Description

A Voice from the Balcony

The Declaration of Independence newly drafted by Thomas Jefferson lay before the delegates of the Continental Congress. The boldness and audacity of its words and position caused some among the delegates to weaken at the knees and tremble. There was talk of such things as treason, and gallows and execution as they debated its words.

Then, according to Jefferson’s record, a mysterious voice rang out from the balcony of Independence Hall saying,

“They may stretch our necks on all the gallows of the land. They may turn every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die. They may pour our blood on a thousand scaffolds and yet from every drop that dyes the exe, a new champion of freedom will spring into birth. The words of this declaration will live long after our bones are dust. To the mechanic in his workshop they will speak hope; to the slave in the mines, freedom, but to the coward rulers, these words will speak in tones of warning they cannot help but fear. Sign the parchment. Sign if the next moment the noose is around your neck. Sign if the next minute the hall rings with the clash of falling axes! Sign by all your hopes in life and death, not only yourselves, but for all the ages. For that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the bible of the rights of man forever. Were my soul trembling on the verge of eternity, my hand freezing in death, I would implore you to remember this truth – God has given America to be free.”

According to the account, the speaker finished and sank back in his chair exhausted. One by one, and unanimously at that, the delegates filed by and signed that document. And it became, as was prophesied by the stranger, all he said it would be and more. Indeed, it will live forever.

And of that speaker, he could never be found. No one knew who he was or how he came to be in that carefully guarded room. But he spoke a truth inspired by Almighty God of which I declare as truth to you, “God has given America to be free!”

Excerpted from Ronald Reagan’s Commencement address at Eureka College, June 7, 1957.