Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-07-04

He has refused to pass other laws for the ac-
commodaion of large districts OF people, unless
those people would relnquish the right OF repre-
scn,aion in the legislature, right inestiinabe to
them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together Legislative bodies al
places unusual, uncomfortable and distant from the
ieposrary OF their public records for the sole pur-
pose of faiigueing them into compliance with bis
measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeat
eddy. for opposing with manly firmness his inva-
sions the rights of the people
He has refused Tor n long time after such dsso
buttons, to cause Others 10 be cleo ed wherein
the legislative powers, incapable of annihila,ion
have returned 10 the people at large for their
else the State remaining in the meantime exposed
TO all he dangers oil invasion from without, and
commissions within.
He has endeavored 10 prevent the population OF
these states; for hat purpose obslruc,ing the laws
for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass
others encourage their mgrstons hher, aud rails
ing the condition OF new appropriations of lands.
He has INSTRUCTED the administration Of Justice,
by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judi
cary powers.
He has made Judges dependant on his !, i'll alone,
for Inc tenure OF their Offices, and the amount and
payment of heir salaries
sent hiher of officers 10 harrass our Peep e
and ga out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace stand
Ing armies, without he consent of our legislatures
He has affected to render he military Independent
OF and superior to the civil power
| He has combined with Others 10 subject Us TO a
Jurisdiction foreign TO constitution, and unac-
knowleiged by cur laws; giving his assent to their
acts of pretended lessla,ion;
/ E'r,l ,ariu cf
mong U.S.
! For protecting them BY mock trial from pun
ishment for any murders which hey should commit
| on the inhabitants OF these states;
| For cutting off our rade with all parts of the
world
! Fo' imposing taxes US withou, our consent;
| For depriving US in many OF the benefits oil
Trial BY jury;
! For transporting us beyond seas to &c tried for
pretended offences;
! For abolishing the free system Of English laws
10 neighbouring Province; establishing therein an
arbitrary government, and enlsrg,ng its boundaries
so as 10 render it once an example and hi in
sirumen for Introducing the same absolute rule In
20 ''ese Colonies;
For taking away our charters, aboiishing our
most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the
| forms OF our governments;
For suspsnding own Leg slatures and de-
clarins Themselves invested with power to legis-
late for IN all cases whatsoever.
lie has abdicated government here, by declaring
u ont of his pro ecton and wagirg war against us
He has pundered our seas, rsvaged our coasts
burnt our towns aud destroyed the lives of our poo
pie
lie is at this time, Transporting large armies Of
foreign mercenaries TO complete the works o
death, deSoianon and tyranny, already begun with
circumstances OF cruelty and perhdy scarcely
pmalleied In the most barbarous ages, and to- all
! unworthy the head OF a civilized nation.
I lie has co. strained our fellow citizens, taken
captive on the high seas, bear arms against their
Country, 20 become the executionels of THEN
friends aud brethren, to fall themselves b. heir
hands
! He has excited domestic Instructions amongst
Us, and has endeavor bring o the inhabiiaui.
of our frontiers, tie merciie.s Indi-n savagcs
So ho-e known rule of warfare l. an undistnguished
| destruction of ali age, sexes and conditions
,. In every stage OF these expressions we have
! petitored tor redress IN the mos, humble terms
Our repea ed petitions have been answered only l.,
repeated injury. A prince whose character is thu.
marked by every act which may define lyrant, !,
unfit 10 be the ruler Of free people.
/ Nor have We been wanting III attentions to our
British breihien. We have warned them from tim,
10 time, OF attempts by their legislature to extent
an unwarraniabs jurisdiction e-.us. We have
reminded them OF me eli cumstances oil our emgra.
to: and settlement here. we have appealed tc
their native jasice and rnagnauimiiy, and we have
oonjured them by the lies OF our common kindred
TO dsavow these usirpatOns, which would ineyita
! bly, interrupt our connexions aud correspondence
They, too have been deaf TO tie voice of Justice
| and OF consangunity We must therefore. acquesct
in the necessity which derounces our sepa alton
and hold them, as we hold the rest OF mankind
enemies in war; in peace friends.
We, therefore,, the Representatives Of tn,
| UNITED STATES OF a NiERICA, ~ GEN
ERAL CONGRESS assembled. appealing to Inc SUI
pIeme Judge of the world for the rectItode OF ouI
intentions. Do, in the name and by authority o
the good People OF these Colonies, solemnly pub
lish and declare; That these United C0lonie.
are, ami Of right ought to be FREE AND III
DEPENDENT STATES: That they ere absol
we'd from all allegiance TO the British CrOtoli anc
that all political connection between them and III,
State OF Gredt Britain, is, and ought to be total,
dissolved; and that Free and IadeDenden
States, they have full power to levy war, con
cude peace, contract alliances. establish commerce
and TO 10 all other acts and things which IndepeR
deEt States may OF right do And ior the support
OF this Declaration, with firm reliance on the
Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other, lives, our fortunes, ant
our sacred honor.
| JOHN HANCOCK.
FOR T,Hs ENQUIRER.