South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-04

He has combined with others subject US 10 a
Jurisdiction foreign TO our constitutions, and un-
acknowledged by laws giving his assent TO
their acts of pretended legislation:
For quarterng large bodies Of armed troops among
US
For protecting them, by a mock trial, from pun
ishment for any murders which they should COM
nit the inhabitants OF these States
For cutting of 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 transporting US beyond seas to be tried for
pretended offences:
For abolishing the free system of English laws
in neishbOring province, establishing therein an
arbitrary government and ealarging its boundaries.
TO render il once an example and fit in
Strument for introducing the same absolute rule
into these colonies;
For taking away charters, aboshng our
most valuable laws and altering, fundamentally the
forms of our governments;
For suspending own legislatures, and declar-
Ing themselves invested with power legislate for
Us in all cases whatsoever
He has abdcated government here by declaring US
out of his protection, and waging war against US
He has plundered seas, ravaged our coasts
burned our towns, and destroyed the lives Of
people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of
foreign mercenaries 10 complete the works of DEATH
desOSation, and tyranny, already begun with cir
cumsances Of cruelty and perfdy scarcely paralleled
in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy
the head of civilized nation.
He has constrained our felow-citizens taken cap
tive on the high seas, TO bear against their
country to become the executOners of their friends
and brethren, to fall themselves by their hands
He has excited domestic nsurrection among US
and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants Of
our frontiers the merciless Indian savages, whose
known rule of warfare is undistnguished destruc
ton OF all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these expressions we have pet
for rn1r in l@ll
repeated petitions have been answered only by
peated INJURY. prince whose character is thus
marked by every act which may define tyrant is
unfit TO be the ruler OF a free people
Nor have been wanting in our attentions TO
our British brethren. We have warned them, from
time to time, of attempts by their legislature TO
tend unwarrantable jurisdiction We
have reminded them of the circumstances of our
emigration and settlement here. We have appealed
to their native justice and magnanmity; and we
have conjured them, by the ties of kin
dred, to disavow these usurpatons, which would in
evitably interrupt connections and correspond
They, too have been deaf the voice OF
justice and conSanguinity We must therefore, ac-
quiesce in the necessity which denounces separa-
tion, 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 assembled,
appealing the Supreme Judge of the world for the
rectitude of intentions, do. in the and by
the authority of the good people of these colonies
sOemnly publish and declare, That these united
Colonies are and of right ought TO be free and in
dependent states; that they abSOlved from all
allegiance the British crown, that all political
connection between them and the state Of Great
Britain is, and ought be, totally dissolved; and
that as free and independent states they have full
power 10 levy war, conclude peace, contract al
liances establish commerce, and do all other acts
and things which independent states may Of right
do. And, the support of this declaration, with
a firm reliance the protection of Divine PrOvi-
dence, mutually pledge TO each other our lives,
our fortunes and our sacred honor.