same absolute rule into these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing able laws, and altering fundamentally th governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and selves invested with power to legislate for whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by d of his protection, and waging war against

He has plundered our seas, ravaged o our towns, and destroyed the lives of our p

He is, at this time, transporting large ar mercenaries to complete the works of death, tyranny, already begun, with circumstances perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most b and totally unworthy the head of a civilized He has constrained our fellow-citizens, ta the high seas, to bear arms against their cour the executioners of their friends and breth themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections an has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants o the merciless Indian savages, whose known is an undistinguished destruction of all a conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we h for redress in the most humble terms: our tions have been answered only by repeat prince whose character is thus marked by ev may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of

Nor have we been wanting in attentions brethren. We have warned them, from ti attempts by their legislature to extend an jurisdiction over us. We have reminded th cumstances of our emigration and settleme

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 tha: 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.

Georgia.

Button Gwinnett.

Lyman Hall.

Geo. Walton.

South Carolina.

Edward Rutledge.
Thos. Heyward, junr.
Thomas Lynch, junr.
Arthur Middleton,

JOHN HANCOCK.

North Carolina.

Wm. Hooper.
Joseph Hewes.

John Penn.

Maryland.

Samuel Chase.

Wm. Paca.

Thos. Stone.

Charles Carroll of Carrollton.

Ordered:

IN CONGRESS 1777.}

JANUARY 18, 1777.

That an authenticated copy of the Declaration of Independency, with the names of the Members of Congress, subscribing the same, be sent to each of the United States, and that they be desired to have the same put on record. By order of Congress.

Attest, CHAS. THOMSON,

JOHN HANCOCK,

President.

.