Pendleton’s compromise left Congress, not Virginia, to declare independence

Evidence

The resolution on independence came first, with debate beginning on May 14. The convention considered three draft resolutions, all of which declared Virginia independent but only one, offered by Patrick Henry, also instructing Virginia’s delegates in Philadelphia to seek a “full Declaration of Independency” by Congress for the United Colonies. All three listed grievances against the British government, with Henry’s draft offering the most full-throated assault on the king by denouncing George III as “the tyrant instead of the protector of his people.” On May 15, convention president Edmund Pendleton—a moderate who had not previously committed himself on the issue of separation—offered the compromise that won uniform assent. Neither proclaiming Virginia independent nor assailing the king, it opened with a pointed list of grievances against the British government followed by instructions to the colony’s delegates in Congress “to propose to that respectable body to declare the United Colonies free and independent states.” — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 193

Categorization

• XREF: The drama over who declares independence — colony or Congress — parallels questions of sovereignty allocation across the reader’s legal institutions material. — connects to: Congress debated an already-formed independence resolution from Virginia — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 206

Broader Connections

• Congress debated an already-formed independence resolution from Virginia #qualifies (0.85) — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 206