The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-07-04

y
jurisdiction foreign to our constitutions. and un-
acknowledged by our laws; giving his assent TO
their acts OF pretended legislation:
For quartcring large bodies OF armed troops among
us;
For protecting them. by q mock trial, from pun.
ishment for any murders which they should com
init on tho Inhabitants OF these States:
For cutting on our trade with all parts OF the
world;
For imposing taxes on Us without our consent;
For depriyiDg u.s. IN many cnses OF the benefits
OF trial by Jury;
For Transporting US beyond seas. to be tried for
pretended offences;
For abOshing the free system OF English laws
In neghborng province, establishing therein an
arbitrary government and enlarging Its boundaries,
40 as TO render II at once an example and NJ In.
strument for introducing tho Same absolute rule
into those colonies;
For taking away our charters. abolIshing our
most valuable laws and altering, fundamen entnlly the
forms Of our governments;
For suspcndinE our own legislatures, and declsr-
Ing themselves Invested with power to legisate for
us 10 all cases whatsoever.
lie has abdcated government here, BY declaring us
out Of his protection, and waging war against U.S.
Ho has p'undered our seas ravaged our coasts
burned our towns. and destroyed the lives OF our
people
lIe Is at this time transporting large armies Of
foreign mercenaries TO complete the works OF death.
Jcsoloton and tyranny, already begun with cir
cuns,nnces Of cruelty and perndy scarcely paralled
In the most barbsrous ages, and totally unworthy
the head OF a civilized nation.
lie has constrained our fellow-citrens taken cap
tive on the high seas to bear arms against their
country. to become the eIecuoners Of their friends
und brethren, or TO fall themselves by their hands
He has excited domestic insukfecton among US.
and has endcavored TO bring on the inhabitants OF
our frontiers the merc'less Indian mvsges, whose
known rule OF wnrfare IL an undistngushcd desruc-
tlon OF all ages, sexes, and conditions
In every stage OF these expressions We have peti-
TONED for redress In the most humble terms: our
repeated petitions hnve been answered only by re.
peated injury. prince whose character Ii thus
marked by every act which may define a tyrsnt, IL
unht to be the ruler Of II free people
Nor have we been wanting In our attentions to
our British brethren We have warned them, from
time 10 time, Of attempts by their legislature to
tend m unwarrnntnble jurisdiction d. We
have reminded them Of the circumstances Of our
emigration and settlement here. We have appealed
to their native Justice and magnanmity; and we
hnye conjured them by the ties Of our common kin
dred. to dsnvow these usurpstons. which would in
evtably interrupt our connections and correspond.
ence They. too. have been deaf to the voice OF
justice and consanguinty. We must therefore, ac-
quiesce In the necessity which denounces separn-
ton, and hold them, ~ 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 assembl ed,
appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the
rectituds Of our Intentions do. In the and by
tho authority OF the good people OF these colonies
soemnly publish and declare. That these united
Coloaiss ara and Of right ought to b free and In
dependent statee; that they are absolved from all
allegiance to ths British crown. and that oil political
connection bstwsss then and the state Of Great
Britain L. cad ought to b, totally dissolved; and
thnt a. frss and Independent states they have full
power to levy war. conclude peace. contract al.
lanccs, establish commerce. and do all other acts
and things which independent states may Of right
do. And. for the support Of this declaration, with
Hrm reliance the protection Of Divine Provi.
dencc we. mutually pledge to each other our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred honor,