The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-06-29

to render the Military independent
of and superior to the Civil power
He has combined with others to sub
ject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our
constitution, and unacknowledged by
our laws; giving his Assent to their
Acts of pretended Legislation. For
quartering large bodies of armed
troops among us. For projecting
them, by mark Trial, from punish
ment for any Murders which
they should commit on the In
habitants of these States. For
cutting off our Trade with all
parts of the world For imposing
Taxes on us without our consent For
depriving us in many cases, of the
benefits of Trial by Jury. For trans
porting us beyond Seas to be tried for
pretended otfenses. For abolishing
the free System # English laws, in
a neighboring Province; establish
ing therein an Arbitrary government,
and enlarging its Boundaries so as to
render it at once an example and fit
instrument for introducing the same
absolute rule into these Colonies. For
taking away our Charters. abolish
ing our most valuable Laws and
altering fundamentally the Forms of
our governments. For suspending
our own Legislatures, and declaring
themselves invested with power TO
legislate for us in all cases whatso-
ever He has abdicated Government
here, by declaring us out of his Pro-
lection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged
our Coasts, burnt our towns, and de-
stroyed the Lives of our people. He
is at this time transporting large
Armies of foreign Mercenaries to
compleat the works of death, desola-
ii III and tyranny, already begun
with circumstances of Cruelty and
perfidy scarcely paralleled in the
most barbarous ages, and totally un-
worthy the Head of civilized ma
tlon. He has constrained our fellow
Citizens taken captive on the high
Seas to bear Arms against their Coun-
try, to become the eXecutioners of
their friends and Brethen, or to fall
themselves by their Hands. He has
excited domestic instructions
amonst us, and has endeavored to
bring ON the inhabitants of our
frontier the merciless Indian
Savages, whose known rule of
warfare, is an undistinguished
destruction of all ages, sexes and con-
editions. In every stage OF these OPP
pressions We have Petitioned for Re-
dress in the most humble terms. Our
repeated Petitions have been answer
ed only by repeated injury. A Prince,
whose character is thus marked by
every act which may define Tyrant,
is fit to be the ruler of free people.
Nor have We been wanting in atten-
tions to our British brethren. We
have warned them from time to time
of attempts by their legislature to ex-
tend an unwarrantaple jurisdiction
over us. We have reminded them of
the circumstances of our emigration
and settlement here. We have APP
pealed to their native justice and
magnanimity, and we have conjured
them by the ties of our common kim
dred to disavow these usurpations,
which, would inevitably interrupt
our connections and correspondence.
They too have been deaf to the voice
of justice and of consanguinity.' We
must, therefore, acquiesce i'll the me-
cessity, which denounces our Separa-
tion, 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 Assembled, appeal
ing to the Supreme Judge of the world
Cor the rectitude of our intentions, do,
in the Name, and by Authority Of the
good People of these Colonies, sol
emnly publish and declare, 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 Grown,
and that all political connection be-
tween them and the State of Great
Britain, is and ought to be totally
dissolved and that as Free and Inde-
pendent States, they have full Power
to levy War, conclude Peace, contract
Alliances establish Commerce, and to
do all other Acts and Things which
Independent States may of right do
And for the support of this Declara-
tion, with firm reliance on the pro-
lection of divine Providence, we mu-
tually pledge to each other our Lives,
our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.