THOMAS McKEAN. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--Until this moment the vote for Delaware has been in doubt. George Read, my colleague, will vote against independence. But thank God the timely arrival of Caesar Rodney who joins me in voting for independence, places Delaware on the right side of this question. To make sure of this I sent an express rider at my own expense to Dover, Delaware, for Mr. Rodney. He has come eighty miles on horseback at post-haste. He has not had time to change his riding attire, but he is here in time to join me in voting for independence. Posterity will erect a monument in his honor[17] as they will to that other famous revolutionary rider--Paul Revere. Mr. President, under the rule as stated by Mr. Franklin governing the votes of colonies in this Congress, Delaware votes _aye_. (_Shouts of "Hurrah for Delaware! Long live Thomas McKean and Caesar Rodney!"_) SECRETARY THOMSON. Maryland! SAMUEL CHASE. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--Maryland has passed through a similar struggle to that in Pennsylvania as described by Mr. Franklin. An appeal has been made to every county committee and one after another they have directed their representatives in the state convention to vote for new instructions to the delegates in this Congress. At last the old instructions against independence have been canceled and new instructions given us in an unanimous resolve to vote for independence. See the glorious effect of county instructions! Our people have fire if not smothered. And, therefore, Maryland votes _aye_. (_Shouts of "Three cheers for Maryland and Samuel Chase!"_) SECRETARY THOMSON. Virginia! BENJAMIN HARRISON. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--Virginia is here with a solid delegation for independence. Our battle cry has been so well stated by Mr. Henry that we need but to repeat it now--Liberty or Death! Virginia votes _aye_. (_Shouts of "Three cheers for Virginia! Long live Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry!"_) SECRETARY THOMSON. North Carolina! JOSEPH HEWES. Mr. President and Gentlemen:--We have had a hard struggle in North Carolina between aristocracy on one hand and democracy on the other. But at last the people have won and North Carolina votes _aye_. (_Shouts of "Three cheers for North Carolina!_") [Illustration: From the painting by Trumbull THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS] SECRETARY THOMSON. South Carolina!