Christianity and the American Commonwealth, The Influence of Christianity in Making This Nation, by Methodist Bishop Charles B. Galloway, 1899, pages 99-100.
And it is a fact of history that though the genius of a great statesman penned the Declaration of Independence, it was the convincing eloquence of a minister of the gospel that compelled the members of the Continental Congress to affix to it their signature. That minister, a member of the Congress, was the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, President of Princeton College. The Congress hesitated. The destiny of a nation was suspended upon one hour of agonizing suspense. The historic document lay unrolled upon the table. At that critical moment the venerable President of Princeton arose, and with great emotion uttered these words:
To hesitate at this moment is to consent to our own slavery. That notable instrument upon your table, which insures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this very morning by every pen in this house. He that will not respond to its accent and strain every nerve to carry into effect its provisions is unworthy the name of freeman. Whatever I have of property, of reputation, is staked on the issue of this contest; and although these gray hairs must soon descend into the sepulcher, I would infinitely rather that they descend hither by the hand of an executioner than desert at this crisis the sacred cause of my country.