known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions. "In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress, in the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked, 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 British brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their legislature, to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded 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 connexions 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. "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, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, free and independent States;-that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connexion, between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent States, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things, which independent states may of right do. And, for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE John Hancock Sand Adams. John Adams Matthew Thornton Step Hopkins a Oliver Wolcott Copied from J.Binns' Print, by J. Warr Jing Massachusell New Hampshire Rhode Island E28 Connecticut HC Wainul St Prilad? DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Em May Lewis Morris Buch Stockton Jas Witherspoon le Prob Morris New York Pennsylvania Copied from M J. Binns' Print,by J. Warr J Engraven 10 Walma S! Prilad's |