4th of July - Did you know this?

From The News Buckit:

Fifty-six brave men made history in Philadelphia 231 years ago.
Most Americans know basic information about the most famous of these men. Most know that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Most know that John Hancock signed his name large enough so that the king of England could read it without his spectacles, and that other patriots like John and Samuel Adams were there. Some even know that Ben Franklin said, "We must all hang together, or most assuredly, we will all hang separately."

But what about the other 51 signers? Who were they? Their names may be forgotten, but their sacrifices live on as powerful testimonies of the price that was paid to found this country. The stories of all 56 men can be found in the book Greatness to Spare by T. R. Fehrenbach, but I believe the best examples of sacrifice come from the signers from New York and New Jersey.

In late 1776, the British captured New York City. They found out which New Yorkers were in the Continental Congress and immediately pursued them.

Francis Lewis was not at home when the British arrived, but his wife was. The British captured her and treated her brutally. Even though she was eventually set free, her health had deteriorated so much that she died shortly after release.

Philip Livingston's houses were occupied by the British and his family was forced to flee. His health failed, and he did not live to see American victory.

William Floyd’s possessions were stolen and his property destroyed. Floyd's wife died before the war ended.

Lewis Morris also lost his house and property. Morris owned about 1,000 acres of forestland, which the British clear-cut.

The signers from New Jersey did not fare any better.

John Hart's wife was on her deathbed when Hart was forced to leave her side to escape. He lived as a fugitive. The British offered him a pardon if he would simply surrender and swear allegiance to the Crown. He refused. When he was finally able to return home, his wife was dead and his thirteen children were missing. He never found all of his family again and died soon thereafter.

John Witherspoon's house was plundered and his library of more than 300 books was burned. His son was also killed in the Battle of Germantown.

Richard Stockton evacuated his family, but he was recognized by a British sympathizer. The British arrived, captured him and looted his estate. Stockton was eventually released, but he was in poor health. It was not long before he died.

Two of Abraham Clark's sons served in the army. Both were captured, brutally treated and even starved. The British offered to release his sons if he deserted the American cause. He refused. Thankfully, both of Clark's sons were eventually released alive.

The commitment that the Signers possessed can be summed up by Thomas Nelson, a Virginia signer who lived in Yorktown. Throughout the war, he donated money, food and horses to the military. In 1781, the British General Cornwallis was trapped at Yorktown. Nelson was on the front lines and noticed that the Americans were bombarding everything except his house, which was being used as a British headquarters. Nelson ordered that the cannons be lowered and that his house be leveled to the ground. The resulting onslaught killed several officers, and days later, the British surrendered. But America never repaid Nelson, and he died bankrupt.

Greatness to Spare finishes with a moving summary:


Fifty-six Americans pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

It was no idle pledge. Nine Signers died of wounds or hardships during the Revolutionary War.

Five were captured or imprisoned, in some cases with brutal treatment.

The wives, sons, and daughters of others were killed, jailed, mistreated, persecuted, or left penniless. One was driven from his wife's deathbed and lost all his children.

The houses of twelve Signers were burned to the ground. Seventeen lost everything they owned.

Every Signer was proscribed as a traitor; every one was hunted. Most were driven into flight; most were at one time or another barred from their families or homes.

Most were offered immunity, freedom, rewards, their property, or the lives and release of loved ones to break their pledged word or to take the King's protection. Their fortunes were forfeit, but their honor was not. No Signer defected, or changed his stand, throughout the darkest hours. Their honor, like the nation, remained intact.
Because of their actions 231 years ago, some of the 56 men lost their lives. Some lost their fortunes. But not a single man lost his honor. So as we celebrate today, remember the stories of the brave men who declared our independence and remember the price they paid so that we could live free.
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The Klown was reminded today -- that conservatives are always outnumbered. Even in the days of the Bill of Rights, the majority of people didn't want independence from Great Britain. Such and same are the liberals of today ... promoters of appeasement ... fairies ... frozen in ineptitude ... content to be ruled by political correctness and prepared to allow other men to take their liberty from them ... or be defended by stronger, more resolute men ... either way, adrift in a sea of mediocrity ... and happy to be there ... jackasses.