But what distinguished this paper from all the others was the final irrevocable decision that it took to assert the independence of free states in place of colonies, and to commit to that goal their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. It set forth the grievances with eloquence, but such eloquence had been heard before. It was, it is true, a document of protest, but protests had been made before. For they gathered to affix their names to a document which was above all else, a document not of rhetoric, but of bold decision. Thus in a very real sense, you and I are the executives of the testament handed down by those who gathered in this historic hall 186 years ago today. Our responsibility is one of decisions for the governors to choose. Others may confine themselves to debate, discussion, and that ultimate luxury, free advice.
Our task, your task in the state house, and my task in the White House is to weave from all these tangled threads a fabric of law and progress. Our system and our freedom permits the legislative to be pitted against the executive, the state against the federal government, the city against the countryside, the party against party, interest against interest, all in competition or in contention one with another.
The necessity for comity between the national government and the several states is an indelible lesson of our long history.īecause our system is designed to encourage both differences and dissent, because it’s checks and balances are designed to preserve the rights of the individual and the locality against preeminent central authority, you and I governors, both recognize how dependent we both are, one upon another for the successful operation of our unique and happy form of government. To speak as President of the United States to the chief executives of our 50 States is both an opportunity and an obligation. It is a high honor for any citizen of the great republic to speak at this Hall of Independence on this day of independence. Governor, Governor Powell, Your Excellency The Archbishop, Governor Lawrence, Mayor Tate, Senator Clark, Congressman Green, distinguished governors, ladies and gentlemen, citizens of Philadelphia.
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