On this the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, many people will only associate our founding document with Thomas Jefferson. But there were other courageous and extraordinary men that made the Declaration possible.
We sometimes forget the courage and sacrifice of the others who were willing to put everything on the line, and in the case of those who signed, literally on the signature line. There were 56 men that signed the Declaration of Independence knowing that, if the Revolution failed, they were signing their death warrant.
But for the extraordinary efforts of one man, there might not have been a Declaration of Independence for the others to sign. It is his story that deserves to be told because it reminds us that history often turns on the willingness of ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
It is the story of Caesar Rodney of Delaware.
In the summer of 1776, the Continental Congress was deeply divided over whether to declare independence from Great Britain. When the delegates met to decide for or against declaring independence, the vote was tied. Rodney, a delegate from Delaware and a strong advocate for independence, was not there.
When word reached him that his vote was urgently needed, Rodney mounted his horse and rode through the night, riding nearly 80 miles during a violent thunderstorm and over muddy roads. He arrived in Philadelphia on the morning of July 2, exhausted but determined.
Rodney was suffering from severe asthma and facial cancer, illnesses that caused him constant pain. Yet neither the weather nor his health prevented him from answering the call.
When the vote was taken, Rodney cast Delaware's deciding vote in favor of independence.
That single vote changed the course of human history. Two days later, on July 4th, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.
America's founding is filled with similar stories of men and women who believed liberty was worth personal sacrifice. They understood that freedom carries responsibility. They knew future generations would either enjoy the blessings they secured or suffer the consequences of their failure.
As we commemorate this historic anniversary, we should recommit ourselves to preserving the constitutional republic entrusted to us. The preamble to our Constitution describes the founding intent “to form a more perfect union.” That is more than an aspiration; it is an obligation imposed upon every generation of Americans, an obligation to protect and preserve the liberty that Americans through two-and-a-half centuries have fought and died for, to preserve it for us. We do our part by voting and participating as faithful citizens to ensure that we have good and just leaders. We do it with our service in the military or as first responders or service in voluntary groups, and yes, in elected office. And we maintain the foundations for a great nation through strong families, vibrant communities, and a willingness to stand for what is right, even when it is unpopular.
Rodney did not know that his ride would become one of the defining moments in American history. He simply understood that his country needed him, and he answered the call.
For 250 years, Americans have benefited from the courage of those who came before us. America still needs people with that same sense of duty, with that same courage and determination to ensure that America continues to be “a shining city on a hill” that makes us like no other nation in the history of the world. The future of our republic depends on it.
Congressman Gary Palmer represents the Sixth District of Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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