The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-04

edged b. bur laws giving his aiien to ,heir a, Of
pretended legination
For quartering large bodies of armed troops irsng
'us: f
For protecting them, by meek trial. ftor p;in;i
men; tor any murders which they hould commit Oh
the inhabitants OF theie Gates:
For cutting of our trade with all parts Of the world
FOR impoimg taxes without our content:
For dePriving US, in many cafes, OF the benefits Of
trial by jury:
For transporting beyond ieas to be tried for re
tended offences:
For abolihing the free fyhern of Ensliih laws in
neghbourlag province, eaablilhng therein an rbtra-
~ government and enlargng its boundaries 70 as to
render It at once an example and nit ntrument for
Producing the fame abioute rule into theie colonies
For taking away our charters, aboliihinp cur mon
valuable laws, and altering Fundamentally the forr,s Of
our governments
For iuiPending our own Legislatures, aei declaring
themielves inveed with power Icy late for us in all
cafes whatioever.
lie has abdicated government here, by declaring us
out OF his protection, and waging war sg;.inf US
He has plundered feas, ravagcd cur COATS,
burnt Our towns, and deroyed the lives Of our PEG
pie
ie is, this time, transporting large armies of TO-
egn mercenaries to complete the works of DEATH de-
iolation and tyranny already begun with crcurnltan-
ces OF cruelty and perdy, fcarcey parrelled in the
mott barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of
civilized nation.
He has conitrainedour feow-ctze taken captive
on the nigh ieas to bear again their country to
become the execntoners of their friends and brethren
or to ta themielves by their hands
He hiss excited domeitic aipps AMONG lie.
and has endeavoured bring on the inhabitants Of our
frontiers, the nerc:les Indian favages whole known
RUE OF warfare IS an undnguiihed Destruction of all
ages, 1exes and conditions
In every itage of theie oppreons we have petition
cd Tor redreis IN the mott humble Our repeat
ed petitions have been anwered only by repeated nu-
ny. a rnce whole character is thus marked by eve
~ a6 which may define tyrant, unfit to be the ru-
Ter OF free people.
Nor nave we been wanting in attentions to our Bril-
TIN brethren. We have warned them from time to
time, OF attempts by their Legislature TO extend an ur
warrantabie jmiidction us. We have reminded
'he OF the circumstances of emigration and fettle-
nent mere. We have appealed their native iutice
ana magnanimty, and we have conjured them BY the
ties OF our common kindred to davow thele uturpa-
tons, which would inevitably interrupt our connexions
ana correspondence. They have been deaf to the
voice OF luitice and Of confanguity We mutt, there
tore, acquce in the necety which deaounces our f.
paration, ana hold them, hold the reh of man.
KIND, enemies IN war, in peace. friends
WE, therefore, the representatives Of the United
States OF America, in General Congrefs adenhled,
appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the
rectltude OF our intentions, do, in the name and by
authority of the good people of thefe colonies ioeln
iy publih and declare, That thefe United Colonies
are and OF right ought to be- Free and independent
States that they are abiolved from all allegiance to
the Britiih Crown, and that all political connexon be
tween them and the fate of Great-Britan, is, and
ought TO be, totally dolved and that as Free and
independent States, they have full power to levy war
conclude peace, contract alliances eHahlil commerce
and to do all other acts and things which independent
states may OF right do And for the fpport of this
declaration, with firm reliance OH the protea Sion of
DIVINE Providence, we mutually pledged toeach other
| our lives, our fortunes, and our iacred honour
JOHN HANCOCK.
Nrw-HAMPsHIRE.--Jofah Bartlett, william,
| WhpPle, Matthew Thornton
| "ssAcHusETTs- BAY.-S.muel Adams, Iohn
Adams, Robert Treat Paine Eibridge Gerry.
RHoDE-lsLAwD, Ssc.-Stephen Hopkins, william,
Elcry.
| CoNNEcT1cUT-Roger Sherman Samuel Hum
tington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
NEW William Floyd, Philip Livingfon
Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
NEw-JERsEY.-Richard Stockton, John Wither-
lPoon' Francis Hopkinion, John Hart, Abraham
Clark.
PENNsYLvAN1A.--Robert Morris BENJAMIN Ruff
Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clyner,
James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilton, George
Rofs.
DELAwASE.-C9far Rodney, George Read, Tho.
mas MKean.
MARYLAND.--SairuelC hafe William Paca, Tho
mas Stone, Charles Carroll, of Carrollton
NIRGINIA--George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Iefferfon, Benjamin Harriion, Thomas Mel
ion,J jun Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton.
William Hooper, Jofeph
Hews, John Penn.
SoUTh-CARoLfNA,-Edwa Rutledge, Thomas
Hayward, jun. Thomas Lynch, jun. Arthur Middle
, ton.
GEoRcIA-ButtOn Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George
Walton
a. a ~ .-vS-,,s>sx,