1776 (1972)
Ralston Hill: Congressional Secretary Charles Thomson
Photos
Quotes
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[reading George Washington's last letter]
Thomson : I can now state, with some certainty, that the eve of battle is upon us. Toward this end, I have ordered the evacuation of Manhattan, and have ordered my men to take up stronger positions along the Brooklyn heights. At this time, my troops consist entirely of Rhode Island militia, and Smallwood's Marylanders, a total of five thousand troops to stand against... twenty-five thousand of the enemy. 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 in 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, and I begin to notice that many of us are lads under fifteen and old men, none of whom can truly be called soldiers. How it will end, only providence can direct. But dear God, what brave men... I shall lose... before this business... ends. Your humble, and obedient...
[drum roll]
Thomson : G. Washington.
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[Dickinson wants "tyrant" removed from the Declaration]
Thomas Jefferson : 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.
Charles Thomson : But I already scratched it out.
Thomas Jefferson : Then scratch it back in!
John Hancock : Put it back, Mr. Thomson. The King will remain a tyrant.
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John Adams : Tell me, Mr. Thomson, out of curiosity. Do you stand with Mr. Dickinson, or do you stand with me?
Thomson : I stand with the General. Well, lately, I've had the oddest feeling that he's been writing to me.
Thomson : [reading from Washington's letter] I have been in expectation of receiving a reply on the subject of my last fifteen dispatches. Is anybody there? Does anybody care? Does anybody care?
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Rev. John Witherspoon : Our, uh... New Jersey legislature has recalled the old delegation to this Congress and has sent a new one.
John Adams : Quickly, man: where do you stand on independence?
Rev. John Witherspoon : Why, haven't I made that clear?
John Adams : No.
Rev. John Witherspoon : Well, I suppose I hadn't, but that's the reason for the change. See, we've been instructed to vote for independence.
John Adams : Mr. President, Massachusetts is now ready to vote for the vote on independence, and reminds the chair of its privilege to decide all votes that are deadlocked.
John Hancock (MA) : [wearily] I won't forget, Mr. Adams.
John Hancock (MA) : The chair takes this opportunity to welcome the New Jersey delegation, and appoints the Reverend Witherspoon to Congressional chaplain, if he will accept the post.
Rev. John Witherspoon : With much pleasure, sir.
[Hancock bangs the desk with his gavel]
John Hancock (MA) : Very well. Mr, Thompson, you er, uh... may now proceed with the vote on independence.
Charles Thomson : All in favor of the resolution on independence, as proposed by the colony of Virginia, signify by...
John Dickinson : [stands up] Mr. President, Pennsylvania moves that any votes in favor of independence... must be unanimous.
John Adams : [rises] What?
James Wilson : [stands up] I second the motion.
John Hancock (MA) : Judge Wilson!
James Wilson : [chagrined] Oh, my God...
[Wilson sits back down]
George Read : Delaware seconds, Mr. President.
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Thomson : [reading Washington's letter] The situation is most desperate at the New Jersey training ground in New Brunswick, where every able bodied whore in the co... "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...
[drumroll]
Thomson : G. Washington.
Col. Thomas McKean : That man would depress a hyena.
Hancock : Well, Mr. Adams, you're chairman of the war committee. Do you feel up to whoring, drinking, deserting, and New Brunswick?
Rev. John Witherspoon : There must be some mistake, I have an aunt who lives in New Brunswick.
John Dickinson : You must tell her to keep up the good work.
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Hancock : Mr. Thomson, is the Declaration ready to be signed?
Charles Thomson : It is.
Hancock : Then I suggest we do so. And the chair further proposes, for our mutual security and protection, that no man be allowed to sit in this Congress without attaching his name to it.
John Dickinson : 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.
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Edward Rutledge : 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."
Charles Thomson : [searching] 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 them 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..."
Edward Rutledge : That will suffice, Mr. Thomson. I thank you, sir. Mr. Jefferson, I can't quite make out what it is you're talking about.
Thomas Jefferson : Slavery, Mr. Rutledge.
Edward Rutledge : Oh, yes. You're referring to us as slaves of the King.
Thomas Jefferson : No, sir. I'm referring to our slaves. Black slaves.
Edward Rutledge : Oh. Black slaves. Why didn't you say so, sir? Were you trying to hide your meaning?
Thomas Jefferson : No, sir.
Edward Rutledge : Just another literary license, then.
Thomas Jefferson : If you like.
Edward Rutledge : 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.
Thomas Jefferson : Nevertheless, we must abolish it. Nothing is more certainly written in the Book of Fate than that this people shall be free.
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Thomson : If any be opposed to the resolution on independence as proposed by the Colony of Virginia signify by saying...
John Adams : Mr. President?
Thomson : Oh, for heaven's sake, let me get through it once.
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Thomas Jefferson : They're reading the Declaration.
John Adams : Good God. How far have they gotten?
Thomas Jefferson : "... to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power."
[John opens the door to the Chamber]
Thomson : "... independent of and superior to-"
[John closes the door]
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[repeated lines]
Lewis Morris : New York abstains, courteously.
Charles Thomson : [recording vote] New York abstains.
Lewis Morris : Courteously.
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George 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.
John Adams : In Massachusetts, we have not.
George Read : Well, then I suggest that the words "in many cases" be added.
Charles Thomson : Mr. Jefferson?
[Jefferson indicates his approval]
Col. Thomas McKean : "In many cases"? Ach, brilliant! I suppose every time you see those three words, your puny chest will swell with pride over your great historical contribution.
George Read : It's more memorable than your unprincipled whitewash of that race of barbarians!
Col. Thomas McKean : [insulted] Race of barbarians? Why, I'll have you...
John Hancock : [pounding his gavel] Colonel McKean, Mr. Read, that's enough!
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Charles Thomson : Rhode Island. Second call Rhode Island.
McNair : Rhode Island!
Hopkins : I'm coming, I'm coming, hold your damn horses.
Charles Thomson : We're waiting on you, Mr. Hopkins.
Hopkins : Well, it won't kill you. You'd think the Congress would have its own privy. All right, where's she stand?
Charles Thomson : Five for debate, five for postponement, one abstention and one absence.
Hopkins : So it's up to me, huh? Well, I'll tell you, in all my years, I never seen, heard, nor smelled an issue that was so dangerous it couldn't be talked about. Hell yes, I'm for debating anything! Rhode Island says yea.
[Indistinguishable cheers and shouts]
John Hancock : McNair, get Mr. Hopkins a rum.
McNair : But you said...
John Hancock : Get him a whole damned barrel if he wants.
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Charles Thomson : All those in favor of the resolution on independence as proposed by the colony of Virginia, signify by saying...
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Mr. Secretary? Would you please read the resolution again?
South Carolina Delegate : What?
Dr. Benjamin Franklin : I've forgotten it.
[the Congress groans and starts to have a discussion]
Charles Thomson : [Hancock hits the desk with his gavel] Uh, resolved: that these united colonies are, and have a right ought to be, free and independent.
