All language subtitles for Self-command 1959 --

And independency

Heigh, heigh, heigh

Heigh

Ya da da da la

Through eternity

He plays the violin

Violin

Pennsylvania, Delaware...

Maryland...
Virginia's absent...

and North Carolina,
South Carolina and Georgia.

And what follows is a complete
and up-to-date list...

of all the committees
of this Congress...

now sitting, about to sit
or just having sat.

A committee formed to investigate
a complaint made against...

the quality of yeast manufactured
by Mr. Henry Pendleton's mill...

designated as the Yeast Committee.

A committee formed to consider the most
effective method of dealing with spies...

designated as
the Spies Committee.

A committee formed
to think, perhaps to do...

but in any case, to gather,
to meet, to confer, to talk...

and perhaps even to resolve
that each rifle regiment...

be allowed at least one drum and
one fife attached to each company...

designated as
the Drum and Fife Committee.

A commitee formed to...

Where is that committee?

What do you think of it,
Doctor? Democracy.

What Plato called
a charming form of government...

full of variety and disorder.

I never knew Plato
had been to Philadelphia.

Ben, I want you to see some cards
I've gone and had printed up.

Oughta save everybody here
a lot of time and effort...

considering the epidemic of
bad disposition that's been going on.

Dear sir, you are, without any doubt,
a rogue, a rascal...

a villain, a thief, a scoundrel
and a mean, dirty...

stinking, sniveling, sneaking,
pimping, saqueador...

thrice double-damned
no-good son-of-a-bitch.

And you sign your name.
What do you think?

- I'll take a dozen right now.
- Aha! Here it is.

A committee formed to answer
all congressional correspondence...

designated as the Congressional
Correspondence Committee.

All right, Franklin, enough socializing.
There's work to be done.

- Good morning, John.
- What?

- Good morning.
- Oh, good morning, good morning.

- Now, then, let's get to it.
- Get to what?

Unanimity, of course.
Look at that board.

Six nays to win over
in little more than a week.

A commitee formed to consider
the problem of counterfeit money...

designated as the
Counterfeit Money Committee.

- Oh, God! What...
- All right, John, all right.

- Where shall we start?
- Well, what about Delaware?

Sad thing to see them on the wrong side
after all this time.

- Any news of Rodney?
- Yes. McKean's back.

- Thomas!
- A committee formed to study...

the causes of our military defeat
in Canada.

Thomas, how did you leave Caesar?
Is he still alive?

Aye, but the journey to Dover
was fearful hard on him.

He never complained, but I could see
the poor man was sufferin' terrible.

But you got him safely home.

I did, but I doubt he'll never
set foot out of it again.

That leaves you and Read split
down the middle. Will he come over?

I don't know.
He's a stubborn ignoramus.

Work on him. Keep after him
till you wear him down.

John, face facts, will ya? If it were
just Read standin' in our way...

it wouldn't be so bad,
but look for yourself, man.

Maryland, Pennsylvania
and the entire South. It's impossible!

Well, it's impossible if we all
stand around complaining about it.

To work, McKean!
One foot in front of the other!

I believe I put it a better way:
Never leave off until tomorrow...

Oh, shut up, Franklin.

But what good will it do?

You know Dickinson.
He'll never give in.

And you haven't heard
the last of Rutledge either.

Never mind about them.
Your job is George Read.

Talk him deaf if you have to,
but bring us back Delaware.

- There's a simpler way.
- What?

- This'll break the tie.
- All right, John, who's next?

A committee formed
to keep secrets...

designated as
the Secrets Committee.

Pennsylvania and Maryland. I suggest
you get your own house in order...

and I'll take a crack
at old vacant-face...

Lord, look at him stuff himself.

Ah, Mr. Chase!

How about it, Chase? When are you
coming to your senses, man?

Please, Mr. Adams,
not while I'm eating.

Mr. Wilson, sir?

It's time to assert yourself.

Tell me something.
When you were a judge...

how in hell did you ever
make a decision?

The decisions I made were all based
on legality and precedence.

But there is no legality here
and certainly no precedent.

Because it's a new idea, you clot!

We'll be setting
our own precedent!

No, Mr. McKean.
No, no, no!

Damn your eyes, Read!
You come into this world screamin' no...

and you're determined to leave it
the same way, ya slimy worm!

The Congress is
waiting on you, Chase!

America is waiting!
The whole world is waiting!

What's that? Kidney?

Leave me alone, Mr. Adams!
You're wasting your time.

If I thought we could win this war,
I'd be at the front of your ranks...

but you must know
it's impossible.

You've heard
General Washington's dispatches.

His army has fallen to pieces.

Washington is exaggerating
the situation...

in order to arouse
this torpid Congress into action.

Why, as chairman of the War Committee,
I can state for a fact...

that the army has never been
in better shape.

Never have troops
been more cheerful.

Never have soldiers
been more resolute.

Never have training and discipline
been more spirited.

Oh, good God.

May we have your ears, gentlemen?
Mr. Thomson has a dispatch.

From the commander, army of
the United Colonies in New York...

dispatch number 1,157...

to the Honorable Congress,
John Hancock, President. Dear sir...

it is with the utmost despair
that I must report to you...

the disorder and confusion
that reign in every department.

Oh, sweetJesus!

The Continental soldier
is as nothing ever seen...

in this or any other century.

He is a misfit,
ignorant of hygiene...

destructive, disorderly and
totally disrespectful of rank.

Only this last is understandable...

as there is an incredible reek
of stupidity amongst the officers.

The situation is most desperate...

at the New Jersey training ground
in New Brunswick...

where every
able-bodied whore in the...

Whore?

In the colonies has assembled.

There are constant reports of
drunkenness, desertion, foul language...

naked bathing
in the Raritan River...

and an epidemic...

of the French disease.

I have placed this town off-limits
to all military personnel...

with the exception of officers.

I beseech the Congress to dispatch
the War Committee to this place...

in the hope of restoring some of the
order and discipline we need to survive.

Your obedient...

G. Washington.

That man would depress a hyena.

Well, Mr. Adams, you're chairman
of the War Committee.

Do you feel up to whoring, drinking,
deserting and New Brunswick?

There must be some mistake. I have
an aunt who lives in New Brunswick.

You must tell her
to keep up the good work.

Come, come, Mr. Adams.

You must see
that it's hopeless.

Let us recall
General Washington...

and disband the Continental Army
before we're overwhelmed.

Oh, yes, indeed. The English
would like that, now, wouldn't they?

Why not ask them yourself?
They ought to be here any minute.

And when they hang you,
Mr. Adams...

I hope you will put in a good word
for the rest of us.

Face facts, Mr. Adams.

A handful of drunk and disorderly
recruits against the British Army...

the finest musket men
on earth.

How can we win?
How can we even hope to survive?

Answer me straight, Chase.

If you thought
we could beat the Redcoats...

would Maryland say yea
to independence?

- Well, I suppose...
- No supposing.

Would you or wouldn't you?

Very well, Mr. Adams.

Yes, we would.

- Then come and see for yourself.
- John, are you mad?

You heard what Washington said.
It's a shambles.

- They're pushing you into it, Johnny!
- What do you say, Chase?

Go ahead, Sam.
It sounds lively as hell up there.

All right. Why not?

And maybe it'll beJohn Adams
who comes to his senses.

Mr. President, the War Committee
will heed General Washington's request.

A party consisting of Chase, Franklin
and myself will leave immediately.

Is, uh...

Is that satisfactory with you,
Dr. Franklin?

Wake up, Franklin!
You're going to New Brunswick.

- Like hell I am. What for?
- The whoring and the drinking.

All right, Chase! Move all that lard.
Not a moment to lose.

Left, right, left, right.
Left, right, left, right.

Left, right, left!

Mr. McNair, all this talk
of independence...

has left a certain
foulness in the air.

My friends and I would appreciate it
if you could open some windows.

Well, what about the flies?

The windows, Mr. McNair.

Open the windows,
close the windows.

SweetJesus!

Oh, say, do you see
what I see

Congress sitting here
in sweet serenity

I could cheer
The reason's clear

For the first time in a year

Adams isn't here

And look
The sun is in the sky

A breeze is blowing by

And there's not a single fly

I sing, Hosanna

Hosanna

Hosanna, Hosanna

And it's cool

Come, ye cool, cool
conservative men

Our like may never, ever
be seen again

We have land
Cash in hand

and a promise is a promise.

Yeah, but they's
something we could do.

It's too late now.
But don't you worry none.

Earthquake is bound to be
a good man,

once he's married up with you.

It ain't never gonna be like it
could've been with you.

I know, Daisy.

I know.

Oh, Abner.

I wish it could be otherwise

Otherwise, I'm sorry we met at all

I'm sorry we ever had to start with

Those wonderful dreams
You broke my heart with

! wish there was some other way

Like it is
Our backs is against the wall

Just seems that

- Fate put this heart of mine
- Fate put this heart of mine

- Under some Injun sign
- Under some Injun sign

- Or otherwise, you'd still be mine
- Or otherwise, you'd still be mine

- All mine
- All mine

- Or otherwise
- Or otherwise

- You'd still be mine
- You'd still be mine

Time, Daisy.

I done it.

It was all my fault.

I ruined my own boy.

- Mammy, I got something to say.
- Hush.

I never should've give
Abner that tonic.

- I should've known--
- Now, Mammy, I'm gonna be heard.

I said, hush.

Why didn't I have more sense?

- Why didn't I realize--?
- Well, you gonna listen to me.

Would you hush up?

You little pipsqueak.

You hush up.

- What?
- For once, you gonna hush

and stay hushed.

I got some private talking
to do with my boy,

and by gum, I'm going to do it.

- But, Pappy, I was only gonna try--
- Now you get, woman, get.

I'll see when you when I get back
in Dogpatch.

If I takes a notion to.

- But, Pappy, I--
- Get!

I has spoken!

Boys, come in here.

Boys, come here.

I want you to listen to this
and listen careful

because I think I got a way how to get
you out of your miserable condition.

- Well, what is it?
- A special potion

developed by our beloved founder,
Jubilation T. Cornpone.

Oh, Pappy, we've taken enough tonics
and potions already.

Yes, but you haven't taken
Cornpone's powerfully potent,

perpetually passionizing
and romanticizing potion.

Pappy, could that potion
romanticize me

and put these boys back
the way they was?

Well, son, all I can tell you is
that when I was your age,

I had a mite of your trouble myself,
so I took me a little swig of that potion.

- And what happened?
- As I wiped my lips,

your sweet, ugly little Mammy
come a-walking by.

And I can only tell you that that
dried-up, sawed-off little creature

looked to me like Lillian Russell,
Gloria Swanson

and a plate of pork chops
rolled into one.

What are we waiting for? Come on.

Just a minute.

There's one mighty special
and important condition

that goes with this potion.

You see, it only works
if you really wants it to work.

Oh, I does, Pappy,

more than anything else
in the whole world.

Well, then get a-going. That wedding
ain't waiting for man or beast,

and with Earthquake,
that covers both ends.

Right. Come on.

Western Union, please.

I wants to send a telegram
to Marryin' Sam, Dogpatch, U.S.A.

Message?

Well, just three words:

Stall, stall, stall.

All right, Sam.
We only got 20 minutes.

So start festivitating the festivities.

Earthquake, why don't you wait
till we's relocated.

No, sir.
With all this shuffling around,

the queen liable to shuffle herself
right out in the deck.

Right, Cousin Romeo?

You're so right, Cousin McGoon.

- So start festivitating.
- Very well.

Dearly beloved,
we is gathered here today--

Earthquake, I can't do it.

Can't do what?

I can't shortchange you.

You wants a $8 wedding,
I gotta get into a $8 mood.

There's no way of knowing how long
it's gonna take me to get there.

I'm there.

Dearly beloved--

Dearly belove--

Dearly beloved--

Dearly beloved!

Come on, Sam,
we ain't got much time.

So hurry up and get down
to the I does-es.

Well, that's right, Sam, proceed.

Only I do wish, Earthie, dear,
that you'd wait

till all the rest of my kinfolk get here.

Account of this wedding
is gonna mean so much to them.

Why, of course, my dear.

With the bombing and all,
they just can't wait

to get into their nice, new home.

- Naturally.
- With their new, rich relative.

Most assuredly, my--

Rich relative? Who?

- Why, you, of course.
- Me?

You don't think a Scragg would let
another Scragg go homeless,

as long as they was related
to anyone as well-heeled

as the world's dirtiest wrestler.

You mean you want these
three miserable Scraggs

to come and live with us?

Why, of course.

You is a first-class provider,
Cousin McGoon.

- The others will be along directly.
- Others?

I sent Speedy McRabbit
out to tell them all the good news.

I knew you'd want it that way,
Earthie, dear.

- Well, no, I never counted on--
- Hi, Cousin Earthie!

Say, look who's here.

Why, it's Uncle Unbearable Scragg
and his three darling children,

Unthinkable, Unwashable
and Unhuman.

Say hello to your new, rich relative.

- Hi, Cousin Earthie.
- Thanks for the invite.

- When do we eat?
- Hi, cousin.

Why look who come out
of the swamp?

Hi, Cousin Earthie.

It's Unappetizing Scragg
and his two dazzling daughters,

Priceless and Liceless.

- Welcome to the family, cousin.
- He sure is generous.

Hi, Cousin Earthie.

Oh, well, upon my soul,
it's the Bar Harbor Scraggs.

Yeah, they've been barred
from every harbor in the country.

The children will be here
in the morning.

What time is you serving dinner?

Well, Sam, ain't you got
some marrying to do?

I sure has.

Well, batten down your hatches
and grab hold of each other

while I lets fly
with my $8 wedding.

Dearly beloved

We is gathered here today

He's startin' to dearly beloved

To put an unfortunate
Miserable critter away

Better he was hung first

Remember poor Adam
Who got married and so began

That miserable race of creatures

- Known as the married man
- Married man

Then think about Samson

- Who was Israel's strongest male
- The strongest

Till little Delilah went

- And give him a ponytail
- Ponytail

State your objections
Or forever hold your peace

He's telling you
State your objections

You signing a genuine, ironclad
Permanent lease

Never no escape clause

Don't let me influence you
In saying those fatal words

- Fatal words
- Just let me remind you

- Getting married is for the birds
- For the birds

Now if you still wants
This little gal as your lawful mate

By powers invested
I pronounces you man and--

Wait. Hold on there.

Hold it, Sam, stop the wedding.

That's right, stop the wedding.

Did you say, Stop the wedding?

That's right, I'm gonna claim
Daisy Mae for myself.

You'll laugh out of the other side
of your faces when Pappy gets here

with his Cornpone's passionizing
and romanticizing potion.

- There ain't no such potion.
- Oh, yes, there is.

Now, wait a minute.

Maybe there is and maybe there isn't,
but I gotta say something.

This here lovely young gal's been
in love with this fine boy all her life.

And even if it means giving up
my passport to ecstasy

and giving up
all these fine family ties,

I'm willing to make the sacrifice.

Hold on. What about our passport?

Besides, there ain't no such potion.

Oh, yes, they is. I've got it. I've got it.

- Here it is, son.
- Thanks, Pappy.

Now, remember, son, it only works
if you really and truly wants it to work.

Oh, I does, Pappy. I sure does.

What's in that jug, Pappy?

Just a little old creek water, Mammy.
Just some plain old creek water.

- Daisy.
- Oh, Abner.

Li'l Abner, does you take Daisy Mae
For your wife?

I does

- And, Daisy, is you agreed?
- I reckon I always was

And now with my blessings
I pronounces you--

Wait! Look who's here,
our big, oversized husbands.

Pappy, give me that jug.

Put them back
The way they was

Oh, they is back
The way they was

They's uncouth and unpleasant
But at least they is present

Doing things that we prefer

Welcome back the way you were

And now with my blessings,
I pronounces you--

Wait. Wait. Stop the wedding.

- Your time is up.
- But I'm almost done.

But the plane and the bomb
are on their way.

- But I got just three more words.
- Not a word, not a syllable.

Three itty-bitty words.

Out, do you hear me?
Out. On your way.

We're not leaving
without our statue of Jubilation.

- Right, Mayor Dawgmeat?
- Right. Let's go get our statue.

Yes, come on. Let's get our statue.

Take it easy, now. Don't hurt it.
Take it down.

Something fell out of the statue.

Hey, look, there's some writing here,

- signed Abraham Lincoln.
- There are trucks waiting--

Abraham Lincoln?

Here, just listen to this.

Because of his lack of strategy,
his military blunders,

and his general ineptness,

which almost single-handedly
enabled the North

to win this Civil War,

a grateful government
dedicates this statue

of General Jubilation T. Cornpone,

proclaiming it a national shrine.

Good heavens, it's a national shrine.

And you can't deface
a national shrine.

You can't deface it, you can't move it,
and you can't bomb it.

You're absolutely right.
Stop that plane. Notify Washington.

Citizens of Dogpatch,
the evacuation is ended.

And now with my blessings
I pronounces you...

- Wait.
- Why?

This joyful event
can't be consummated

until we pays homage to the one man
who made all this possible.

Who romanticized this boy?

Who put them back
the way they was?

And who saved our town
from being bombed?

None other than that beloved man
that's sitting up there

on that even more beloved horse,
Jubilation T. Cornpone.

Though he's gone to his reward

His mighty torch is still lit

First in war, first in peace
First to holler, I quit!

Oh, it was Jubilation T. Cornpone
Unshaven-and-Shorn-pone

Jubilation T. Cornpone
He really saved the day

Why, it was Jubilation T. Cornpone
Unshaven-and-Shorn-pone

Jubilation T. Cornpone
He really saved the day

Self-command
Future planned

Fortune thrives
Society survives

In neatly ordered lives

With well-endowered wives

Come sing, Hosanna

Hosanna

In our breeding
and our manner

We are cool

Come, ye cool, cool
considerate set

We'll dance together
to the same minuet

To the right
Ever to the right

Never to the left
Forever to the right

Let our creed be
never to exceed

Regulated speed

No matter what the need

Come sing, Hosanna

Hosanna

Emblazoned on our banner is
Keep cool

To the right
Ever to the right

Never to the left
Forever to the right

Hands attach
Tightly latch

Everybody match

I have a new dispatch

From the commander, army of
the United Colonies in New York...

dispatch number 1,158...

to the Honorable Congress,
John Hancock, president. Dear sir...

I awoke this morning
to find that General Howe...

has landed 25,000 British regulars
and Hessian mercenaries...

on Staten Island...

and that the fleet, under the command
of his brother, Admiral Lord Howe...

controls not only the Hudson and
the East River, but New York Harbor...

which now looks like
all of London afloat.

I can no longer,
in good conscience...

withhold from the Congress my certainty
that the British object at this time...

is Philadelphia.

Happy should I be if I could see
the means of preventing them...

but at present,
I confess I do not.

Oh, how I wish I had never seen
the Continental Army.

I would have done better
to retire to the back country...

and to live in a wigwam.

Your obedient...

G. Washington.

What we do
we do rationally

We never, ever go off
half-cocked, not we

Why begin till we know
that we can win

And if we cannot win
why bother to begin

We say this game's
not of our choosing

Why should we risk losing

We're cool, cool men

Mr. Hancock, you're a man
of property, one of us.

Why don't you join us
in our minuet?

Why do you persist in
dancing with John Adams?

Good Lord, sir,
you don't even like him.

That is true
He annoys me quite a lot

But still I'd rather trot
to Mr. Adams new gavotte

Why? For personal glory?
For a place in history?

Be careful, sir. History will brand him
and his followers as traitors.

Traitors, Mr. Dickinson?
To what?

The British crown
or the British half crown?

Fortunately, there are not enough men of
property in America to dictate policy.

Perhaps not, but don't forget
that most men with nothing...

would rather protect the possibility
of becoming rich...

than face the reality
of being poor.

And that is why
they will follow us...

To the right
Ever to the right

Never to left
Forever to the right

Where there's gold
A market to behold

Tradition that is old

Reluctant to be bold

I sing, Hosanna

Hosanna

In a sane
and lucid manner

We are cool!

We're the cool, cool
considerate me

Whose like may never, ever
be seen again

We have land
Cash in hand

Self-command
Future planned

And we'll hold
to our gold

Tradition that is old

Reluctant to be bold

We say this game's
not of our choosing

Why should we risk losing

We're cool, cool
cool, cool, cool

Cool, cool, cool
cool, cool

Cool, cool men

How'd you like to try and borrow
a dollar from one of them?

- You want some more rum, General?
- General?

Lord, I ain't even a corporal.

Yeah, well,
what's the army know?

Here, son.
There you go.

Sit down, gentlemen. The chair rules
it's too damn hot to work.

Well, General,
what's it like out there?

You probably
know more than me.

Sittin' here?
SweetJesus...

this is the last place
to find out what's going on.

I'm aimin' to join up.

What are you talkin' about?
You don't have to join up.

- You're in Congress.
- What's that got to do with it?

Well, you don't see them
rushing off to get killed, do ya?

They sure are great ones for
sending others, I can tell ya that.

Hey, who sits here?

Caesar Rodney
of Delaware.

Where are you from,
General?

Watertown.

- Where's that?
- Massachusetts.

Well, then you
belong over there.

But be careful.

There's something about that chair
that makes a man awful noisy.

You seen any fighting?

Sure did.

I see'd my two best friends
get shot dead on the very same day.

And at Lexington it was too.

Right on the village green.

When they didn't come home, their mamas
went down the hill lookin' for 'em.

Mrs. Lowell,
she found Timothy.

Right off.

But Mrs. Pickett...

she looked near
half the night for William.

He went and crawled off
the green...

before he died.

Mama, hey, Mama

Come lookin'for me

I'm here in the meadow

By the red maple tree

Mama, hey, Mama

Look sharp

Here I be

Hey, hey

Mama, look sharp

Them soldiers, they fired

Oh, Ma, did we run

But then we turned round

And the battle begun

Then I went under

Oh, Ma, am I done

Hey, hey

Mama, look sharp

My eyes are wide open

My face to the sky

Is that you I'm hearin'

In the tall grass nearby

Mama, come find me

Before I do die

Hey, hey

Mama

Look sharp

I'll close your eyes

My Billy

Them eyes that cannot see

And I'll bury ya

My Billy

Beneath the maple tree

And

Never again

Will ya whisper to me

Hey

Oh, Mama

Look sharp

The secretary will now read the report
of the Declaration Committee.

Mr. Thomson.

A declaration by the representatives
of the United States of America...

in general Congress assembled.

When in the course of human events
it becomes necessary for one people...

to dissolve the political bands which
have connected them with another...

and to assume among
the powers of the earth...

the separate and equal station
to which the laws of nature...

and of nature's god entitle them...

a decent respect
to the opinions of mankind...

requires that they should
declare the causes...

which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths
to be self-evident...

that all men are created equal.

They're endowed by their creator
with certain inalienable rights...

that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness...

that we secure these rights...

Jefferson, we're back,
and we've got Maryland.

That is, we will, as soon as Chase gets
through telling the Maryland assembly...

what we saw
in New Brunswick.

He's in Annapolis, describing a ragtag
collection of provincial militiamen...

who couldn't drill together,
train together or march together.

But when
a flock of ducks flew over...

and they saw their first meal
in three full days...

sweetJesus,
could they shoot together!

- It was a slaughter.
- A slaughter.

They're reading the declaration.

Good God!
How far have they gotten?

To render the military independent of
and superior to the civil power.

...independent of
and superior to the...

Nothing to fear.
It's a masterpiece.

I'm to be congratulated.

You?

- For making him write it.
- Oh, of course.

It's a masterpiece, I say

They will cheer
every word, every letter

I wish I felt that way

I believe I can put it better

Now then attend
as friend to friend

Our Declaration Committee

For us I see immortality

In Philadelphia City

A farmer, a lawyer

And a sage

A bit gouty in the leg

You know it's quite bizarre
to think that here we are

Playing midwives to an egg

- Egg? What egg?
- America. The birth of a new nation.

If only we could be sure of what kind
of a bird it's going to be.

Tom has a point.
What sort of bird shall we choose...

as the symbol
of our new America?

- The eagle.
- The dove.

The turkey.

The eagle.

- The dove.
- The eagle.

- The eagle.
- The turkey.

The eagle is a majestic bird.

The eagle is a scavenger,
a thief and a coward.

A symbol of over ten centuries
of European mischief.

- The turkey?
- The turkey is a truly noble bird.

Native American. Source of
sustenance of our original settlers.

An incredibly brave fellow
who will not flinch...

at attacking a regiment of
Englishmen single-handedly!

Therefore, the national bird
of America is going to be...

- The eagle!
- The eagle!

We're waiting for
the chirp, chirp, chirp

Of an eaglet being born

Waiting for
the chirp, chirp, chirp

On this humid Monday morning

In this congressional incubator

God knows the temperature's
hot enough

To hatch a stone
let alone an egg

We're waiting for
the scratch, scratch, scratch

Of that tiny little fellow

Waiting for the egg to hatch

On this humid Monday morning

In this congressional incubator

God knows the temperature's
hot enough

- To hatch a stone
- But will it hatch an egg

The declaration will be a triumph.
I tell you, a triumph.

If I was ever sure of anything,
I'm sure of that.

A triumph.

And if it isn't, we still got four days
left to think of something else.

The eagle's going
to crack the shell

Of the egg that England laid

Yes, sir
we can tell, tell, tell

On this humid
Monday morning

In this congressional incubator

And just as Tom here
has written

Though its shell may
belong to Great Britain

The eagle inside
belongs to us

And just as Tom here
has written

We say to hell
with Great Britain

The eagle inside

Belongs to us

...and to do all other
acts and things...

which independent states
may of right do.

And for the support
of this declaration...

we mutually pledge
to each other our lives...

our fortunes
and our sacred honor.

Thank you, Mr. Thomson.

The Congress has heard the report
of the Declaration Committee.

Are there any here who
wish to offer alterations...

deletions, amendments
to this declaration?

Mr. President!

Gentlemen!
Gentlemen, please!

Colonel McKean,
I saw your hand first.

Mr. Jefferson...

it's a funny paper you've written, Tom,
but somewhere in it...

you mention Scottish and foreign
mercenaries sent to destroy us.

Scottish, Tom?

That is in reference
to a Highland regiment...

which stood against us
at Boston.

It's more likely Germans wearin' kilts
to disguise their bein' there.

I ask you to remove the word and
avoid givin' offense to a good people.

Mr. Jefferson?

- The Reverend, uh...
- Witherspoon.

Mr. Jefferson, nowhere do you mention
the Supreme Being.

Surely this was an oversight, for how
could we hope to achieve a victory...

without his help?

Therefore, I suggest the following
addition to your final sentence.

With a firm reliance on
the protection of Divine Providence.

Mr. Jefferson?

Mr. Read.

Among your charges against
the king, Mr. Jefferson...

you accuse him of depriving us
of the benefits of trial by jury.

This is untrue, sir. In Delaware,
we've always had trial by jury.

In Massachusetts,
we have not.

Well, then I suggest that the words
in many cases be added.

Mr. Jefferson?

In many cases?
Brilliant!

I suppose every time
you see those three words...

your puny chest
will swell with pride...

over your great
historical contribution.

It's more memorable than your
unprincipled whitewash of that...

race of barbarians!

Race of barbarians?
Why, I'll have you...

Colonel McKean,
Mr. Read, that's enough!

- Mr. Hopkins.
- I've no objections, Johnny.

- I'm just trying to get a drink.
- I should've known.

McNair, get him a rum.

- Mr. Barlett.
- Mr. Jefferson.

I beg you to remember that we
still have friends in England.

I see no purpose in antagonizing them
with such phrases as...

unfeeling brethren
and enemies at war.

Our cause is with the British king,
not the British people.

Be sensible, Bartlett.

Remove those phrases and the entire
paragraph becomes meaningless.

And it so happens that it's
one of the most stirring and poetic...

of any passage in
the entire document. Now...

We're a Congress, Mr. Adams,
not a literary society.

- I ask that the paragraph be stricken.
- Mr. Jefferson?

Oh, good God, Jefferson, when are you
going to speak up for your own work?

I had hoped that the work
would speak for itself.

- Mr. Hancock?
- What is it, Mr. McNair?

I'm not fond of"The United States
of America as a name for a new country.

I don't care what
you're fond of, Mr. McNair.

You're not a member
of this Congress!

Mr. Sherman.

BrotherJefferson, I noted at least
two distinct and direct references...

to the British Parliament
in your declaration.

Do you think it's wise
to alienate that august body...

in light of our contention that they've
never had any authority over us anyway?

This is a revolution,
damn it!

We're going to have
to offend somebody.

Brother Hancock!

You'll give yourself an attack
of apoplexy if you're not careful.

- Have you heard what they're doing?
- I heard.

And that's just our friends. Can you
imagine what our enemies will do?

The word parliament will be
removed wherever it occurs.

They won't be satisfied till they remove
one of the F's from Jefferson's name.

Courage, John.
It won't last much longer.

Mr. Dickinson.

Mr. Jefferson, I have very little
interest in your paper...

as there's no doubt in my mind that
we've all but heard the last of it...

but I am curious
about one thing.

Why do you refer
to King George as a tyrant?

Because he is a tyrant.

I remind you, Mr. Jefferson,
that this tyrant is still your king.

When a king
becomes a tyrant...

he thereby breaks the contract
binding his subjects to him.

- How so?
- By taking away their rights.

Rights that came from him
in the first place?

All except one. The right to be free
comes from nature.

And are we not free,
Mr. Jefferson?

Homes entered
without warrant.

Citizens arrested
without charge.

And in many places,
free assembly itself denied.

No one approves of such things,
but these are dangerous times.

Be careful, Mr. Dickinson.

Those who'd give up some liberty
in order to obtain temporary safety...

deserve neither liberty
nor safety.

Mr. Wilson.

Do we in Pennsylvania
consider King George a tyrant?

Well, I don't know.

He...

Oh, uh, no.
No, we don't.

He's not a tyrant...

- in Pennsylvania.
- There you are, Mr. Jefferson.

Your declaration
does not speak for us all.

- I demand the word "tyrant" be removed.
- Very well.

Just a moment,
Mr. Thomson.

I do not consent.

The king is a tyrant
whether we say so or not.

- We might as well say so.
- But I already scratched it out.

Then scratch it back in.

Put it back, Mr. Thomson.
The king will remain a tyrant.

- Mr. Hewes.
- Mr. Jefferson.

Nowhere do you mention
deep-sea fishing rights.

Oh, good God!
Fishing rights!

How long is this
piddling to go on?

We have been here
for three full days.

We have endured, by my count,
85 separate changes...

and the removal
of close to 400 words.

Now, would you whip it and beat it
till you break its spirit?

I tell you that document is a masterful
expression of the American mind!

If there are no more changes...

then I can assume the report of
the Declaration Committee has been...

- Just a moment, Mr. President.
- Look out.

I wonder if we might prevail
upon Mr. Thomson...

to read again a small portion
of Mr. Jefferson's declaration.

The one beginning
He has waged cruel war.

Uh, He has affected.
He's combined.

He's abdicated.
He's plundered.

He's constrained.
He's excited. He's incited.

He's waged cruel war.
Here it is.

He has waged cruel war
against human nature itself...

in the persons of a distant people
who never offended him...

captivating and carrying them into
slavery in another hemisphere...

determined to keep open a market
where men should be bought and sold.

- He has prostituted his...
- That will suffice, Mr. Thomson.

Mr. Jefferson, I can't quite make out
what it is you're talking about.

Slavery, Mr. Rutledge.

Oh, yes. You're referring to us
as slaves of the king.

No, sir. I'm referring
to our slaves.

Black slaves.

Black slaves.

Why didn't you say so, sir?

Were you trying to hide
your meaning?

No, sir.

Just another
literary license, then.

If you like.

I don't like at all,
Mr. Jefferson.

To us in South Carolina, black slavery
is our peculiar institution...

and a cherished way of life.

Nevertheless,
we must abolish it.

Nothing is more certainly
written in the Book of Fate...

than that this people
shall be free.

I am not concerned with the Book of Fate
right now, Mr. Jefferson.

I'm more concerned with what is
written in that little paper there.

That little paper there
deals with freedom for Americans.

Oh, really.

Mr. Adams...

is now callin' our black slaves
Americans.

- Are they, now?
- Yes, they are.

They're people
and they're here.

If there's any other requirement,
I've never heard of it.

They are here, yes, but they are
not people. They are property.

No, sir. They are people who are
being treated as property.

I tell you, the rights
of human nature...

are deeply wounded by
this infamous practice.

Then see to your own wounds,
for you are a practitioner!

Are you not?

I have already resolved
to release my slaves.

Then I'm sorry...

for you've also resolved
the ruination of your personal economy.

Economy.
Always economy.

There's more to this
than a filthy purse string, Rutledge.

It's an offense
against man and God.

It's a stinking business,
Mr. Rutledge. A stinking business.

Is it really, Mr. Hopkins?

Then what is that I smell...

floatin' down from the North?

Could that be the aroma
of hypocrisy?

For who holds the other end
of that filthy purse string, Mr. Adams?

Our northern brethren feelin'
a bit tender toward our slaves.

They don't keep slaves.

Oh, no.

But they're willin' to be
considerable carriers...

of slaves to others.

They're willin'...

for the shillin'.

Or haven't you heard,
Mr. Adams?

Clink, clink.

Molasses to rum

To slaves

Oh, what a beautiful waltz

You dance with us

We dance with you

In molasses and rum
and slaves

Who sail the ships
out of Boston

Laden with Bibles and rum

Who drinks a toast
to the Ivory Coast

Hail, Africa
the slavers have come

New England with Bibles

And rum

Then it's off with the rum
and the Bibles

Take on the slaves
Clink, clink

Then hail and farewell
to the smell

Of the African coast

Molasses to rum
to slaves

'Tisn't morals
'Tis money that saves

Shall we dance to the sound
of the profitable pound

In molasses and rum
and slaves

Who sail the ships
out of Guinea

Laden with Bibles
and slaves

'Tis Boston can boast
to the West Indies's coast

Jamaica, we brung
what ye craves

Antigua, Barbados

We brung Bibles

And slaves

Gentlemen, you mustn't think
that our northern friends...

see our black slaves as
merely figures in a ledger.

Oh, no. They see them
as figures on a block.

Look at the faces
at the auctions, gentlemen.

White faces on African wharves.

Seafaring faces.
New England faces.

Put them in the ships.

Cram them in the ships.

Stuff them in the ships.

Hurry, gentlemen.
Let the auction begin.

Ya ha, ya ha ma
Cundah

Gentlemen, do you hear?
That's the cry of the auctioneer.

Ya ha, ya ha ma
Cundah

Slaves, gentlemen!

Black gold!

Livin' gold!

Gold from Angola!

Guinea, Guinea, Guinea!

Blackbirds for sale

Ashanti, ebo, ebo, ebo!

Blackbirds for sale

Handle them!

Fondle them!

But don't finger them!

They're prime
They're prime

Ya ha, ya ha ma
Cundah

For the love of God,
Mr. Rutledge, please.

Molasses to rum

To slaves

Who sail the ships
back to Boston

Laden with gold
See it gleam

Whose fortunes are made
in the triangle trade

Hail, slavery
the New England dream

Mr. Adams,
I give you a toast.

Hail, Boston

Hail, Charleston

Who stinketh the most

Mr. Rutledge, please!

Mr. Hewes.

Dr. Hall.

Don't worry, John.
They'll be back.

Aye, to vote us down.

Adams! Franklin!

It's done. I have it.
And the Maryland Assembly's approved it.

I told them about one of the greatest
military engagements in history...

against a flock of, uh...

Well, what's wrong?
I thought...

You'll have to forgive them,
Mr. Chase.

They just suffered
a slight setback.

And after all,
What is a man profited...

if he shall gain Maryland
and lose the entire South?

Matthew, chapter 16,
verse 26.

McNair.

- Oh, I know. The flies.
- No.

The rum.

Well, what are we all
sitting around for?

We're wasting time.
Precious time.

Thomas, I want you to ride
down into Delaware...

- and fetch back Caesar Rodney.
- John, are you mad?

- It's 80 miles, and he's a dyin' man.
- No, he's a patriot.

John, what good will it do?
The South's done us in.

And suppose they
change their minds?

Can we get Delaware
without Rodney?

God!
What a bastardly bunch we are.

- Stephen, I want you to...
- I'm going to the tavern, Johnny.

If there's anything I can do
for you there, let me know.

Chase. Bartlett!

What's the use, John?
The vote's tomorrow morning.

There's less than a full day left.

- Roger.
- Face facts, John. It's finished.

I'm sorry, John.

We have no choice, John.

The slavery clause
has got to go.

Franklin, what are you saying?

It's a luxury
we can't afford.

A luxury?

A half million souls
in chains...

and Dr. Franklin
calls it a luxury.

Maybe you should've
walked out with the South.

You forget yourself, sir.

I founded the first antislavery
society on this continent.

Don't wave your credentials at me.
Perhaps it's time you had them renewed.

The issue here is independence.

Perhaps you've forgotten
that fact, but I have not.

How dare you jeopardize our cause
when we've come so far!

These men...

no matter how much
we may disagree with them...

are not ribbon clerks
to be ordered about.

They're proud, accomplished men.
The cream of their colonies.

And whether you like it or not,
they and the people they represent...

will be part of this new nation
you'd hope to create.

Now either learn how to live with them
or pack up and go home.

In any case, stop acting
like a Boston fishwife.

Good God.
What's happened to me?

John Adams.
The greatJohn Adams.

What have I come to?

Law practice down the pipe.
Farm mortgaged to the hilt.

At a stage in life
when other men prosper...

I'm reduced to living
in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia.

Abigail, what am I
going to do?

Do, John?

I need your help.

You don't usually
ask my advice.

Yes, well, there doesn't appear
to be anyone else right now.

Very well, John.
What is it?

The entire South has just
walked out of this Congress...

George Washington is on
the verge of total annihilation...

and the precious cause for which
I have labored these several years...

has come to nothing.

And it seems that I'm
obnoxious and disliked.

Nonsense, John.

That I am unwilling
to face reality.

Foolishness, John.

That I'm pigheaded.

Ah, well, there you have me, John.

I'm afraid you are pig-headed.

Well, yes.

Oh, Abby.

Has it been any kind
of a life for you?

God knows I haven't
given you very much.

I never asked for more.

After all, I am Mrs. John Adams.

That's quite a lot
for one lifetime.

- Is it, Abby?
- Well, think of it, John.

To be married to the man who is
always the first in line to be hanged.

Yes. The agitator.

Why, Abby?

You must tell me
what it is. L...

Well, I have always been dissatisfied.
I know that.

But lately, I find that I reek
of discontentment.

It fills my throat,
and it floods my brain.

Sometimes I fear
there is no longer a dream.

Only the discontentment.

Can you really know
so little about yourself?

And can you think so little of me
that you'd believe...

I'd marry the man
you've described?

Have you forgotten what
you used to say to me? I haven't.

Commitment, Abby.

Commitment.

There are only two creatures of value
on the face of this earth...

those with a commitment...

and those who require
the commitment of others.

Do you remember, John?

Yes, I remember.

Mr. Adams!

Are you up there,
Mr. Adams?

What do you want?

There's a delivery
down here for ya.

What is it?

Where did it come from?
Who sent it?

Compliments of
the Concord Ladies'coffee club

And the Sisterhood of
the Truro Synagogue

And the Friday evening
Baptist sewing circle

And the Holy Christian
Sisters of St. Claire

All for you

John

I am, as I ever was

And ever shall be

Yours, yours, yours

Yours

Abigail,
what's in these kegs?

Saltpeter, John

McNair!

McNair, go out and buy every damned
pin you can find in Philadelphia.

Pin?
What sort of pin?

Well, I don't know. Whatever
the ladies use for their sewing.

Franklin, Jefferson, what are you all
sitting around for?

- Didn't you hear a word I said before?
- Oh, never mind about that.

- Here's what I want you to do.
- John, I'm not even speaking to you.

It's too late for that, damn it.
There's work to be done.

Jefferson, go find Rutledge.

Don't come back
until you've worn him down.

Now, you're both
southern aristocrats.

If he'll listen to anybody,
he'll listen to you.

Franklin, out of that chair!

What good is the South
if you can't deliver Pennsylvania?

Talk to Wilson.
Get him away from Dickinson.

That's the only way to do it.
Go on, now, both of you.

- John?
- Time's running out, damn it.

Now move.

I'm still from
Massachusetts, John.

You know where I stand.
I'll do whatever you say.

No. You're the president
of Congress.

You're a fair man, Hancock.
Stay that way.

Tell me, Mr. Thomson,
out of curiosity...

do you stand with Mr. Dickinson,
or do you stand with me?

I stand with the general.

Well, lately, I've had
the oddest feeling that he's been...

writing to me.

I have been in expectation

Of receiving a reply

On the subject of
my last 15 dispatches

Is anybody there

Does anybody care

Does anybody care

Your humble and obedient...

Is anybody there?

Does anybody care?

Does anybody see what I see

They want me to quit

They say
John, give up the fight

Still to England, I say

Good night forever
Good night

For I have crossed
the Rubicon

Let the bridge
be burned behind me

Come what may

Come what may
Commitment

The croakers all say
we'll rue the day

There'll be hell to pay
in fiery purgatory

Through all the gloom
Through all the gloom

I can see the rays
of ravishing light

And glory

Is anybody there?

Does anybody care?

Does anybody see
what I see?

I see fireworks

I see the pageant
and pomp and parade

I hear the bells ringing out

I hear the cannons roar

I see Americans

All Americans free

Forevermore

How quiet
How quiet the chamber is

How silent
How silent the chamber is

Is anybody there

Does anybody care

Does anybody see...

what I see?

Yes, Mr. Adams.

I do.

Dr. Hall.

I didn't know anyone was...

I'm sorry if I startled you.

I couldn't sleep.

And in trying to resolve
my dilemma...

I remembered something
I'd once read.

That a representative
owes the people not only his industry...

but his judgment...

and he betrays them
if he sacrifices it to their opinion.

That was written by
Edmund Burke...

a member
of the British Parliament.

Good night, Mr. Adams.

Good night.

It's never been done before.

No colony has ever broken from the
parent stem in the history of the world.

If you have grievances,
and I'm sure you have...

our present system must provide
a gentler means of redressing them...

- We've spawned a new race here.
- Revolution?

Rougher, simpler, more violent,
more enterprising, less refined.

My quartermaster has no food,
no arms, no ammunition..

and my troops are
in a state of near mutiny.

I pray God some relief arrives before
the armada, but fear it will not.

And when they hang you,
Mr. Adams...

I do hope you'll put in
a good word for the rest of us.

England closing in,
cutting off our air. There's no time!

Place before mankind
the common sense of the subjects.

The issue here is independence.

Perhaps you've lost sight
of that fact, but I have not.

We mutually pledge
to each other our lives...

our fortunes
and our sacred honor.

Can you really know
so little about yourself?

Very well.

The Congress will now vote on
Virginia's resolution on independence.

Thank you for coming, Caesar,
and God bless you, sir.

The secretary
will call the roll.

And I remind you,
gentlemen...

that a single "nay" vote...

will defeat the motion.

Mr. Thomson.

- New Hampshire.
- New Hampshire says yea.

New Hampshire says yea.
Massachusetts.

- Massachusetts says yea.
- Massachusetts says yea.

- Rhode Island.
- Rhode Island says yea.

Rhode Island says yea.
Connecticut.

- Connecticut says yea.
- Connecticut says yea.

New York.

Mr. Secretary,
New York abstains courteously.

- New York abstains.
- Courteously.

- New Jersey.
- New Jersey says yea.

New Jersey says yea.
Pennsylvania.

Mr. Secretary, Pennsylvania is not
ready. Please come back to us later.

Pennsylvania passes.
Delaware.

Delaware,
by majority vote...

- Aye.
- Says yea.

Delaware says yea.
Maryland.

- Maryland says yea.
- Maryland says yea.

- Virginia.
- Virginia says yea.

Virginia says yea.
North Carolina.

North Carolina yields
to South Carolina.

South Carolina.

Well, Mr. Adams?

Well, Mr. Rutledge?

Mr. Adams...

you must believe that I will
do what I promised to do.

What is it you want?

Remove the offending passage
from your declaration.

If we did that, we would be guilty of
what we ourselves are rebelling against.

Nevertheless, remove it...

or South Carolina
will bury now and forever...

your dream of independence.

John, I beg you,
consider what you're doing.

Mark me, Franklin...

if we give in on this issue,
posterity will never forgive us.

That's probably true, but we won't
hear a thing. We'll be long gone.

Besides, what will posterity
think we were? Demigods?

We're men... no more, no less...
trying to get a nation started...

against greater odds than a more
generous God would have allowed.

First things first, John.
Independence. America.

If we don't secure that,
what difference will the rest make?

Jefferson, say something.

What else is there to do?

Well, man,
you're the one that wrote it.

I wrote all of it, Mr. Adams.

There.
There it is, Rutledge.

You have your slavery.
Little good may it do you.

Now vote, damn you!

Mr. President, the fair colony
of South Carolina...

- says yea.
- South Carolina says yea.

- North Carolina says yea.
- North Carolina says yea.

- Georgia.
- Georgia says yea.

Georgia says yea.

Pennsylvania, second call.

Mr. President, Pennsylvania regrets
all of the inconvenience...

that such distinguished men
as Adams, Franklin and Jefferson...

were put to just now.

They might've kept their document intact
for all the difference it will make.

Mr. President,
Pennsylvania says...

Just a moment.

I ask the delegation
to be polled.

Dr. Franklin,
don't be absurd.

A poll, Mr. President.
It's a proper request.

Yes, it is. Poll the delegation,
Mr. Thomson.

- Dr. Benjamin Franklin.
- Yea.

- Mr. John Dickinson.
- Nay.

Mr. James Wilson.

Judge Wilson?

There it is, Mr. Wilson.
It's all up to you now.

The question of American independence
rests squarely on your shoulders.

An entirely new nation ready
to be born or to die at birth...

all on your say-so.

Which will it be, Mr. Wilson?

Every mapmaker in the world
is waiting for your decision.

Oh, come now, James.
Nothing has changed.

We mustn't let Dr. Franklin
create one of his confusions.

The question is clear.

Most questions are clear
when someone else has to decide them.

It'd be a pity for a man who's handed
down hundreds of wise decisions...

from the bench...

to be remembered only for the one
unwise decision he made in Congress.

James, you're
keeping everybody waiting.

The secretary has
called for your vote.

Please.

Don't push me, John.
I know what you want me to do.

But Mr. Adams is correct
about one thing.

I'm the one who'll be
remembered for it.

What do you mean?

I'm different from you, John.

I'm different from
most of the men here.

I don't want
to be remembered.

I just don't want the...

responsibility.

Yes, well, whether you
want it or not, James...

there's no way of avoiding it.

Not necessarily, John.

If I go with them,
I'll just be one among dozens.

No one will ever remember
the name ofJames Wilson.

But if I vote with you...

I'll be the man who prevented
American independence.

I'm sorry, John.

I just didn't bargain for that.

And is that how
new nations are formed?

By a nonentity
trying to preserve...

the anonymity
he so richly deserves?

Revolutions come into this world
like bastard children, Mr. Dickinson.

Half improvised
and half compromised.

Our side has provided
the compromise.

Now Judge Wilson
is supplying the rest.

James.

I'm sorry, John.

My vote is yea.

Mr. Secretary,
Pennsylvania says yea.

The count,
being twelve to none...

with one abstention...

the resolution
on independence...

is adopted.

It's done.

It's done.

Mr. Thomson, is the declaration
ready to be signed?

- It is.
- Then I suggest we do so.

And the chair further proposes,
for our mutual security and protection...

that no man sit in this Congress
without attaching his name to it.

I'm sorry, Mr. President.

I cannot, in good conscience,
sign such a document.

I will never stop hoping for our
eventual reconciliation with England.

But because...

in my own way...

I regard America no less
than does Mr. Adams...

I will join the army
and fight in her defense...

even though I believe
that fight to be hopeless.

Good-bye, gentlemen.

Gentlemen of the Congress...

I say yea,
John Dickinson.

Very well.

Are there objections to the declaration
being approved as it now stands?

- I have one, Mr. Hancock.
- You, Mr. Adams?

Yes. Mr. Jefferson...

it so happens that
the word is unalienable,

not inalienable.

I'm sorry, Mr. Adams,
but inalienable is correct.

I happen to be a Harvard graduate,
Mr. Jefferson.

I attended William and Mary,
Mr. Adams.

Gentlemen, please! Mr. Jefferson,
will you yield to Mr. Adams's request?

No, sir, I will not.

Oh, very well.
I withdraw it.

Oh, good for you, John.

I'll speak to the printer
about it later on.

Very well, gentlemen.

We're about to brave the storm
in a skiff made of paper.

And how it shall end,
God only knows.

That's a pretty
large signature, Johnny.

So Fat George in London
can read it without his glasses.

Step right up, gentlemen. Don't miss
your chance to commit treason.

Hancock is right. This paper
is our passport to the gallows.

But there's no backing out now,
for if we do not hang together...

we shall most assuredly
hang separately.

In my case,
hangin' won't be so bad.

One snap and it'll be all over,
just like that.

But look at Read there. He'll be
dancin' a jig long after I'm gone!

Gentlemen, forgive me
if I don't join in the merriment...

but if we are arrested now...

my name is still the only one
on the damn thing!

From the commander,
army of the United Colonies in...

army of the United States
in New York...

dispatch number 1,209...

to the Honorable Congress,
John Hancock, President. "Dear sir...

I can now report
with some certainty...

that the eve of battle
is near at hand.

Toward this end, I have ordered
the evacuation of Manhattan...

and directed our defenses to take up
stronger positions on Brooklyn Heights.

At the present time, my forces consist
entirely of Haslet's Delaware Militia...

and Smallwood's Marylanders...

a total of 5,000 troops
to stand against...

25,000 of the enemy.

And I begin to notice
that many of us...

are lads under 15 and old men...

none of whom
could truly be called soldiers.

One personal note
to Mr. Lewis Morris of New York.

I must regretfully report that his
estates have been totally destroyed...

but that I have taken the liberty
of transporting Mrs. Morris...

and eight of the children
to Connecticut and safety.

The four older boys are now enlisted
in the Continental Army.

As I write these words...

the enemy is plainly in sight
beyond the river.

How it will end,
only Providence can direct.

But dear God,
what brave men...

I shall lose...

before...

this business...

ends.

Your obedient...

G. Washington.

Very well, gentlemen.

McNair.

Go ring the bell.

- Mr. President.
- Mr. Morris.

To hell with New York.
I'll sign it anyway.

Thank you, Mr. Morris.

Stephen, sit down.

I want to remember
each man's face as he signs.

Very well.

Mr. Thomson.

New Hampshire.
Dr. Josiah Bartlett.

Massachusetts.
Mr. John Adams.

Rhode Island.
Mr. Stephen Hopkins.

Connecticut.
Mr. Roger Sherman.

New York.
Mr. Lewis Morris.

New Jersey.
The Reverend John Witherspoon.

Pennsylvania.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin.

Delaware.
Mr. Caesar Rodney.

Maryland.
Mr. Samuel Chase.

Virginia.
Mr. Thomas Jefferson.

North Carolina.
Mr. Joseph Hewes.

South Carolina.
Mr. Edward Rutledge.