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their laws, of removing from their councils the disturbers of our harmony, they have by their free election re-established them in power. time too they are permitting their chief magistrate to send over not only soldiers of our common destroy us. blood, but Scotch & foreign mercenaries to invade & good thesef: ot have given the last stab to agmixing affection, and manly spirit bids us to m. - for ever these unfeeling brethren. we must endeavor to forget forme.. love for them, and to hold them as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends we might have been a free & a great people together; but a commus. necation of grandeur of freedom it seems is belowe their dignity, be it so since they will have it the rose to you happiness is open to us too, we tread

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We therefore the representatives of the United States of America in General Conreming pubs. of the who for the rechreds of gas intentions gress assembled, do in the name & by authority of the good people of these states [reguet and. Irenounce all allegiance &subjection to the kings of Great Britain Fall others who hereafter claim by, through, or under them; dissolve & track off all political connection which.

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war conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commence & to do all other acts and things which independant states may of right do. And for the lives, our support of this declaration) we mutually pledge to each other our

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Matthew Thomson

in Heap Step Hopkins Edward Butlidge William Edlery. Roy

The Hyvern Ayer Sherman

Thomas

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Charles Caroll of Carrollton

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George Wy the Sat Smith

Sam" Huntington

Richard Henry Lee NZ William

Josiah Bartels

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1 Whipple John Adams
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ThRefferson Elbridge Gerry

So ends the first part of Thomas Jefferson's career. He had written the Declaration of Independence; he was no longer a Colonial subject of King George the Third, no longer a citizen of the British Empire. He had transferred his allegiance from King to Congress. By his own handwriting he was a Republican.

BOOK II

REFORMER AND GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA

T

CHAPTER I

JEFFERSON'S REFORMS, 1776-1779

"And now, forsooth, takes on him to reform
Some certain edicts and some strait decrees
That lie too heavy on the commonwealth."

SHAKESPEARE

HOUGH he was only thirty-three, Jefferson's reputation had spread through the revolted Colonies.

After the Declaration of Independence the ball was at his feet. By the general consent of his fellow Congressmen he was marked out to lead the civil administration, as Washington had been chosen to conduct the military campaigns. Government by committees is very difficult, and Jefferson had the knowledge, resourcefulness, inexhaustible industry, tactful management of men, and skill in devising the formulas that reconcile differences, which make an ideal chairman. But two considerations decided him against the career thus opened to ambition. He could not make Philadelphia -a full ten days' journey from Monticello his headquarters. Passionately devoted to a delicate wife, he dared not leave her and the babies alone amid all the risks of war. And even if his presence had not been so urgently needed at Monticello, he felt that Virginia, his native state, had the first call upon his patrio

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