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Show 6 DECLARATION BY flature of Great Britain, however, filmul‘ltfi‘d by an in~ ordinate pallion for a power not only unjul'tifiable, but which they know to be peculiarly reprobated by the very conl'tilution of that Kingdom, and defperate of fuc- cells in any mode of comet}, where regard lhould be had to truth, law, or right, have at length, delertinp; thofe, attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic pnr‘pole of cnllaving thefc Colonies by violence, and have thereb rendered it neeelfiiry for us to clofe with their lalt appeal from reafon to atom-Yet, however blinded that Alli'mbly may be, by their internperatc rage for unlimit- ed domination, ii) to flight juitice and the opinion of mankind, we efteem ouri'elves bound by obligations of relpeét to the tell of the world, to make known thejul'ticc of our caufe. Our forefathers, inhabitants of the ifland of Great Britain, left their native land, to feel: on thefe {bores a relidenee for civil and religious freedom. At the ex- pence of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes, 'CHHHW" without the lcaft charge to the country from which they removed, by uncealing labour, and an unconquerable fpirit, they effected littlemcnts in the dil'tant and inhol~~ pitable wilds of An eriea, then filled with numerous and warlike nations of barbarians. Societies or go~ vernrncnts, vetted with perfeit legiflaturcs, were formed under Charters from the Crown, and an harmonious intercourl'e was ellablilhed between the Colonies and the Kingdom from which they derived their origin. The mutual benefits of this union became in a lhort time Io extraordinary, as to excite allonilhmcnt. It is uni- verl‘ally confelltd, that the amazing; increafe of the wealth, lirength, and navigation oi the realm arole from this fource; and ll": l\/linil'ter who fo wifely and fuccel‘sl‘ully directed the merifures of Great Britain in the late war, publicltly declared, that thefc Colonies enabled her to triumph over her enemies. -‘--lowards the conclufion of that war it pleafed our Sovereign to make a change in his Councils-«From that latal moment the affairs of the Britilh Empire be- THE CONGRESS. 7 are at length difl'raé'ted by the convullions that now {bake it to its deepellt foundation. The new Miniltry finding the brave fees of Britain, though frequently defeated, yet fl'ill co itending, took up the unfortunate idea of granting, them a badly peace, and of then fubduing her faithful friends. Thefe devoted Colonies were judged to be in fuch a flare, as to preterit victories without bloodlhed, and all the eafy emoluments of flatutablc plunder. The un- interrupted tenor of their peaceable and refpeaful be- haviour from the beginning of Colonization, their du- tiful, zealous, and uleful l‘ervices during the war, tho' f0 recently and amply acknowledged in the molt ‘ho- nourable manner by his Majel‘ty, by the lite King, and by Parliament, could not fave them from the merittatcd innovations. Parliament was influenced to adopt the pernicious project, and all‘uming a new power over them,'have, in the courfe of eleven years, given luch dccilive fpecrniens of the lipirit and corilcqtierices attending this powrr, as to leave no doubt concerning thecla feels of acquiel‘cence under it. They have undertaken, to give and grant our money without our confent, ‘tho' we have ever exercifcd an cxclulive right to difpole of our own property. Statutes have een pulled for extendVice- ing the iurifdié‘tion of Courts of Admiralty and Admiralty beyond their antient limits, for depriving us of the accnilomed and inellimable privilege of trial by jury in cafes afi‘ieif'ting both life and property; for ful- in- pending the egil ature of one of the Colonies; for lor'altering Ci'difling all commerce of another; and by fundamentallv the form of government, eltablrfhed loLegillature own its of Aels charter, andll'eeured by the lemnly confirmed by the Crown; lor exempting and, "‘ .l‘i/lurderers" of Colonilts from legal trial, ii: effect, from punilliuicnt; for ereéting in a neighbourtiri- ing Province, acquired by the joint arms 01 (Jrcat ex- very our to tain and America, a defpotiiin dangerous il'tence; and for quartering foldiers upon the Colonills gan to fall into Confulion, and gradually llidirig from in in time of profound peace. It has alfo been relolved committing with Charged Colonitls Parliament, that the fummit of glorious profperity, to which they had certain olfences, {hall be tranfportcd to England to be been advanced by the virtues and abilities of one man, tried. are B u: |
