June 30, 1776

In four days we will celebrate the birth of our nation. For 236 years the United States of America has been a beacon of freedom shining around the world, but it was not without great pains. On this day in 1776 a motion had been put forward for a vote in the Continental Congress to declare independence.

The motion, presented by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on June 7th, read in part: "resolved, that these colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that hey are absolved of all 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."

Nine of the thirteen colonies voted in favor of the resolution while two voted against and New York abstained. Three weeks earlier, the Congress voted to postpone further discussion of Lee's proposal but it also decided to form a committee to prepare announcing and explaining independence in the event that Lee's resolution was approved when it was brought up again in July.

The vote on this day 236 years ago was in danger of not having unanimous support with one of Delaware's voting in favor and a second against. The third and deciding vote that would give the passing of the resolution laid with Brigader-General Caesar Rodney, commander of that colony's militia.

Like Paul Revere, Caesar Rodney became famous for his midnight ride. Rodney's ride ended at the doorstep of Independence Hall where he cast the decisive Delaware vote for Independence. He had been forced back to the colony in his role as military commander to quell a riot by Loyalists. On June 30th he received word his vote was desperately needed in Congress. All night, as the first of July turned into the second, Rodney rode through a thunderstorm. He covered 80 miles and arrived in time to cast his vote in Independence Hall.

Years later Thomas McKean, another Delaware delegate remembered meeting him at the door "in his boots and spurs."

The vote of June 30th will forever be recorded in our history books but greatly overshadowed by the event of four days later.