Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-06-15

But SPAN, deprived OF her king by ths
unparalleled per6dy of the emperor O
the French, her European states yanquish.
ed by his treachey and by his arms, anc
the ancient, lawful and acknowledged go.
vernment ct the country destroyed by the
violent outrages OF his sanguinary policy
there exists neither reason, right, or JUS
tice for continuing our depe ndencs on .
power that has no existence bu. in mem
DRY. Policy and self preservation, there
fore, demand, that we should provide for
our common safety and the pr ote ction o
these provinces. BY taking into our own
hands the natural sovereignty ofour coun-
try. ...
The period has at length arrived when
these United Provinces possess both the
strength and the power to protect them
selves With population ofnlne mill.
ons of inhabitants, with an extent of Ter.
tile territory superior TO any empire on
the globe, and Astounding with all the
riches tina; bounteous nature ever besow.
ed on tine human race, it would be con-
trary to scuAd policy, in The present s's e
of The world, TO submit; And we are de
termiued no longer TO submit to the Do
mination OF any European or foreign pow.
er whatever.
For whilst lawful government exis,
ted in spain, and her Legitimate king sat
upon her throne, we have ever been loyal to
his person, and faithful TO his government
and our treasures have been the only sup
port of the European monarchy anc
its allies, whilst we have been distressed
by a war in which we had no iftere S,
Z " hatever, and our country drained of those
riches which nature ha, hes owed on the
\ inhabitants of America for their happiness
{kupport, and defence. tr.
Under these considerations, and to pre-.
vent the inevitable and rumous consequen.
ces of falling under the yoke of the empe-
ror of the French the tyrant OF Europe and
oppressor of Spain, We the Spanish pro-
vlnces IN America declare ourselves n
Free, Sovereign, and independent People,
not acknowledging the Domination of any
power on earth, refusing submission, aud
denying and repeiling the authority of what.
ever nation may attempt dominion over rs
This we unanimously engage and pledge
ourselves TO maintain and support with our
lives, our fortunesJ and our sacred hon.
ours calling upon every inhabitant in the
provinces to aid and support in carrying
-tItO CEeCC tUiS our iduuaDic anu JUST TcsO.
luton, and establishing for ourselves and
our poster,y a. free, equitable and indie
pendent government, that shall secure our
happiness and give us place of honor and
respect among the independent nations Of
the earth. fts
And we do most earnestly entreat al
foreign nations to acknowledge and guaran-
tee our independence, and TO favour US with
snCh alliance and assistance as may ena.
be Us TO defeat the designs Of the enemie,
OF our country.
BY thus dlsavowing our dependence or
Spain, we solemniy appeal To heaven toI
the rectisude OF cur intentions and we 4,
protest, before the sacred majesty of Coz
himself that in all our measures we have
ever been actua,ed by motives pure an,
honorable, and that we have no other de
sign in view than the preservation OF cur.
selves, and the protection of our common
country. And we do most humoly suppl
cate that Beng who decides the fate o
nations To- smile Oh our exertions, and /,
Sless and project this, our new established
empire.