The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-07-17 00:00:00, page 2

A DECLARATION, by the Representatives of the Uni
ted Colonies of North-America, novo met in General
Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the Causes and
Necessity of their taking up Arms.
IP it was possible for men, wuo exercise their rea
son to believe, that the Divine Author of our
exigence intended a part of the human race to hold
an absolute property in, and an unbounded power
over others, marked out by his infinite goodness
and wisdom, as the objects of legal domination,
never rightfully refillable, however feVere and op
predve, the inhabitants of these colonies might at
, lead require from the parliament of Great-Britain
some evidence, that this dreadful authority over
them has been granted to that body. But a reve
rence for our great Creator, principles of humani
ty, and the dictates of common sense, must convince
all those who refleX upon the fubjeft, that govern
ment was instituted to promote the welfare of man
kind, and ought to be administered for the attain
ment of that end. The legislature of Great-Bri
tAn, however Simulated by an inordinate passion
for a power not only unjuftifiable, but which they
know to be peculiarly reprobated by the very con
ltcc:^l of that kingdom, and defpefate of success
in aay misle of contett, where regard Should be had
^^A, law, or right, have at length, deferring
1: r,% attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic
par; )fe of enllaving these colonies by violence, and
have thereby rendered it necessary for us to close with
their lad appeal from Reason to Arms. Yet,
however blinded that assembly may be, by their in
temperate rage for unlimited domination, so to
flightjuftice and the opinion of mankind, we esteem
ourselves bound #by obligations of refped to the rest
cf the world to make known the justice of our cause.
Our forefathers, inhabitants of the island of
Great-Britain, left their native land, to leek on
these Shores a residence for civil and religious free
dom. At the expence of their blood, at 'the hazard
of their fortunes, without the least charge to the
country from whence they removed, by unceasing
labour and an unconquerable spirit, they effected
settlements in the distant and inhospitable wilds of
America, then filled with numerous and warlike na-
tions of barbarians. Societies or governments,
vested with perfect legislatures, were formed under
charters from the crown, and an harmonious inter
course was established between the colonies and the
kingdom from whence they derived their origin.
Tie mutual benefits of this union became in a Ihort
time so extraordinary, as to excite aftoniihment. It
is universally confeffed, that the amazing increase
of the wealth, Strength and navigation of the realm,
arose from this Source ; and the minister who so
wifely and fuccefsfully directed the measures of
G^eat-Britain in the date war, publicly declared,
that these colonies enabled herto triumph over her
enemies. Towards the conclusion of that war, it
pleased our Sovereign to make a change in his coun
sels. From that fatal moment, the affairs of the
British empire began to fall into confufion, and
gradually Hiding from the Summit of glorious prof
purity to which they had been advanced by the
virtues and abilities cf one man, are at length dif
trafted by the convulsions that now Shake it to its
deepest foundations---The new ministry finding the
brave foes of Britain, though frequently defeated,
yet kill contending, took up the unfortunate idea of
granting them a hasty peace, and of then subduing
her faithful friends.
These devoted colonics were judged to be in such
a state, as to present victories without blood-Shed,
arid all the easy emoluments of ftatuteable plunder.
The uninterrupted tenor of their peaceable and ref
.pedtful behaviour from the beginning of colonizati
on, their dutiful, zealous and ufeful services during
the war, though so recently and amply acknow
ledged in the mod honorable manner by his Majes
ty, by the late king, and by parliament, could not
save them from the meditated innovations Par
liament was influenced to adopt the pernicious pro
jed, and affirming anew power over them, have,
in the courfeof eleven years, given such decisive
specimens of the spirit and consequences attend
ing this power, as to leave no doubt concerning the
elk? is of acquiefeence under it. They have under
taken to give and grant our money without our con
fea\ though we have ever exercised an exclusive
right to dispose of our own property ; Statutes have
been passed for extending the jurisdiction of courts
c c Admiralty and Vice- Admiralty beyond their
proper limits ; for depriving us of the accustomed
and inestimable privilege cf trial by jury in cases
~%air, both life and property ; for suspending
V^'flature of one of the colonies; for interdid
fmm.arce of another; and for altering
the form of ~ wernment established
:fe ured by acts of itsovn legifla
o , c. .oy confirmed by the crown ; for ex
to h^the “ murderers" of colonists from legal
V ^ din effect from punishment; for erecting
it a zAghbowing province, acquired by the joint
arms of Great-'Litain and America, a despotism
dangerous to our very existence; and for quartering
soldiers upon the colonies in time of profound peace.
It has also been resolved in parliament, that colo
nists charged of committing certain offences, Should
be transported to England to be tried.
But why Should we enumerate our injuries in de
tail ? By one itatute it is declared, that parliament
can “ cf right make laws to bind us in all cases
whatsoever." What is to defend us against so enor
mous, so unlimited a power? Not a Single man of
those who assume it is chosen by us, or is fubjed to
our controul Or influence: but on the contrary, they
are all of thera exempt from the operation of such
laws, and an American revenue, if not diverted
from the ostensible purposes for which it is railed,
would actually lighten their own burdens in pro
portion as they increase ours. We saw the misery
to which such despotism would reduce us. We for
ten years incessantly and ineffectually besieged the
throne as supplicants ; we reasoned, we remonstrat
ed with parliament in the mod mild and decent lan
guage. But administration, sensible that we lhould
regard these oppressive measures as freemen ought
to do, sent over fleets and armies to enforce them.
The indignation of the Americans was roused, it is
true; but it was the indignation ofa virtuous, loyal
and affectionate people. A Congress of Delegates
from the united colonies was assembled at Phila
delphia, on the fifth day of lad September. We
resolved again to offer an humble and dutiful peti
tion to ^ King, and also addressed our fellow
fubje&s of Great-Britain. We have pursued every
temperate, every refpeClfu! measure, we have even
proceeded to break off our commercial in tercourfe
with our fellow-fu bjefts, as the last peaceable ad
monition, that our attachment to no nation upon
earth ihould fupplantour attachment to liberty.---
This, we flattered ourselves, was the ultimate Step
of the controversy : But subsequent events have Shewn
how vain was this hope of finding moderation in
our enemies."
Several threatening expreflions against the colonies
were inserted in his Majesty's speech ; our petition,
though we were told it was a decent one, that his
Majesty had been pleaded to receive it gracioully,
and to promise laying it before his Parliament, was
huddled into both houses amongst a bundle of Ame
rican papers, and there neglected. The Lords and
Commons in their address, in the month orFebrunry,
said, that “ a rebellion at that time actually exited
within the province of Massachusetts-Bay ; and that
those concerned in it, had been countenanced and
encouraged by unlawful combinations and en
engagements, entered into by his Majesty's fubjefts
in several of the other colonies ; and therefore they
besought his Majesty that he would take effectual
measures t® enforce due obedience to the laws and
authority of the supreme legislature.”-- Soon after
the commercial intercourse of whole colonies, with
foreign countries, and with each other, was cutoff
by an aft of parliament ; by another, several of
them were intirely prohibited from the fisheries in
the seas near their coasts, on which they always de
pended for their sustenance; and large re-inforce
ments of Ships and troops were immediately sent over
to General Gage.
Fruitless were all the entreaties, arguments and
eloquence of an illustrious band of the most distin
guished Peers and Commoners, who nobly and stre
nuously asserted thejuftice of our cause, to flay, or
even to metigate the heedless fury with which these
accumulated and unexampled outrages were hurried
on. Equally fruitlefs was the interference of the
city of London, ofßriftol, and many other refpeda
ble towns, in our favonr. Parliament adopted an
insidious manoeuvre calculated to divide' us, to
establish a perpetual auction of taxations, where co
lony should bid against colony, all of them unin
formed what ranf©m would redeem their lives, and
thus to extort from us, at the point of the bayonet,
the unknown sums that Should be fufficient to gra
tify, if possible to gratify, ministerial rapacity, with
the miserable indulgence left to us of railing in our
own mode, the prescribing tribute. What terms
more rigid and humiliating could have been dilat
ed by remorseless viators to conquered enemies ? In
our circumstances to accept them would be to de
serve them.
Soon after the intelligence of these proceedings ar
rived on this continent, General Gage, who in the
course of thejaft year, liad taken poffeffi®n of the
town of Bolton, in the province of Maffachufettsßay
and still occupied it as a garrison, on the 19th of A
pril, sent out from that place a large detachment
of his army, who made an unprovoked assault on
the inhabitants of the said province, at the town of
Lexington, as appears by the affidavits of a great
number of persons, some of whom were officers and
soldiers of that detachment, murdered eight of the
inhabitants, and wounded many others. From
thence the troops proceeded in warlike array, to the
town of Concord, where they set upon another party
of the inhabitants of the Same province, killing se
veral, and wounding more, until compelled to re
treat by the country people suddenly assembled to
repel this cruel aggression.- --Hostilities thus com
menced by the British troops, have been Since pre
fecuted by them without regard to faith or reputa
tion. Ihe inhabitants of Boston being confined
within that town, by the General their Governor,
and having in order to procure their difmiffieh, en
tered into a treaty with him, it was Stipulated that
,We have received certain intelligence, that Gene
ral Carleton, the Governor of Canada, is indicating
the people of that province, and the Indians to fall
upon us ; and we have but too much reason to appre-"
hend, that Schemes have been formed to excite do
mestic enemies against us. In brief, a partofthofe colo
niesnow feels,&ail of them are fureof feeling, as far
as the vengeance of administration can inflid'them,
the complicated calamities of fire, sword, and fa
mine.--We are reduced to the alternative of choosing
an unconditional fubmiflion to the tyrannny of irrita
ted minide rs ,or refinance by force—The latter is our
choice.---We have counted the coil of this contest
and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery.--:
Honor, juliice, and humanity forbid us tamely to
surrender that freedom which we received fiom our
gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity
have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure
the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding genera
"°"s '°?"'' w^tchednefs which inevitably awaits
them, if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon
them. or
By this perfidy, wives are separated 'from their
husbands, children from their parents, the aged and
Sick fiom their relations and friends, who wish to
attend and comfort them ; and those who have been
used to live in plenty, and even elegance, are reduc
ed to deplorable dilhefs.
Ihe General, further emulating his ministerial
masters, by a proclamation bearing date on the
12th day of June, after venting the grossest falfe
hoods and calumnies against the good people of these
colonies, proceeds to <b declare them all either by
name or cefcription to be rebels and traitors, to su
persede the course of common law, and instead there
of to publish and order the use and exercise of the
law martial."---His troopshave butchered our coun
trymen ; have wantonly burnt Charlellown, besides
a considerable number of houses in other places ; our
Ships and vessels are seized; the necessary supplies
of provisions are intercepted, and he is exerting his
utmost power to Spread deduction and devaluation
around him.
Ourcaufe is just. Our union is perfect. Our in
ternal resources are great, and if necessary, foreign
assistance is undoubtedly attainable.--We gieatefully
acknowledge, as signal instances of theDivine favour
towards us, that his Providence would net permit
us to be called upon into this severe controverfy,un
til we were grown up to our present Strength, had
been previously exercised in warlike operations, and
possessed of the means cf defending ourselves.
With hearts fortified with these animating reflexi
ons, we most Solemnly, before GOD and the world
declare, that, exerting the utmost energy of those
powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graci
eufly bellowed upon us, the arms we have been com
pelled by our enemies to affume,we wiil,in defiance
of every hazard, with unabating fijmnefs and per-
Severance, employ, for the preservation of our liber
ties, being with one mind resolved to die Freemen
rather than live Slaves.
Left this declaration Should disquiet the minds of
our friends and fellow fubjefts in any part of the
empire, we affuro them,that we mean not to dissolve
that Union which has so long and so happily sub
sisted between us, and which we sincerely wish to fee
restored.---Necessity has not yet driven us into that
desperate measure, or induced us to excite any other
nation to war against them. We have not railed
armies with ambitious designs of feperating from
Great-Britain, and eftablifliing independent States,
---vve fight not for glory, or for conquest. We ex
hibit to mankind the rem irkable fpeXacle ofa peo
ple attacked by unprovoked enemies, without any
imputation, or even suspicion, of offence. They
boast of their privileges and civilization, and yet
proffer no milder conditions than Servitude or deaths
In our own native land, ia defence cf the free
dom that is our birth right, and which we ever en
joyed till the late violation of it---for the protection
of our property, acquired solely by the honest in
dustry of our forefathers and ourselves, against vio
lence actually offered, we have taken up arms. We
Shall lay them down when hostilities Shall cease on
the part of the aggressors, and all danger cf their
being renewed Shall be removed, and not before.
With an humble confidence in the mercies of the
supreme and impartial Judge and Ruler of the uni
verse, we most devoutly implore his divine goodness
to condud us happily through this great conflid,
to dispose our adversaries to reconcilia cion on reason
able terms, and thereby to relieve the empire from
the calamities of a civil war.
By order of Congrefi. JOHN HANCOCK, Presider
/Ittefed, Charles Thompson: , Secreta
.he mid^ inhabitants having deposited their arms
with their own magistrates, ihould have liberty to
depart, taking with them their other effects. They
accordingly delivered up their arms, but in open vio
lation of honor, in defiance of the obligations of
treaties, which even Savage nations esteem sacred,
the governor ordered the arms deposited as aforefaid,
flat tney might be preserved for the owners, to be
seized by a body of soldiers; detained the greatest
part of the inhabitants in the town, and compelled
the few whs )were permitted to retire, to leave their
most. valuable effects behind.