1776 (1972)

James Noble: Rev. John Witherspoon (NJ)

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Quotes 

• Rev. John Witherspoon : Dr. Franklin? I'm afraid I must be the bearer of unhappy tidings. Your son, the royal governor of New Jersey, has been arrested, and has been moved to the colony of Connecticut for safekeeping.

  Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Is he unharmed, sir?

  Rev. John Witherspoon : When last I heard, he was.

  Dr. Benjamin Franklin : Well then, why the long face? I hear Connecticut's a excellent location. Tell me... why did they arrest the little bastard?

• Rev. John Witherspoon : Our, uh... New Jersey legislature has recalled the old delegation to this Congress and has sent a new one.

  John Adams : Quickly, man: where do you stand on independence?

  Rev. John Witherspoon : Why, haven't I made that clear?

  John Adams : No.

  Rev. John Witherspoon : Well, I suppose I hadn't, but that's the reason for the change. See, we've been instructed to vote for independence.

  John Adams : Mr. President, Massachusetts is now ready to vote for the vote on independence, and reminds the chair of its privilege to decide all votes that are deadlocked.

  John Hancock (MA) : [wearily]  I won't forget, Mr. Adams.

  John Hancock (MA) : The chair takes this opportunity to welcome the New Jersey delegation, and appoints the Reverend Witherspoon to Congressional chaplain, if he will accept the post.

  Rev. John Witherspoon : With much pleasure, sir.

  [Hancock bangs the desk with his gavel] 

  John Hancock (MA) : Very well. Mr, Thompson, you er, uh... may now proceed with the vote on independence.

  Charles Thomson : All in favor of the resolution on independence, as proposed by the colony of Virginia, signify by...

  John Dickinson : [stands up]  Mr. President, Pennsylvania moves that any votes in favor of independence... must be unanimous.

  John Adams : [rises]  What?

  James Wilson : [stands up]  I second the motion.

  John Hancock (MA) : Judge Wilson!

  James Wilson : [chagrined]  Oh, my God...

  [Wilson sits back down] 

  George Read : Delaware seconds, Mr. President.

• John Adams : [after the South's walkout]  Stephen, I want you to...

  Stephen Hopkins : I'm going to the tavern, Johnny. If there's anything I can do for you there, let me know.

  John Adams : [the others start to leave, too]  Chase. Bartlett!

  Dr. Josiah Bartlett : What's the use, John? The vote's tomorrow morning.

  Samuel Chase : There's left than a full day left.

  John Adams : Roger.

  Roger Sherman : Face facts, John. It's finished.

  Rev. John Witherspoon : I'm sorry, John.

• Thomson : [reading Washington's letter]  The situation is most desperate at the New Jersey training ground in New Brunswick, where every able bodied whore in the co... "WHORE?"... in the colonies has assembled. There are constant reports of drunkenness, desertion, foul language, naked bathing in the Raritan river, and an epidemic of the "French disease." I have placed this town off limits to all military personnel with the exception of officers. I beseech the congress to dispatch the War Committee to this place, in the hope of restoring some of the order and discipline we need to survive. Your obedient...

  [drumroll] 

  Thomson : G. Washington.

  Col. Thomas McKean : That man would depress a hyena.

  Hancock : Well, Mr. Adams, you're chairman of the war committee. Do you feel up to whoring, drinking, deserting, and New Brunswick?

  Rev. John Witherspoon : There must be some mistake, I have an aunt who lives in New Brunswick.

  John Dickinson : You must tell her to keep up the good work.

• John Hancock : [Hancock hits the desk with his gavel]  A resolve, that these united colonies are, and have a right ought to be, free and independent...

  Rev. John Witherspoon : [Witherspoon knocks on the door and opens it]  Excuse me, is- is this the Continental Congress? Well, yes, I- I can see that it must be.

  Rev. John Witherspoon : [to the New Jersey delegates off-screen]  It's all right, we've found it!

  Rev. John Witherspoon : [the delegates enter]  We've been looking for you everywhere, you see. Someone told us that you might be at Carpenter's Hall, and someone else suggested Library Hall, and so finally, we asked a constable.

  John Hancock : Excuse me, sir, but, um... if you don't mind, the, uh... Congress is about to decide the question of American independence.

  Rev. John Witherspoon : Oh, how splendid, that means we're not too late. Oh, these gentlemen are Mr. Francis Hopkinson, Dr. Richard Stockton, and I am the Reverend John Witherspoon.

  [the Continental Congress is silent] 

  Rev. John Witherspoon : We're the new delegates from New Jersey.

  [the Continental Congress greets them enthusiastically]