Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-07-04

For cutting off our trade with all parts of
the world:
For imposing taxes on VI without our con-
sent:
For depriving us, in many cases, OF the
benefits of trial by jury:
For transporting us beyond seas, to be tried
for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free system OF English
laws In a neighboring province, establishing
an arbitrary government, and enlarsing IT'S
boundaries, so as to render it at once an exam
pie and fit instrument for introducing the same
absolute rule into these colonies:
For taking away our charters, abolishing
our most valuable laws, and altering iunda-
mentally the forms of our governments:
For suspending our own legislatures, and
declaring themselves invested with power to
leglslate for us in all cases whatever.
He has abdicated government here, by de-
claring us out of his protection, and waging
war against us
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our
coasts. burnt our towns, and destroyed the
lives of our people.
He IS at this time transporting large armies
of foreign mercenaries to complete the works
Of death, desolation and tyranny, already be-
gun with circumstances of cruelty and peril
DIV scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous
ages, and totally unworthy the head of CT
vilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow-citiZens, TAX
en- captive on tn high seas, to bear arms against
their country; TO become the executione's of
IL, to foil
selves by their fands.
He has excited domestic instructions
amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on
the inhabitants of our frontiers, The merciess
Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare
is an undistlnguished destruction of all ages,
sexes, and conditions.
In every stage of these expressions, we
have petitioned for redress in the most hum
bic terms: our repeated petitions have been
answered only by repeated injury. A prince
whose character is thus marked by every act
which may define tyrant, is unft to be the
ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attentions TO
our British brethren. We have warned them,
from time to time, Of attempts by their legis-
lature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction
over u.s. We have reminded them OF the
circumstances of our emigration and settle
ment here. We have appealed to their ma
tive Justice and magnanimity, and we have
conjured them by the ties of our common kin
dred to disavow these uSurpations, which
would inevitably interrupt our connexions
and correspondence. They too, have been
deaf to the voice of justice and Of consan-
guinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in
the necessity which denounces our separation,
and hold them, as we hold the rest of man
kind easRessr IN TIE Representatives Of the
United States of America, in general congress
assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge
Of the world for the rectituGe of our inten-
tons, do, in the name and BY the authority Of
the good people Of these colonies, solemnly
publish and declare, that these united colo
MES are, and of right ought to be, free and
independent states; that they are absolved
from all allegiance to the British crown, and
that all political connexion between them and
the state of Great Brtain, is, and ought to be,
totally dissolved; and that as free and indie
pendent states; they have full power to levy
war, conclude peace, contract alliances, es:ab
lish commerce, and to do all other acts and
things which independent states may of right
do. And for the support Of this declaration,
with firm reliance or the protection of d.
vine Providence, we mutually pledge to each
other our lives, our fortunes, aud our sacred
honor.
JoHS ADAMS Letter on the adptn Of the Declaration Of
independence By the Congress ofthe United Males