On this Independence Day I would like to give a shout out to John Dickinson. While we remember today those who signed the document and voted for the independence resolution it is also good of us to understand that the sentiment towards independence was not unanimous. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania was a patriot and he lead the opposition to the independence resolution. He felt that independence was a dangerous and unnecessary step and that it would lead the American Colonies open to ruin and domination from foreign powers. Although his arguments were sound with hindsight we can be thankful that he lost the debate. Why I say he is a patriot is for what he did after he lost the debate. Upon independence he left the Continental Congress and joined the militia. He continued to be involved in Pennsylvania politics and in 1787 he returned to Philadelphia as a delegate from Delaware to the Convention that was called to revise the Articles of Confederation. He had a hand in drafting the Constitution. He is a patriot to Americans because he did not let his defeat make him bitter. Nor did he become a Loyalist. Instead he continued to fight for the well being of his country long after what would be considered his ultimate political failure. Today we remember the men who swore the to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to independence. Let us also remember those like John Dickinson.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 21:36:00 +0000
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