The Iowa patriot. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1839-1839, 1839-07-04

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laws in neighboring province, establishing
H therein an arbitrary government and en-
i iarglng It's boundaries, SO as to render it d,
once an example and fit instrument for in
Producing the same absolute rule into these
colonies s
For taking away our charters, abolishinp
oui most valuable laws, and altering fun da.
mentally men the powers of our governments:
FOR suspendng our own Legislatures, and
declaring themselves invested with power to
ieglslate for US in all cases Whatsoever.
lie has abdicated government here, bv dc.
claring us out of his protection, and wapino
war against u.s.
i he has plundered our seas, ravaged our
coasts, burnt our towns, and DESTROYED the
Ilives of our people.
He is, at this time, transporting large armies
Ioi foreign mercenarics to complete the works
OF death, desolation, and tyranny, already be-
gun, with circumstances Of cruelty and perfidy
scarcely paralsled in the most barbarous ages,
and totally unworthy the head of u civilized
nation.
lie has constrained our fel!ow-citizens, taken
captive on the high seas, to bear arms against
their country, to become the executioners of
their friends and brethren, or to fall them
selves by their hands.
| HE has excited domestic instructions a..
mongst US, and has endeavored to bring on the
inhabitants of our frontiers the merc;less In.
dian savages, whose known rule of warfare is
an undistinguisEed destruction Of all ages,
sexes, and conditions.
In every stage Of these expressions, we have
petitoned for redress in the most humble
terms; our repeated petitions have heen an
swered only by repeated injury A prince
whose character is thus marked by every act
which may define tyrant, is unfit to be the
ruler of u free people.
/ Nor have we been wanting in attention to
our British brethren. We have warned them
from time to Sine of attempts made by their
legislature, to extend an unwarr;.ntable iuris-
tlicton over us. We have reminded them OF
the circumstances of our emigration and set
Element here. We have appealed to their ma
tive justice and magnanimity, and we have
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kindred to disavow these usurpations, which
would inevitably interrupt our connections
and correspondence. They, too, have been
deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity.
We must, therefore acquiesce in the necessity
which denounces our separation, and hold
them, as we hold the rest Of mankind-ene-
mics in war-in peace, friends.
| We, therefore, the representatives of the
United States Of America, in General Congress
assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge Of
the world for the .cctitude of our intentions,
lido, in the name and by the authority of the
good people of these colonies, solemnly
publish and declare, that these United Col
ones, are, and of right ought to be, free
and independent states-That they are abb
solved from all allegiance to the British crown,
and that all political connection between
them and the state of Great 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
falliances, establish 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 on the pre-.
lection of Divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes,
and cur sacred honor.