Actually, Les, it damned didn't get passed. There were two delegates against it, and the Ceasar Rodney, the deciding vote, rode 80 miles to cast it. The two dissenters didn't show up on July 2, 1776 because of the rain, Rodney walked in muddy and dripping wet and voted for dissolution. Two others switched their votes, and it passed without dissent.

And that was that.

(Did you know that Ben Franklin's only son was a Tory? 'S true, and I don't believe father and son ever reconciled.)