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Show [571 [56] " Fort protefting them, bya mock trial, f1om punifh~ ment for any murders wnich they {hould commit'on the inhabitants of ['1' 'e 11'1tes : " 1" OR cutting 0'11 our trade with all parts of the W011l " 1' OR imnofing taxes on us Without our C0111ent: " 1‘01 du'pilving us, in many L‘alcs, of the benchts of . trial by jury.' " 1 011 11111111101:ing us beyond Teas to be find for pre- pcated petitions have'been anfwered only by repeated in« in1y.A prince, whofe charaderis thus martd by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. ‘Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our Bri- tifli brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their legiflatme to extend an unwarrantable jurildié'tion over us. We have reminded them 01 the ci1'-= cumftances of our emigration and fettlement here 1V1: have appealLd to their 111tive iuf'cice and magnanimity, tended (>11; , 1 . .oi. 1111111: the free fyitc1n of Enwl i111 laws in a ' 121110 prov inL'L', 1.111111111111111»-111c1L111..n arbitrary ' and We have conjured them by the ties of our common 9;:1'1‘1'r1'11ne1‘1t, and enlarOin'r its boundaiies, To as to rL'n- tably interrupt our connexions and correrpondence. 1hey too have been deaf to the voice ofjuftice 'md ofeonfanguinity. We muft, therefore, acquielce111 the neceflity, which denounces our feparation, and hold them, as we hold the rel'c of mankind, enLmies in war, in peace friends. " We, therefore, the reprefentatives ofthe U N 1 TE D STATES OF AthRlCA, in GENERAL C O N G R E S S 111Ten1blcd,a}1peali11g to the fupreme der it at once 2.11 ex211np1e and fit infirunient for intro-a duein: the 111111": uléfohite rule into thcie colonies : " E011 taking away our charters, abolilhing our mofl: valuable laws, and 211tering funda111enta11y the forms of 0111 "()VCII‘IDCITLS : " 1 0R {ufpendinLr our own legillwrtures, and declzu'in themnlves invelLL'd with power to legiilnte1or us 111'1 11 (‘1' O cafes whatloevcr. " HF. has abdicated government here, by declaring:r us out 01 his protection, and wagl 11g W21: againit us. " HF. has plundered our z:1e'11s, ra\ 2'"Ld our coaltt'., burnt our towns, and((leltroyed the lives of our peoolc HE is, at this time, tranfporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compl 'tetthe work 5 of death1, (1C- 1011311011, and tyranny, aheady begun wit.1 circ11111fi2111ces of c1uL1tv and pertidy, lcarcel ypp111:'.11Lledin themoft bar- bmous ages, and totull y unworthytthe he".'.d of a civilized 112111011. HF. has conftrained our fellow- citizens, takLn captive 0n the hinh lLas, to bear arms 2112111111 their country, to become the executioneis of their 1114:1111; and brethren, or to fall themlbllves by their hends. "HE has excitLd domefi'ic infurreétions amonofi us, and has endeavoured to brin'r on the 111111bitar1ts or our frontiers the mercil'ls Indian 11\ away, who 1e known rule 111 W'n'tare1.; en u11L111111wu1f1Ld de‘truction, of all ages, lexes, and cond tions. " 111 Lvery 1.:1we of thefe opprtnrons we have pe- titiontd tor ruhets 11'. the 111011 humble terms : Our re- kindred to diflwow thefe 11(111'1 ations, which would1ne1i- judge of the world for the reflitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of thefe colonies, folemnly pubhfh and declare, That thefe United Colonies are, and of riwht ouwht to be, E RE E AND INDEPENDENI STATES, that they are ablolved from all allegiance to the Britifh crown, and that all political connexion between them and the flute ofGreatBritain,1s, and ought to be, totally diflolved; and that as 1‘ REE AND INDEPENDEN T STA TES, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, efl'abliflrcommerCe,and to do 311 other 2161's and thinws which INDEPENDENT STATES may of rioht do. And for the fupport of this declaration, with .1 firm reliance on the proteLtion of D I V I NE P R 0 V1 D E N C E, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our facred honor." THIS decilive 1th was taken in the face 01" the whole Britifh force collected on our {hores. From that moment every thingr aflumes a new appearance: The propolitions and fupplications for reconciliation, {o hauwhtily rtjeél'ed, Were done away. The metafihyfical difquifitions about the compam peated |