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 a neighboring province, establishing 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, abolishing our most valuable laws, and fundamentally the forms of our governments, for suspending our own legislatures and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever: here, his withdrawing his 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 a neighbouring Province, establishing 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, abolishing 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 whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here by declaring us out of in by murdering the people upon wiwine __ off former comes committed against the liberties of one people, with them to commit against the lives of another.] which he urges " U crimes every stage of these oppressions" we have petitioned for redress in the most humble our only repcated petitions have been answered, by repeated injuries. a prince is unfit is this marked by every act which may define a tyrant. will scarce believe. whose character is free mean to be free fuhire ages to be the ruler of a people [who that the hardiness of one man adventured within the short compass of twelve years toy a foundation fo broad & undisguised, for tyronny only, of biopaty freedom] over a people fostered & fixed in principle Governors, and de claring us, out of his Allegiance and Protection. He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People. He is at this Time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the Works of death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with Circumstances Cruelty and Perfidy unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation. of He has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian governors, and declaring us out of his allegiance and protection. He has plundered our Our seas, ravaged coasts, burnt our towns and destroyed the lives of our people : He is at this time transporting large armies armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy unworthy the head of a civilized nation : He has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless Indian sav Savages, whose ages, whose known known Rule of War fare is an undistinguished Destruction of all Ages, Sexes, and Conditions of existence. rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and condi tions of existence. his Protection, and waging war against us: He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with. circumstances cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. of He has excited domestic insurrection among us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, He has incited treasonable Insurrections of our Fellow Citizens, with the allurement of Forfeiture and Confiscation of our Property. He has waged cruel War against human Nature itself, violating its most sacred Rights of Life and Liberty in the Persons of a distant People who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into Slavery in another Hemisphere, or to incur miserable Death, in their Transportation thither. This piratical Warfare, the opprobrium of infidel Powers, is the Warfare of the sexes and condi He has incited treasonable insur. tions. rections of our fellow-citizens, with the allurements of forfeiture and confiscation of Our property: He has constrained others, taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands: He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of distant people, who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel powers, is the warfare of the Christian He has constrained our fellow citizens taken Captive on the high Seas, to bear arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. |