Changes

Delegate [[John Adams]] stated:

Delegate [[John Adams]] stated:

{{cquote|Delegate John Adams of Massachusetts. the man who probably did more to get independence declared said this prior to the vote:

{{cquote|‘Sink of swim, live or die, survive of perish, I give my hand and heart for this vote…. You and I indeed may rue it.  We may not live to the time when this Declaration shall be made good.  We may die; die colonists; die slaves; die, it may be ignominiously and on the scaffold.  Be it so, be it so

 

‘Sink of swim, live or die, survive of perish, I give my hand and heart for this vote…. You and I indeed may rue it.  We may not live to the time when this Declaration shall be made good.  We may die; die colonists; die slaves; die, it may be ignominiously and on the scaffold.  Be it so, be it so

“If it be the pleasure of Heaven that my country shall require the poor offering of my life, the victim shall be ready…. But while I do live, let me have a country, or at least the hope of a country and that of a free country…

“If it be the pleasure of Heaven that my country shall require the poor offering of my life, the victim shall be ready…. But while I do live, let me have a country, or at least the hope of a country and that of a free country…