If we postpone independence，do we mean to carry on，or give up，the war？Do we mean to submit to the measures of Parliament，Boston portbill and all？Do we mean to submit，and consent that we ourselves shall be ground to powder，and our country and its rights trodden down in the dust？I know we do not mean to submit.We never shall submit.Do we intend to violate that most solemn obligation ever entered into by men，that plighting，before God，of our sacred honor to Washington，when，putting him forth to incur the dangers of war，as well as the political hazards of the times，we promised to adhere to him，in every extremity，with our fortunes and our lives？
I know there is not a man here who would not rather see a general conflagration sweep over the land，or an earthquake sink it，than one jot or tittle of that plighted faith fall to the ground.For myself，havingFANEUIL HALL，BOSTONThis famous old hall was first built in 1742by Peter Faneuil，and given to the town.It has been called the “Cradle of Liberty，”because the Sons of Liberty，a patriotic organization，held many meetings there in the years just preceding the revolution.
twelve months ago，in this place，moved you that George Washington be appointed commander of the forces raised，or to be raised，for defense of American liberty，may my right hand forget its cunning，and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth，if I hesitate or waver in the support I give him！The war，then，must go on.We must fight it through.
And，if the war must go on，why put off longer the Declaration of Independence？That measure will strengthen us.It will give us character abroad.The Nations will then treat with us，which they never can do while we acknowledge ourselves subjects in arms against our sovereign.Nay，I maintain that England herself will sooner treat for peace with us on the footing of independence，than consent，by repealing her acts，toacknowledge that her whole conduct towards us has been a course of injustice and oppression.Her pride will be less wounded by submitting to that course of things which now predestinates our independence，than by yielding the points in controversy to her rebellious subjects.The former she would regard as the result of fortune；the latter，she would feel as her own deep disgrace.Why，then，Sir，do we not，as soon as possible，change this from a civil to a national war？And，since we must fight it through，why not put ourselves in a state to enjoy all the benefits of victory，if we gain the victory？If we fail，it can be no worse for us.But we shall not fail！The cause will raise up armies；the cause will create navies.The people，the people，if we are true to them，will carry us，and will carry themselves，gloriously through this struggle.I care not how fickle other people have been found.I know the people of these colonies；and I know that resistance to British aggression is deep and settled in their hearts，and cannot be eradicated.Every colony，indeed，has expressed its willingness to follow，if we but take the lead.Sir，the Declaration will inspire the people with increased courage.Instead of a long and bloody war for restoration of privileges，for redress of grievances，for chartered immunities，held’under a British king，set before them the glorious object of entire independence，and it will breathe into them anew the breath of life.Read this Declaration at the head of the army；every sword will be drawn from its scabbard，and the solemn vow uttered，to maintain it，or to perish on the bed of honor.Publish it from the Pulpit；religion will approve it，and the love of religious liberty will cling round it，resolved to stand with it，or fall with it.Send it to the public halls；proclaim it there；let them hear it who heard the first roar of the enemy‘s cannon，let them see it who saw their brothers and their sons fall on the field of Bunker Hill，and in the streets of Lexington and Concord，and the very walls will cry out in its support！
Sir，I know the uncertainty of human affairs；but I see clearly through this day’s business.You and I，indeed，may rue it.We may not live to see the time when this Declaration shall be made good.We may die，die colonists；die slaves；die，it may be，ignominiously，and onLEXINGTONHere was fired the first shot of the revolutionary war in the early morning of April 19，1775.
the scaffold！Be it so！Be it so！If it be the pleasure of Heaven that my country shall require the poor offering of my life，the victim shall be ready at the appointed hour of sacrifice，come when that hour may.But，while I do live，let me have a country，or，at least，the hope of a country，and that a free country.
But，whatever may be our fate，be assured that this Declaration will stand.It may cost treasure，and it may cost blood；but it will stand，and it will richly compensate for both.Through the thick gloom of the present，I see the brightness of the future，as the sun in Heaven.We shall make this a glorious，an immortal day.When we are in our graves，our children will honor it.They will celebrate it with thanksgiving，with festivity，with bonfires，and illuminations.On its annual return，they will shed tears，copious，gushing tears，not of subjection and slavery，not of agony and distress，but of exultation，of gratitude，and of joy.Sir，before God，I believe the hour has come！My judgmentapproves this measure，and my whole heart is in it.All that I have，and all that I am，and all that I hope，in this life，I am now ready here to stake upon it ；and I leave off，as I began，that，live or die，survive or perish，I am for the Declaration！It is my living sentiment，and，by the blessing of God，it shall be my dying sentiment，INDEPENDENCE now ，and INDEPENDENCE FOREVER！