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Show '12 DECLARATION,€3'L-. Left this Declaration fhould difquiet the minds of our friends and feliow-fubjefis in any part of the empire, we AN allure them, that we ,mean not to dilliilve that union which has to long and {o happily {ublilledbetween us, and which we lincerely will) to fee reitored. Necelhty A N S W R E, has not yet driven us into that defperate meafure, or in- duced us to excite any other nation to war againi't them, We have not raifed armies with ambitious defigns of TOTHE feparating from Great Britain, and ellablifhing independant ltates. We fight not for glory or for ,conquelt. We exhibit to mankind the remarkable fpeétacle of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies, without any imputation, or even {ulpicion of oilence. They boaf'c of their privileges and civilizationi and yet proiTer no DECLARATION OF THE milder conditions than lbrvitude or death. GENERAL CONGRESS. In our own native land, in defence of the freedom that is our birthright, and which we ever enjoyed till the late violation of it; for the proteé'tion of our prov-- perry, acquired fiilely by the bone" indul'try of our fore- fathers and ourfelves, againlt violence aftually ol‘l‘ered we have taken up arms. We {hall lay them down wheii holtilitics {hall ceafe on the part of the agarefibrs, and all danger of their being renewed {hall b‘eorcmoved -- and not before. J With an humble confidence in the mercies of the Su- preme and Impartial Judge and Ruler of the Univerfe we molt deviiutly implore his Divine Goodnefs to conduét us happily through this great conflic‘l, to difpofe our adver- taries to reconciliation on reafonable terms, and thereby to relieve the Empire from the calamities of civil war. By Order of CONGRESS, JOHN HANCOCK, PRESIDENT. Attefied, CHARLES THOMSON, SECRETARY: PHILADELPHIA, July 6, 1775,, W HEN Independent States take up arms, they endeavour to impreis the World with a favourable opinion of their own canie, and to lay the blame of hofiilities on the injufiice of their Opponents. But if Nations, accountable to none for their conduct, deem it necelTary to reconcile others to their proceedings, the necefhty is Hill more urgent with. regard to tho 1: who, breaking through every political duty, draw their {words againfi lllC State of which they own themfelves the fubjeé'ts. The opinions of mankind are invariably oppofed to {uch men. Their affertions are heard with diltrufi, their arguments weighed with caution; and, therefore, it is as ne- celTary for them to adhere to truth, in the former, as it is prudent to avoid fophifiry in the latter. This confideration, however obvious it may 2pm pear to others, {eems to have totally efcapetl the attention |
