The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-07-04

For transporting us beyond the seas, 10 be tried
for ptetendrd Offences: t3
For aholishng the free system Of English laws
in neighboaring province. establishing therein
an arbitrary government, and enlarging It's bonn
DIARIES, SO as to render il al once example and
tit instrument, for introducing the saline absolute
rule into these colonies
For taking AWAY our charters. abolishng our
most valuable laws. and altering fundamentally
the powers of our governments:
For suspeuding our own legislatures aud de-
claring themselves invested with power to egis.
late for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicared government here. by declar.
ing MS ont of his protection. and waging war
against us. az
He has pnndered our seas, ravaped our cna SITS.
burnt our towas, and destroyed tho lives nr our
people. &.t
He is. al this time, transporting urge armies
at foreign fnercenaries Ia complete the works Of
death, desolati0n, aud tyranny. already began.
with circumstances of cruelty and per6dy scarcely
paraleled IN the most barbarous ages. and totally
unworthy the head of civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow citizens, taken
captive on the high seas. to bear arms agains,
their country. TO become the execuioners of their
friends and BRETHREN or To fall themselves by their
hands.
He has excited dumes,ick instructions amongst
us, and has endeavo tn bring On the inhab
tants of our froutiers the merciless Indian sava.
ges. whose known rule Of warfare is an undistin-
euished destruction Of all ages. sexes, and condi-
tions. A-ftt
In every stage of these expressions, we have
petltiOued for redress, in the most humble terms
our repeated petitions have been answered only by
repeated injury. prince whose character is
thus marked by, every act which may define ty-
rant. is unfit tn be the ruler of a 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 egisla-
ture, Ia extend an unwarrantaSle Jurisdiction ver
u.s. we have reminded them of the crcumsi Ian
oes Of our emigration and settlement here. We
have appealed TO their native Justice and magma
nimity, and we have conjured them by the ties Of
our common kindred tn disavow these usurpations,
which would inevitably interrupt our connec ions
and correspondence. They, too. have been deaf
10 the voice of justice and consanguinity We
must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity which
denoances our separation, and. hold them, as we
hold the rest of mankind -enemies in war
in peace, friends.
WE. therefore. the representatives of the
United States Of America, in general congress as
sembled, appealing To the Supreme Judge Of the
world for the recitude of our intentions, Do, in
the name and by The authority of,he gond people of
these colonies solemnly publish and declare, that
these United Colonies are. Sand of right ought to
w. Iee on" i""tPfhdent SVies-I nat they are
absoved from all allegiance to the British crown
and that all political cunnexion between them and
the state Of Great Britain is, and omeh, To he to-
tally dissolved; and that as free and independent
states, they have full power to levy war; conclude
peace, contract alliances. establish commerce. and
ia 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 pro-
lection of Divine Providence. we mutually pledge
To each other our lives, fortunes and our sa-
cred honour.