This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE

This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.

Yesterday we marked the 237th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

History has given Thomas Jefferson all the credit for the writing of this valuable document, but that is not necessarily true.

A five man committee was delegated by the Continental Congress in mid-June to draft a document supporting Richard Henry Lee of Virginia who had moved that the states should be free. The committee consisted of Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Roger Livingstone.

The committee discussed what the resolution should say. They spent considerable time offering a number of ideas that should be incorporated in the document.

Then they nominated Jefferson to put their ideas into writing. In his second floor lodging in a brick house in Philadelphia, Jefferson applied himself to his desk. Using a portable writing desk which he himself had designed he fashioned the now immortal Declaration of Independence. The four other members of the committee had a number of suggested changes which were added to the document in Jefferson’s handwriting.

July 2 Congress passed the Lee resolution, and Jefferson read his document to the body. Discussion of the document consumed two days during which Adams strongly supported it. He was a dynamic speaker while Jefferson, an accomplished writer, was a poor public speaker.

Adams became Vice President under George Washington. Jefferson’s wife Martha died during childbirth and he later became Minister to France for five years.

Adams, meantime, felt that he also should have had some credit for the Declaration of Independence. A long feud began between the two men. On his return Jefferson became Secretary of State under Washington.

The two men differed greatly on the role the federal government

Play. Adams felt it should be all powerful while Jefferson wanted a small government. The two differed on a number of issues and when Washington chose not to run for a third term…..Adams defeated Jefferson for the office.\ However Adams continued the entire Washington cabinet in office, including Jefferson. During his term France and England engaged in war and while Adams favored England...Jefferson supported France, even though the French were halting American ships and taking any British sailors. Adams remained neutral, but later published letters showing France trying to dictate to America. This set off a storm of protest against Adams.

At one time Adams left Philadelphia for his home in Quincy and ran the country for eight months from there.

When the election of 1800 rolled around the ticket of Jefferson and Aaron Burr received the most votes. Since both got the same votes the House of Representatives named Jefferson president.

Adams retired to Quincy but was very critical of Jefferson for a number of years.

In their closing years both renewed their earlier friendship.

On the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826 both Adams and Jefferson died on the same day.\

John Adams was 91 and Thomas Jefferson was 83.

John Quincy Adams, John Adams son now the President reported:;

“They departed, cheered by the benedictions of their country, to whom they left the inheritance of their fame, and the memory of their bright examples.”

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.

$Text Box: This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE. Yesterday we marked the 237th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. History has given Thomas Jefferson all the credit for the writing of this valuable document, but that is not necessarily true. A five man committee was delegated by the Continental Congress in mid-June to draft a document supporting Richard Henry Lee of Virginia who had moved that the states should be free. The committee consisted of Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Roger Livingstone. The committee discussed what the resolution should say. They spent considerable time offering a number of ideas that should be incorporated in the document. Then they nominated Jefferson to put their ideas into writing. In his second floor lodging in a brick house in Philadelphia, Jefferson applied himself to his desk. Using a portable writing desk which he himself had designed he fashioned the now immortal Declaration of Independence. The four other members of the committee had a number of suggested changes which were added to the document in Jefferson’s handwriting. July 2 Congress passed the Lee resolution, and Jefferson read his document to the body. Discussion of the document consumed two days during which Adams strongly supported it. He was a dynamic speaker while Jefferson, an accomplished writer, was a poor public speaker. Adams became Vice President under George Washington. Jefferson’s wife Martha died during childbirth and he later became Minister to France for five years. Adams, meantime, felt that he also should have had some credit for the Declaration of Independence. A long feud began between the two men. On his return Jefferson became Secretary of State under Washington. The two men differed greatly on the role the federal government Play. Adams felt it should be all powerful while Jefferson wanted a small government. The two differed on a number of issues and when Washington chose not to run for a third term…..Adams defeated Jefferson for the office.\ However Adams continued the entire Washington cabinet in office, including Jefferson. During his term France and England engaged in war and while Adams favored England...Jefferson supported France, even though the French were halting American ships and taking any British sailors. Adams remained neutral, but later published letters showing France trying to dictate to America. This set off a storm of protest against Adams. At one time Adams left Philadelphia for his home in Quincy and ran the country for eight months from there. When the election of 1800 rolled around the ticket of Jefferson and Aaron Burr received the most votes. Since both got the same votes the House of Representatives named Jefferson president. Adams retired to Quincy but was very critical of Jefferson for a number of years. In their closing years both renewed their earlier friendship. On the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826 both Adams and Jefferson died on the same day.\ John Adams was 91 and Thomas Jefferson was 83. John Quincy Adams, John Adams son now the President reported:; “They departed, cheered by the benedictions of their country, to whom they left the inheritance of their fame, and the memory of their bright examples.” This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.$