Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-02

RE mas p!rnccceu our seas, yavayeu ~ SQ&srss
burnt our towns. % destroyed the iva 6sour
people. s'So3.S 2.
lie is. ut this tin =. transportin. large armies
ct foreign mercena les. to complete the works Of
deaths desolation. and tyranny, already begun.
with circumstances ofctuelty aad per6dy. scarce.
iy parraleed in IN most barbarous ages. and TO.
tally unworthy tht head of a civilized nation.
He has constra ned our fellow citizens, taken
captive on-the NJ IN seas, to bear arms against
their country, TO ecome the sxecutioners of their
friends and bred ren, or to fall themselves by
their hands.
He has excited domestic instructions among
US. and has en,b.avored to bring on the inhabi.
tants OF our front iers the merciless Indian saya.
ges, whose know u rule of warfare is an undis.
tingnished destrut lion OF all ages, sexes, and
di,ions.
In every stage ut these expressions, we have
petitioned for red -ss in the most humble terms
our repeated pe,i, IONS have been answered only
by repeated injury. A prince whose character
is thus marked, b. every act. which may define
tyrant. is unfit TO be the ruler Of free people.
Nor have we be en wanting in attention to our
British br thern. We have warned them, from
time TO time, of ait empts made by their Legisla.
ture, to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction o.
yer US. We have reminded them OF the circum.
stances of our emigration and settlements here
We have appealed to their native Justice and
\
ties of our common kindred, TO disavow these u.
surpations, which would inevitably interrupt our
connections and correspondence. They, too,
have been deaf to the voice of Justice and of CON
sanguinity We must, therefore, acquiesce in
the necessity, which denounces our separation,
and hold them, rs we hold the rest of mankind
-eneruies In war tin peace, friends.
We. therefore. the representatives of the Unit.
ted States of America. in General Congress as.
AvA1 lss.r~s 49, Co.
world, for the reetitude of our intentions, Do, in
| the name aud by the authority OF the good peo.
pie of these colonies, solemniy publish and DECLARE
that these United Colonies are, and, of right.
ought 10 be free and independent states shat
they are absolved from all allegiance to the Bri
sish Crown. and that ali political connection, be.
tween ,feti and the state Of G,ea, Britain, is and
ought to be totally dissolved and that. as free
and independent states. they have full power to
levy war, conclude peace. contract alliances, es-
tablish commerce, and do all other acts and things
which independent states may of right do, And
for the support of this declaration, with firm
reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,
we mutually pledge TO each other. our lives our
fortunes, aud our sacred honor.
| Signed by order and in behalf of the Congress.
JOHN HANCOCK, President
Attes,ed
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.
Nerv Hampshire Josiah Bartlett, William
Whppe, Matthew Thornton.
Massacbusetts Bay Samuel Adams, John A.
dams, Robert Treat Paine. Eldridge Gerry
R6ode Inland, ,Se.-Stephen Hopkins, Will
am Ellery.
Connecneu.-Roger Sherman, Samuel Hunt.
ington, William Williams. Oliver Woicott.
I Ne.v Turk William Floyd, Philip Living
| ston. Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
NeSv sJersy Richard Stockton John wi,he .
spoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart. Abraham
Clark.
Pennyyipdnia Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush.
Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George CIV
mer, James Smith, George Taylor. James vii.
son. George Ross.
| DetasSare.-Cssar Rodney, George Read.
Maryland Samuel Chase. William Paca,
Thomas Stone. Charles Carroll. of Carrsllton.>
Virginia George Wythe, Richtrd Henry
Lee. Thomas Jefferson. Benz ,r,in Harrison. Tho.
mas Nelson, jun. Francis Lightfoot Lee. Garter
| Braxton.
| North Cdrolipa.-Wiliarl Hooper, Joseph
Hewes. John Penn
! SopfS Carsiina edward Rutedge, Thomas
Heyw35a jun. Thomas Lynch, jun. Arthur Mid.
dleton.
Gesyia Button Gwinn,t., Lyman Hail.
George Walton.