm back, Johnny!

Richard, lad, welcome back.

Lee, is it done?

First things first. Tom!

Tom! Tom, your little bride wants

to know, "When's he coming home?"

I leave tonight.

Never mind that, man.

Is it done?

Done? Why, certain-Lee.

Mr. President, I have returned from

Virginia with the following resolution,

"Resolved, that these united colonies

are, and of a right ought to be,

"free and independent states,

"that they are absolved from

allegiance to the British Crown,

"and that all political

connection between them

"and the state of

Great Britain is,

"and ought to be,

totally dissolved."

Hear, hear!

Mr. President,

I second the proposal.

The resolution has been

proposed and seconded.

The chair will now

entertain debate.

Mr. Dickinson.

Mr. President.

Pennsylvania moves, as always,

that the question of independence

be postponed indefinitely.

I second the motion.

Judge Wilson,

in your eagerness to be loved,

you seem to have forgotten

that Pennsylvania

cannot second its own motion.

Delaware seconds.

You would, you lousy wart.

The motion to postpone

has been moved and seconded.

Mr. Thomson.

On the motion to

postpone indefinitely

the resolution on independency

or proceed with the debate,

all those in favor

of debate say "yea,"

all those for

postponement say "nay."

New Hampshire?

New Hampshire favors debate,

and says yea.

New Hampshire says yea.

Massachusetts?

Massachusetts, having borne the

brunt of the King's tyranny...

Yes, I said tyranny!

Massachusetts now,

and for all time, says yea.

Massachusetts says yea.

Rhode Island?

Mr. Hopkins?

Where's Rhode Island?

Rhode Island is out

visiting the necessary.

After what Rhode Island's consumed,

I can't say I'm surprised.

We'll come back to him,

Mr. Thomson.

Rhode Island passes.

Connecticut?

While Connecticut has, till now,

been against this proposal,

our legislature has instructed

me that in the event

it is introduced by any colony

outside of New England,

we could not any longer withhold

our support. Connecticut says yea.

Hear! Hear!

Connecticut says yea.

New York?

New York abstains courteously.

New York abstains.

Courteously.

New Jersey?

Absent, Mr. Secretary.

New Jersey's absent.

Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania,

for the 24th time, says nay.

Pennsylvania says nay.

Delaware?

Delaware, as ever

for independence, says yea.

Delaware says yea.

Maryland?

Maryland would welcome

independence if it were given,

but is highly skeptical

that it can be taken.

Maryland says nay.

Maryland says nay.

Virginia?

Virginia, the first colony,

says yea!

Virginia says yea.

North Carolina?

North Carolina respectfully

yields to South Carolina.

South Carolina?

Mr. President,

although we of South Carolina

have never seriously considered

the question of independence,

when a gentleman proposes it,

attention must be paid.

However, we in the Deep South,

unlike our friends

in New England,

have no cause for impatience

at the present time.

If at some future date it becomes the

wish of all our sister colonies,

to effect a separation,

we will not stand in the way.

But for the time being,

South Carolina

will wait and watch.

The vote is nay.

North Carolina...

Says nay.

Yes, Mr. Hewes. I know.

Georgia.

Mr. President,

Georgia seems to be split

right down the middle

on this issue.

The people are against it,

and I'm for it.

However, I'm afraid

I'm not quite certain

whether representing

the people means

relying on their judgment

or on my own.

In all fairness,

until I can figure that out,

I'd better lean

a little on their side.

Georgia says nay.

Rhode Island?

Second call, Rhode Island!

Rhode Island!

I'm coming!

I'm coming!

Hold your damn horses.

We're waiting on you,

Mr. Hopkins.

Well, it won't kill you.

You'd think the Congress

would have its own privy.

All right, where does she stand?

Five for debate,

five for postponement,

one abstention and one absence.

So it's up to me, huh?

Well, I'll tell you.

In all my years, I never seen,

heard nor smelled an issue

that was so dangerous

it couldn't be talked about.

Hell, yes! I'm for debating anything.

Rhode Island says yea.

McNair, get Mr. Hopkins a rum.

McNAIR:
But you said...

Get him the whole

damn barrel if he wants.

The chair now declares this

Congress a committee of the whole

for the purpose of debating Virginia's

resolution on independence.

Mr. Dickinson.

Well, now, you've got your

way at last, Mr. Adams.

The matter may now be discussed.

I confess I'm almost relieved.

There's a question I've been

fairly itching to ask you.

Why?

Why what, Mr. Dickinson?

Well, why independence,

Mr. Adams?

Well, for the obvious reason

that our continued association

with Great Britain

has grown intolerable.

Well, to whom,

Mr. Adams? To you?

Rate this script:2.7 / 3 votes