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Well Mr Adams
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1776

... says yea

1776 1972
Edward Rutledge:
[In the final vote for Independence, Rutledge wants the slavery clause removed from the Declaration, or else he will vote against independence]
Well, Mr. Adams? John Adams:
Well, Mr. Rutledge. Edward Rutledge:
[stands]
Mr. Adams, you must believe that I *will* do what I promised to do. John Adams:
[stands and approaches him]
What is it you want, Rutledge? Edward Rutledge:
Remove the offending passage from your Declaration. John Adams:
If we did that, we would be guilty of what we ourselves are rebelling against. Edward Rutledge:
Nevertheless... remove it, or South Carolina will bury, now and forever, your dream of independence. Dr. Benjamin Franklin:
John? I beg you consider what you're doing. John Adams:
Mark me, Franklin... if we give in on this issue, posterity will never forgive us. Dr. Benjamin Franklin:
That's probably true, but we won't hear a thing, we'll be long gone. Besides, what would posterity think we were? Demi-gods? We're men, no more no less, trying to get a nation started against greater odds than a more generous God would have allowed. First things first, John. Independence; America. If we don't secure that, what difference will the rest make? John Adams:
[long pause]
Jefferson, say something. Thomas Jefferson:
What else is there to do? John Adams:
Well, man, you're the one that wrote it. Thomas Jefferson:
I *wrote* ALL of it, Mr. Adams. [stands and goes to the Declaration, crosses out the clause] John Adams:
[snatches the paper from Jefferson and takes it to Rutledge]
There you are, Rutlege, you have your slavery; little good may it do you, now VOTE, damn you! Edward Rutledge:
[takes the paper]
Mr. President, the fair colony of South Carolina... [looks at Adams] Edward Rutledge:
... says yea

Full Transcript

00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:02.668
Well Mr Adams
00:00:03.794 --> 00:00:05.087
Well Mr Rutledge
00:00:08.174 --> 00:00:09.508
Mr Adams
00:00:12.999 --> 00:00:15.973
you must believe that I will do what I promised to do
00:00:22.073 --> 00:00:24.315
What is it you want Rutledge
00:00:24.398 --> 00:00:28.001
Remove the offending passage from your declaration
00:00:28.402 --> 00:00:30.529
If we did that we would be guilty
00:00:30.613 --> 00:00:33.532
of what we ourselves are rebelling against
00:00:35.493 --> 00:00:37.703
Nevertheless remove it
00:00:38.454 --> 00:00:41.054
or south Carolina will bury now and forever
Duration
43 seconds
Views
808
Timestamp in Movie
02:31:01
Uploaded
Dec 05, 2022
Genres
Production
Columbia Pictures,Jack L. Warner Productions

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Movie Summary

A musical retelling of the American Revolution's political struggle in the Continental Congress to declare independence.

Actors

William Daniels
John Adams
Howard Da Silva
Dr. Benjamin Franklin
Ken Howard
Thomas Jefferson