The journey from Dover, Delaware, to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was normally a
two-day trip—thirty hours on horseback.
A person usually stopped to eat and rest at
one of the inns along the way. On this trip,
however, there was no time to rest, no time
to eat. Spurring his horse on, Rodney ignored
the tempting breakfast smells that drifted on
the morning air. He was determined to reach
Philadelphia by late afternoon on July 2.
IN 1776, THE American Colonies were fac-
ing a decision that would affect them forever.
Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas
Jefferson, and others of the Continental
Congress had gathered at the Pennsylvania
State House (known today as Independence
Hall) to determine the future of America
by voting on Richard Henry Lee’s proposal
that the Colonies free themselves from Great
Britain.
For three weeks the members of the
Continental Congress debated the issue:
Should or shouldn’t they do it? What would
happen if they did? What would happen if
they didn’t? Congress agreed that the vote
must be unanimous—either all for or all
against independence from England. Finally,
on July 1, 1776, the vote was down to one
colony—Delaware. Delaware had three repre-
sentatives, but only two were present. Thomas
McKean had voted yes for independence.
George Read had voted no. A tiebreaker was
needed. McKean knew how Caesar Rodney
felt about independence, so he quickly sent a
message to Rodney, the absent representative.27