1898.] HAYS — DRAUGHT OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 107 



native justice & magnanimity, [as well as to] and we have conjured 

 them by the tyes of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpa- 

 tions, which [were likely to] would inevitably interrupt our connec- 

 tion & correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of 

 justice, and of consanguinity; [and when occasions have been given 

 them, by the regular course of their laws, of removing from their 

 councils the disturbers of our harmony, they have by their free elec- 

 tion reestablished them in power. At this very time too, they are 

 permitting their chief magistrate to send over not only soldiers of 

 our common blood, but [Scotch and] foreign mercenaries to invade 

 and destroy us. These facts have given the last stab to agoniz- 

 ing affection ; and manly spirit bids us to renounce forever these 

 unfeeling brethren. We must endeavor to forget our former love 

 for them, and to hold them as we hold the rest of mankind, ene- 

 mies in war, in peace friends. We might have been a free & a great 

 people together ; but a communication of grandeur and of free- 

 dom, it seems, is below their dignity. Be it so, since they will 

 have it. The road to happiness and to glory is open to us too ; we 

 will climb it apart from them and] we must therefore acquiesce in 

 the necessity which denounces our [eternal] separation [!] a7id hold 

 thcfn, as we hold the rest of 7nankind, 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, & by 

 authority of the good people of these [states, reject and renounce 

 all allegiance and subjection to the kings of Great Britain, and all 

 others who may hereafter claim by, through, or under them ; we 

 utterly dissolve all political connection which may heretofore have 

 subsisted between us and the parliament or people of Great Britain, 

 and finally we do assert these] Colonies, solemnly publish and declare 

 that these United Colonies are and of Right ought to be free and 

 independant states ; that they are Absolved frorfi all allegiance to the 

 British Crown, a?td that all political connection between them and the 

 State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved ; & that as 

 free& independant states, they have full power to levy war, conclude 

 peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, & to do all other acts 

 and things which independant 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 honor. 



