Changes

== Continental Congress ==

== Continental Congress ==

[[Image:StocktonStatue.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Statue of Richard Stockton at the [[U. S. Capitol]]]]

[[Image:StocktonStatue.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Statue of Richard Stockton at the [[U. S. Capitol]]]]

In September of 1767 he returned to New Jersey, where in 1768 he became a member of the [[Royal Executive Council]] of that colony.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/><ref name=AOC>Authors unknown. "[http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/nsh/stockton.cfm Entry for Richard Stockton]." ''Architect of the Capitol'', 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2007.</ref> Stockton once refused, in writing, to serve as a public official "till I am convinced that by neglecting my own affairs I am doing more acceptable Service to God and Man."<ref name=AOC/> Nevertheless in 1774 he was made a Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.<ref name=AOC/> Also in that year, he drafted and set to [[Lord Dartmouth]] a plan for making America a semi-autonomous polity, "independent of [[Parliament]], without renouncing allegiance to the Crown."<ref name=AOC/>

In September of 1767 he returned to New Jersey, where in 1768 he became a member of the [[Royal Executive Council]] of that colony.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/><ref name=AOC>Authors unknown. "[http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/nsh/stockton.cfm Entry for Richard Stockton]." ''Architect of the Capitol'', 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2007.</ref> Stockton once refused, in writing, to serve as a public official "till I am convinced that by neglecting my own affairs I am doing more acceptable Service to God and Man."<ref name=AOC/> Nevertheless, in 1774 he was made a Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.<ref name=AOC/> Also in that year, he drafted and set to [[Lord Dartmouth]] a plan for making America a semi-autonomous polity, "independent of [[Parliament]], without renouncing allegiance to the Crown."<ref name=AOC/>

Eventually, however, the intractability of the situation between America and Britain would alter his stance. In 1776 he was elected as a [[delegate]] to the [[Continental Congress]].<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/><ref name=AOC/> He arrived in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], in time to participate in the debate over the [[Declaration of Independence]]. At first he was not disposed to sign the Declaration, though he and Witherspoon had strict instructions to vote for independence.<ref name=Signers/> But [[John Adams]] persuaded him to sign with his eloquence.<ref name=Lives/>

Eventually, however, the intractability of the situation between America and Britain would alter his stance. In 1776 he was elected as a [[delegate]] to the [[Continental Congress]].<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/><ref name=AOC/> He arrived in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], in time to participate in the debate over the [[Declaration of Independence]]. At first he was not disposed to sign the Declaration, though he and Witherspoon had strict instructions to vote for independence.<ref name=Signers/> But [[John Adams]] persuaded him to sign with his eloquence.<ref name=Lives/>