The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-07-02

parts of the world: for imposing taxes on
US without our consent: for deprivng us,
IN many cases, of the benefits of trial by
jury: Tor transporting us beyond seas to
be tried for pretended offences; for abol-
lshlng the free system Of English laws in
nelghborlng province, establishing there
IN an arbitrary government, and charging
It's boundaries, so as to render it at once
an example and fit instrument for intro
duclng the same absolute rule into these
colonies: for taking away our charters,
abollshlng our most valuable laws, and
altering fundamentally, the forms of our
governments: for suspending our own le-
glslatures, and declaring themselves inves-
ted with power to legisla,e for us in all
cases whatsoever.
"He has abdlcated government here, by
declaring us out of his protection, and wa
glng war against us.
'He has plundered our seas, ravaged
our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed
the lives of our people.
lie Is at this time transporting large
armies of fore ign mercenaries to complete
the works Of death, desolalion, and ty-
ranny, already begun with circumstances
OF cruelty and perfdy, scarcely paralleled
IN the most barbarous ages, and totally
unworthy the head of a civilized ma
ton.
SHE has constrained our fellow citizens,
taken captive on The high seas, TO bear
arms against their country. to become the
execuiIoners OF their friends and brethren,
or to iall themselves by their hands.
vile has excited domestic instructions
amongst us, and has endeavored to bring
on the inhabitants of our frontiers the
mercless Indian savages, whose unknown
rule OF warfare is an undistlnguished des-
truc.lon OF all ages, sexes, and condi-
tons.
sin every stage of these expressions,
we have petilioned for redress, in the
most humble terms: our repeated petitions
have been answered only By repeated in
jury. A prince, whose character is thus
marked by every act which may define a
tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free
people.
"Nor have we been wanting in atten
ton to our Blush brethren. We have
warned them, from lime TO time, of al
Temps maze by their legislature to extend
an unwarrantable jurisdiction over U.S.
We have reminded them of the crcum-
stances OF our emigration and settlement
here. Ne'have appealed to their native
justice and magnanimity, and we have
conJured tibet by The ties of our common
kindred, to disavow these usurpa,ions,
which would inevitably interrupt our con-
neXlon and correspondence. They, too,
have been deaf to the voice of justice and
of consanguinity. We must therefore,
acquiesce in the necessity which denoun-
ces our separation; and hold them, as we
hold the rest of acknowledgements in
war, in peace friends.
ave, therefore, the representatives Of
the United States Of America, in general
congress assembled, appealing to the Su-
preme Judge Of the world, for the recti-
tude of our intentions, do, in the name
and by the authority Of the good people
Of these colonies, solemnly publish and
declare, that the united colonies are, and
of light ought 10 be, free and independent
states; that they are absolved from all al
legiance to the British crown, and that all
political connexion between them and the
state Of Great Britain, is, and ought to be
totally dissolved; and that, as free and in
dependent states, they have full power to
levy war, conclude peace, contract ALI
ances. 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 protection of Divine Providence, we
mutually pledge 10 each Other, our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred honour"