Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-07-03
III l-2 Gems Single. ]

they should commit on the inhabitan,s o
these Safest
( For cutting off our trade with all part
Of the world 80
! For imposing taxes on us wilbon; oul
/ consent &c.
For dcpriving us in many cases, of the
benefits oftriaI by jury -
For transporting us beyond seas, 10 be
tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free system of En-
glish lawsin neigbboring province, essa.
nhshing therein an arbitrary government,
ans eniarging its boundaries so Is 10 rcn-
der ii at once an example and at instru-
ment, Tor Introducing The same absolute
rule into these colonies 60
For taking away our charters, abolish.
ling our most valuable laws, and altering
fundamentally the forms of our governs
ments 80
/ For suspending our own legislatures,
and declaring themselves invested viii
power, TO legislate lorus in ell cases what
soever.
He has abdicated government here, by
declaring Us out of his protection and wa
| ging war against us.
He has pIundered our seas, ravaged our
coasts, burnt our towns, and destroy ed the
lives ofour people.
He is, at his time, transporting Iargc
armies of foreign mercenaries 10 COM
plete the works of death, desoial;oo, and
tyranny, already begun, with c,rcums.an-
ocs of cruelty aud perfidy, scarcely paral-
icled IN the most barbarous ages, and to-
tally unworthy the head of civilized ma
ton.
He has constrained our fellow citizens,
taken captive on the high seas, 10 bear
arms against their county, 20 become the
executioners OF their friends asd Brethren,
or to fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic in4urreelions
amongst us, and has eudeevored to bring
on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the
mercriess Indian sayages, whose known
rule OF warfare is an undistinguislied de-
slruction of all ages, sexes, and condati.
ons. ~
Inevery stage CT these expressions, we
have petitioned for redress, in the most
humble terms; our repeated petitions
have been answered only by repeated in
Jury. a prince whose charaeter is thus
ma. ked by every ACT which may define a
I tyrant, is unfit 10 be The ruler of Free
People.
/ Nor have we been wanting in attention
10 our British brethren. We have warned
them from time To lime, ofat.empts made
by their legislature to extend az, unwar-
rantabIe jurisdiction over US. We have
! reminded them OF the circumstances Of
our emigration and settlement here. We
have appealed to their native Justice and
magnsmmity, andw we have coninred them,
by the ties ofcur Commons Kindred, 10 dis
avow These usurpauobs, which would in
cWtably interrupt our Connexions and cor
respondence. they TOO have been deaf
TO the voice of justice and consanguinily.
We must, therefore, acquiesce in the ne
cesslty which denouDces our separation.
and hold them as we hold the rest or NAM
kind--enemies in WARM peace, friends.
We, therefore, the Repre- senta,iyes Of
the United States OF America in Congress
assembled, appealing TO the Supreme
Judge OF the world for the reetitude of
our intentions. Do, in The name and by
the authority Of the good People Of these
Colonies, solemnly declare, that these u
niied Colonies are, and, Of right ought to
be Free and independent States :--that
they are absolved from all allegiance to
the British Crown, and that eli political
connection, between them and the State
eE Great Britain, is and ought to be total
lly dissolved; and that as Free and Inde.
pendent States, they have foil power to
levy war, conclude peace, contact ALLAN.
+ ces, establish commerce, and to do all o.
sher aels aud things which Indepen.
dent States may ofright do. And for the
support of this declaration, with a firm re-
lance on the protection Of Divine proyi-
dence, we mutually pledge TO each other,
our lives, our fortunes aud our sacfed no.
nor.
| Signed BY order and in behalf Of Tie
Congress.
JOHN HANCOCK, Pre-.
sftfeSf, CA. THOMSON, S. c.
NsEo- KaB,tsAire.
Josiah Bartlett, WIN. Whippls, Math.
! Thornton.
Massachusefts- Ban
\ Samuel Adams, John Adams, Rsber,
/ L. PANE, Elbridge Gerry.