![RODNEY, Caesar (1728-1784), Signer (Delaware). Autograph letter signed ("Caesar Rodney"), TO HIS FELLOW DELEGATE TO CONGRESS, GEORGE READ, also signed by John Evans, Lewis [Lewes], Del., 23 June 1776. 2 pages, small 4to, separate integral address leaf (part of that leaf lacking). Fine.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2005/NYR/2005_NYR_01685_0012_000(110636).jpg?w=1)
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RODNEY, Caesar (1728-1784), Signer (Delaware). Autograph letter signed ("Caesar Rodney"), TO HIS FELLOW DELEGATE TO CONGRESS, GEORGE READ, also signed by John Evans, Lewis [Lewes], Del., 23 June 1776. 2 pages, small 4to, separate integral address leaf (part of that leaf lacking). Fine.
JUST BEFORE RODNEY'S FAMOUS RIDE THROUGH "THUNDER AND RAIN" TO CAST HIS STATE'S DECISIVE VOTE FOR INDEPENDENCE, HE EXPLAINS TO A FELLOW DELEGATE WHY HE CANNOT YET LEAVE PHILADELPHIA
In one of the most famous anecdotes connected with the historic vote for Independence on 4 July 1776, Rodney, one of three Delaware delegates to the Continental Congress, was summoned urgently from Sussex County to Philadelphia for the momentous vote, breaking a tie among the Delaware delegates. Rodney was also serving as chief executive of the assembly and as a brigadier general in the Delaware militia, and in his home district had been fully engaged in efforts to suppress local Tory factions. Here, he explains his progress in that task, explains that he deems it inadvisable to return either to Newcastle--where the Assembly was to meet--or to Congress until the Tory insurrection is ended. He urges the speaker of the Assembly, George Read, not to covene the legislature just yet: "The first step to be taken when we arrived at Lewis [Lewes] was to send some Subpoenas for all those persons said to be concerned in the insurrection, in consequence of which they appeared...We then we proceeded in the Examination which continued to last night, and shall now proceed to take such order in the matter as we think most condusive [sic] to the public Safety, and quieting the minds of very disturbed misled people; But Sir, as some order must be taken, we beg leave to inform you, that it is our Opinion...that we should continue here till such order be put in Execution. Least [lest] we should thusly leave the country in a more disturbed state (if possible), than we found it. We know that our assembly stands adjourned...We know the importance of the business before the House, and the necessity there is that the members should meet... and also that the Delegates must be in Congress by tomorrow week, If we had it in our power to return immediately, is it probable that there would be a House to proceed to business this week?..." Evans and Rodney go on to list members of the legislature who are unlikely to be in attendance at Newcastle, due to other business, and ask, "Cannot we have a Session soon after Harvest by a Call of the Speaker? The House of Assembly Resolved all the powers of Government in them, as the now only Representatives of the People. Taking into consideration all the Circumstances we thought it best to stay here a few days longer and settle the peace of this County...."
Read, the recipient of Rodney's and Evans's letter, was also a delegate representing Delaware in the Continental Congress. The three-man Delaware delegation was fatally divided on the critical question of independence; Read intended to vote "no" on the historic measure, while both Rodney and Thomas McKean (1734-1817) planned to vote in favor of it. On 1 July, though, when the question was first opened to debate by the Committee of the whole Congress, Rodney--as he explains in this letter--was still in Delaware. If he was not present to cast the decisive vote, Delaware's split vote would make it the only one of the thirteen colonies to fail to approve the declaration of independence. Some years later, McKean told a Rodney nephew what transpired that day: "On Monday the 1st of July the question was taken up by the committee of the whole...For Delaware, (having then only two Representatives [Read and McKean] present) was divided: all the other states voted in favor of it. Whereupon, without delay, I sent an Express (at my private expence) for your honored uncle...the remaining member for Delaware, whom I met at the State-house door, in his boots and spurs as the members were assembling: after a friendly salutation (without a word on the business) we went into the hall of Congress together, and found we were among the latest: proceedings immediately commenced, and after a few minutes, the great question was put: when the vote for Delaware was called, your uncle arose and said 'As I believe the votes of my Constituents and of all sensible and honest men is in favor of Independence and my own judgement concurs with them, I vote for Independence,' or words to the same effect" (E.C. Burnett, Letters of Members of the Continental Congress, I, no.760).
Rodney, therefore, had only a single night to travel from Dover to Philadelphia, an 80-mile journey usually requiring two days travel. On his way, he was hampered by severe summer thunderstorms, but, as he recounted, arrived at Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia just in time for the final vote on the morning of 4 July. In his famous letter, written later the same day, Rodney told his brother Thomas that "I arrived in Congress (tho' detained by Thunder and Rain) in time enough to give my voice to the matter of Independence." (That historic letter of Rodney was part of the Doheny Library, sold at Christie's for a record $440,000 in 1988, and is now in the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia.
JUST BEFORE RODNEY'S FAMOUS RIDE THROUGH "THUNDER AND RAIN" TO CAST HIS STATE'S DECISIVE VOTE FOR INDEPENDENCE, HE EXPLAINS TO A FELLOW DELEGATE WHY HE CANNOT YET LEAVE PHILADELPHIA
In one of the most famous anecdotes connected with the historic vote for Independence on 4 July 1776, Rodney, one of three Delaware delegates to the Continental Congress, was summoned urgently from Sussex County to Philadelphia for the momentous vote, breaking a tie among the Delaware delegates. Rodney was also serving as chief executive of the assembly and as a brigadier general in the Delaware militia, and in his home district had been fully engaged in efforts to suppress local Tory factions. Here, he explains his progress in that task, explains that he deems it inadvisable to return either to Newcastle--where the Assembly was to meet--or to Congress until the Tory insurrection is ended. He urges the speaker of the Assembly, George Read, not to covene the legislature just yet: "The first step to be taken when we arrived at Lewis [Lewes] was to send some Subpoenas for all those persons said to be concerned in the insurrection, in consequence of which they appeared...We then we proceeded in the Examination which continued to last night, and shall now proceed to take such order in the matter as we think most condusive [sic] to the public Safety, and quieting the minds of very disturbed misled people; But Sir, as some order must be taken, we beg leave to inform you, that it is our Opinion...that we should continue here till such order be put in Execution. Least [lest] we should thusly leave the country in a more disturbed state (if possible), than we found it. We know that our assembly stands adjourned...We know the importance of the business before the House, and the necessity there is that the members should meet... and also that the Delegates must be in Congress by tomorrow week, If we had it in our power to return immediately, is it probable that there would be a House to proceed to business this week?..." Evans and Rodney go on to list members of the legislature who are unlikely to be in attendance at Newcastle, due to other business, and ask, "Cannot we have a Session soon after Harvest by a Call of the Speaker? The House of Assembly Resolved all the powers of Government in them, as the now only Representatives of the People. Taking into consideration all the Circumstances we thought it best to stay here a few days longer and settle the peace of this County...."
Read, the recipient of Rodney's and Evans's letter, was also a delegate representing Delaware in the Continental Congress. The three-man Delaware delegation was fatally divided on the critical question of independence; Read intended to vote "no" on the historic measure, while both Rodney and Thomas McKean (1734-1817) planned to vote in favor of it. On 1 July, though, when the question was first opened to debate by the Committee of the whole Congress, Rodney--as he explains in this letter--was still in Delaware. If he was not present to cast the decisive vote, Delaware's split vote would make it the only one of the thirteen colonies to fail to approve the declaration of independence. Some years later, McKean told a Rodney nephew what transpired that day: "On Monday the 1st of July the question was taken up by the committee of the whole...For Delaware, (having then only two Representatives [Read and McKean] present) was divided: all the other states voted in favor of it. Whereupon, without delay, I sent an Express (at my private expence) for your honored uncle...the remaining member for Delaware, whom I met at the State-house door, in his boots and spurs as the members were assembling: after a friendly salutation (without a word on the business) we went into the hall of Congress together, and found we were among the latest: proceedings immediately commenced, and after a few minutes, the great question was put: when the vote for Delaware was called, your uncle arose and said 'As I believe the votes of my Constituents and of all sensible and honest men is in favor of Independence and my own judgement concurs with them, I vote for Independence,' or words to the same effect" (E.C. Burnett, Letters of Members of the Continental Congress, I, no.760).
Rodney, therefore, had only a single night to travel from Dover to Philadelphia, an 80-mile journey usually requiring two days travel. On his way, he was hampered by severe summer thunderstorms, but, as he recounted, arrived at Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia just in time for the final vote on the morning of 4 July. In his famous letter, written later the same day, Rodney told his brother Thomas that "I arrived in Congress (tho' detained by Thunder and Rain) in time enough to give my voice to the matter of Independence." (That historic letter of Rodney was part of the Doheny Library, sold at Christie's for a record $440,000 in 1988, and is now in the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia.