MS (DLC: PCC, No. 23); in R. H. Lee’s hand; slightly worn and torn at the lateral edges. Endorsed by Charles Thomson: “[J]une 7, 1776. No. 4. Resolutions moved June 7th. 1776. referred for consideration till to morrow respecting Independanc[e or y] of the U.S.”

The present Resolution was introduced in accordance with the instructions sent to the Virginia delegation by the Convention of that colony, 15 May 1776, q.v. Written and introduced by R. H. Lee and seconded by John Adams, it was considered by TJ to be a motion by the Virginia delegation (John Adams, “Autobiography,” Works, iii, 51; Adams to Richard H. Lee, 24 Feb. 1821, same, x, 396; also, James Madison to Thomas Ritchie, 13 Aug. 1822, in Writings, ed. Hunt, ix, 110–11). Discussion of the Resolution was deferred until the following day (a Saturday), when it was debated in a committee of the whole, as it was again on Monday, 10 June; on the latter day the committee of the whole reported and Congress adopted the additional (fourth) resolution above (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, Washington, D.C., 1904–37, 34 vols. description ends , v, 426–9). The purpose of the postponement for three weeks (i.e., until 1 July) was “in order to give the Assemblies of the Middle Colonies an opportunity to take off their restrictions and let their Delegates unite in the measure” (Elbridge Gerry to James Warren, 11 June 1776, Burnett, Letters of Members, I, No. 699); TJ in his Notes on Debates lists the colonies requiring the postponement as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina.