Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-04
e. gzgwaspAg z1onNlNa, gyhr q. 1883.

in neighboring province, establishing therein
an arbitrary government, and charging its boun
DIARIES so as To render il at once an example and
fit instrument IJr introducing the same absolute
rule into these colonies.
For taking away our charters, aboiishing nur
most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally
the forms OF our government
For uspendiDg our Owp legislatures, and de.
ciarng themselves 10 vested with power to iegis.
late for US in all cases whatsoever. He has alb
dicated government here, by declaring US out OF
his protec ton. and waging war against us.
He has numbered 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 al
death desoation, and tyranny, already begun,
with circumstances Of cruelty and perhdy.
scarcely paraleled IN the most barbarious ages
and totally unworthy the head Of a civilized ma.
ton.
lie has constrained our fellow citizens, taken
captive on the hish seas, 10 bear arms against
thelr country, to become the executioners OF
their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves
by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurreetion amongst
Us. and has endeavore,l To bring on the inhab.
ges- whose known rule of warfare is an undis.
tngu>hed destruction OF all ayes, sexes, anu con-
diiuns.
In every stage of these oppression we have pc
titi0ned for redress. 10 the most humble terms;
our petitions have been answered only by repeat
ed injnry. A prince whose character Is thus
marked BY every act which may define t,rant,
is unworthy to be the ruler OF free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our
British brethren. We have warned them from
time to time Of attempts made by their legfsa.
turc, 10 ex,ed an unwarranta Bile jurisdiction Owe
US. We have reminded them OF the tircumstan-
ces Of emis, alton and settlement here. We
have appealed to their native justice and magma.
nmIty, and we have CON nred them by the ties
of our common kindred, 10 disavuw these usur-
pations, which would inevitably interrupt our
come xinns and correspondence. They too have
be on deaf to the voice ut justice aud consansuIn
lity. We INST therefore acquiesce IN the neoes.
si,y which denounces our separation, and hold
them, as we hold 'he rest of acknowledgements
il wa T, 10 peace frieads.
We. therefore. tie representatives OF the Unit
ted States OF America, in general Congress as.
sembled, appealing to the supreme Judge OF the
Universe for the rccutuhe Of our Inientlons, do
in the name and by the authority Of the good peo-
pie Of these colonies. solemnly publish and de
clare, that these United 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 all political connexIon
bet ween item and the state Of Great Britain, IS
and ought to b. totally dissolved and that as Fee
and Independent States they have full power to
levy war. conclude peace. contract alliances, es.
tabish nmerce, and do all other acls and things
which Independent States may Of right do. Aud
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, and our sacred honor.
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
CHARLES THOMPSON. Secretary.