Philadelphia, July 4, 1776

This is John Deilier at the Statehouse in Philadelphia. Powerful opponent of the Declaration of Independence has emerged here on this fourth evening of July 1776. An opponent strong enough to rally the latent opposition to separation from the mother country.

Mr. John Dickinson, Pennsylvania's leading delegate to the Continental Congress, has just told reporters that he intends to speak on the floor before the final vote is taken. in a supreme effort to block this declaration which would commit our 13 colonies to revolutionary war with England. Mr Dickinson agreed that he is taking his political future on the outcome

of the vote. He anticipates that if he fails to block passage of the Declaration of Independence, he will be ejected from the Congress. July 4th, 1776, the State House in Philadelphia. You are there. John Dickinson, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, CBS takes you back to the evening when the colonial leaders fought their showdown battle on the issue of independence from England,

with a fate of a continent hanging in the balance. All things are as they were then, except for one thing. CBS is there. You are there. You are there. It's based on authentic historical fact and quotation and now July 4th 1776 the Philadelphia State House and John Daley.

I am hearing the recess which is now officially over. We hurried from the end of this microphone here on the floor of the Congress to bring you this news. Mr. Dickinson has not arrived yet he should be along at any minute but meanwhile the news has preceded him and it's having an explosive effect on the delegates who are present. As a matter of fact the weather