May 21, 1776: Fast into Independency

Francis Lightfoot Lee, representing Virginia in the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, wrote to Landon Carter, "This & the adjoining Colonies are going fast into Independency & constituting new Governmts. convinced of the necessity of it, both for the security of internal peace & good order; and for the vigorous exertion of their whole force against the common Enemy."