The would

The rectitude of ourense

-gress assembled do in the name.

by authority of the good people of these[states_]

hoove heretofore sub

[reject and renounce all allegiance & subjection to the kings of Great Britain a different Whisn &all others who may hereafter claim by, through, or under them; we utterly dissolve & break off all political connection which sisted between us & the people or parliament of Great Britain; and finally we do assert and declare these colonies to be pee and independant states

may

full

the

and that as free & independant states they shall hereafter have, power to levy war conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, & to do all other acts and things which independant states may of right do And support of this declaration] we mutually pledge to each other forhenes, & our sacred honour.

for

our lives, our

the Circumstances

of our Emigration

and Settlement here, no one of which could warrant SO strange a Pretension. That these were effected at the expense of our own Blood and Treasure, unassisted by the Wealth ог the Strength of Great Britain; that in constituting indeed, our Several Forms of Government, we had adopted one common King, thereby laying a Foundation for Perpetual League and Amity with them; but that Submission to their Parliament, was no Part of our Constitution, nor ever in Idea, if History may be credited; and we appealed to their Nature, Justice and Magnanimity, as well as to the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these usurpations,

that

them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here, no one of which could warrant so strange a pretension : these were effected at the expence of our own blood and treasure, unassisted by the wealth or strength of Great Britain : that in constituting indeed our several forms of government, we had adopted a common king, thereby laying a foundation for perpetual league and perpetual league and amity with them: but that submission to their parliament was no part of our constitution nor ever in idea, if history be credited; and we have appealed their native justice and magnanimity, as well as to the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations which were likely to interrupt our con

to

them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations which would inevitably interrupt our connection and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must therefore acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our separation and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

which were likely to interrupt our Correspondence and Connection. They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and Consanguinity,

given

and when occasions have been them by the regular Course of their Laws of removing from their Councils, the Disturbers of our Harmony, they have by their free Election, re-established them in Power. At this very Time too, they are permitting their Chief Magistrate to send over not only soldiers of our common Blood, Blood, but Scotch and foreign Mercenaries, to invade and deluge us in Blood. These Facts have given the last Stab to agonizing affection, and manly Spirit bids us to renounce forever these unfeeling Brethren. We must endeavour to forget our former

nection and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity, and when occasions have been given them, by the regular course of their laws of removing from their councils the disturbers of our harmony, they have by their free elections re-established them in power. At this very time they are permitting their chief magistrate to send over not only soldiers of our own blood, but Scotch and other foreign mercenaries, to invade and destroy us. These facts have given the last stab to agonizing affections, and manly spirit bids us to renounce forever

these unfeeling brethren. We must endeavor to forget our former love for them, to hold them as we hold the rest of mankind enemies

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 and a great People together but a Communication of Grandeur and of Freedom it seems is below their Dignity. Be it so, since they will have it: The Road to Happiness and to Glory is open to us too; we will climb it, apart from them, and acquiesce in the Necessity which denounces our eternal Separation.

We therefore the Representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled,

We might have been a free and a great people together; but a communication of gran

deur and of freedom it seems, is below their dignity. Be it so, since they will have it the road to happiness and to glory is open to us too; we will climb it apart from them, and acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our eternal separation!

We therefore the representatives of the United States in General Congress assembled in the

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, sol

emnly publish and