A Declaration by the Representatives of the United
Colonies of North-America, Now Met in Congress at Philadelphia, Setting
Forth the Causes and Necessity of Their Taking Up Arms -
If it was possible for men, who exercise their reason to believe, that
the divine Author of our existence intended a part of the human race to hold
an absolute property in, and an unbounded power over others, marked out by
his infinite goodness and wisdom, as the objects of a legal domination never
rightfully resistible, however severe and oppressive, the inhabitants of
these colonies might at least require from the Parliament of Great Britain
some evidence, that this dreadful authority over them, has been granted to
that body.
But a reverance for our Creator, principles of humanity, and the dictates
of common sense, must convince all those who reflect upon the subject, that
government was instituted to promote the welfare of mankind, and ought to be
administered for the attainment of that end.
The legislature of Great Britain, however, stimulated by an inordinate
passion for a power not only unjustifiable, but which they know to be
peculiarly reprobated by the very constitution of that kingdom, and
desparate of success in any mode of contest, where regard should be had to
truth, law, or right, have at length, deserting those, attempted to effect
their cruel and impolitic purpose of enslaving these colonies by violence,
and have thereby rendered it necessary for us to close with their last
appeal from reason to arms.
Yet, however blinded that assembly may be, by their intemperate rage for
unlimited domination, so to sight justice and the opinion of mankind, we
esteem ourselves bound by obligations of respect to the rest of the world,
to make known the justice of our cause.
Our forefathers, inhabitants of the island of Great Britain, left their
native land, to seek on these shores a residence for civil and religious
freedom. At the expense of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes,
without the least charge to the country from which they removed, by
unceasing labour, and an unconquerable spirit, they effected settlements in
the distant and unhospitable wilds of America, then filled with numerous and
warlike barbarians.
Societies or governments, vested with perfect legislatures, were formed
under charters from the crown, and an harmonious intercourse was established
between the colonies and the kingdom from which they derived their origin.
The mutual benefits of this union became in a short time so extraordinary,
as to excite astonishment. It is universally confessed, that the amazing
increase of the wealth, strength, and navigation of the realm, arose from
this source; and the minister, who so wisely and successfully directed the
measures of Great-Britain in the late war, publicly declared, that these
colonies enabled her to triumph over her enemies.
Towards the conclusion of that war, it pleased our sovereign to make a
change in his counsels. -- From that fatal movement, the affairs of the
British empire began to fall into confusion, and gradually sliding from the
summit of glorious prosperity, to which they had been advanced by the
virtues and abilities of one man, are at length distracted by the
convulsions, that now shake it to its deepest foundations. -- The new
ministry finding the brave foes of Britain, though frequently defeated, yet
still contending, took up the unfortunate idea of granting them a hasty
peace, and then subduing her faithful friends.
These devoted colonies were judged to be in such a state, as to present
victories without bloodshed, and all the easy emoluments of statuteable
plunder. -- The uninterrupted tenor of their peaceable and respectful
behaviour from the beginning of colonization, their dutiful, zealous, and
useful services during the war, though so recently and amply acknowledged in
the most honourable manner by his majesty, by the late king, and by
parliament, could not save them from the meditated innovations. --
Parliament was influenced to adopt the pernicious project, and assuming a
new power over them, have in the course of eleven years, given such decisive
specimens of the spirit and consequences attending this power, as to leave
no doubt concerning the effects of acquiescence under it.
They have undertaken to give and grant our money without our consent,
though we have ever exercised an exclusive right to dispose of our own
property; statutes have been passed for extending the jurisdiction of courts
of admiralty and vice-admiralty beyond their ancient limits; for depriving
us of the accustomed and inestimable privilege of trial by jury, in cases
affecting both life and property; for suspending the legislature of one of
the colonies; for interdicting all commerce to the capital of another; and
for altering fundamentally the form of government established by charter,
and secured by acts of its own legislature solemnly confirmed by the crown;
for exempting the "murderers" of colonists from legal trial, and in effect,
from punishment; for erecting in a neighbouring province, acquired by the
joint arms of Great-Britain and America, a despotism dangerous to our very
existence; and for quartering soldiers upon the colonists in time of
profound peace. It has also been resolved in parliament, that colonists
charged with committing certain offences, shall be transported to England to
be tried.
But why should we enumerate our injuries in detail? By one statute it is
declared, that parliament can "of right make laws to bind us in all cases
whatsoever." What is to defend us against so enormous, so unlimited a power?
Not a single man of those who assume it, is chosen by us; or is subject to
our control or influence; but, on the contrary, they are all of them exempt
from the operation of such laws, and an American revenue, if not diverted
from the ostensible purposes for which it is raised, would actually lighten
their own burdens in proportion, as they increase ours. We saw the misery to
which such despotism would reduce us. We for ten years incessantly and
ineffectually besieged the throne as supplicants; we reasoned, we
remonstrated with parliament, in the most mild and decent language.
Administration sensible that we should regard these oppressive measures
as freemen ought to do, sent over fleets and armies to enforce them. The
indignation of the Americans was roused, it is true; but it was the
indignation of a virtuous, loyal, and affectionate people. A Congress of
delegates from the United Colonies was assembled at Philadelphia, on the
fifth day of last September. We resolved again to offer an humble and
dutiful petition to the King, and also addressed our fellow-subjects of
Great-Britain. We have pursued every temperate, every respectful measure; we
have even proceeded to break off our commercial intercourse with our
fellow-subjects, as the last peaceable admonition, that our attachment to no
nation upon earth should supplant our attachment to liberty. -- This, we
flattered ourselves, was the ultimate step of the controversy: but
subsequent events have shewn, how vain was this hope of finding moderation
in our enemies.
Several threatening expressions against the colonies were inserted in his
majesty's speech; our petition, tho' we were told it was a decent one, and
that his majesty had been pleased to receive it graciously, and to promise
laying it before his parliament, was huddled into both houses among a bundle
of American papers, and there neglected.
The lords and commons in their address, in the month of February, said,
that "a rebellion at that time actually existed within the province of
Massachusetts-Bay; and that those concerned with it, had been countenanced
and encouraged by unlawful combinations and engagements, entered into by His
Majesty's subjects in several of the other colonies; and therefore they
besought his majesty, that he would take the most effectual measures to
inforce due obediance to the laws and authority of the supreme legislature."
Soon after, the commercial intercourse of whole colonies, with foreign
countries, and with each other, was cut off by an act of parliament; by
another several of them were intirely prohibited from the fisheries in the
seas near their coasts, on which they always depended for their sustenance;
and large reinforcements of ships and troops were immediately sent over to
general
Gage.
Fruitless were all the entreaties, arguments, and eloquence of an
illustrious band of the most distinguished peers, and commoners, who nobly
and strenuously asserted the justice of our cause, to stay, or even to
mitigate the heedless fury with which these accumulated and unexampled
outrages were hurried on. -- equally fruitless was the interference of the
city of London, of Bristol, and many other respectable towns in our favor.
Parliament adopted an insidious manoeuvre calculated to divide us, to
establish a perpetual auction of taxations where colony should bid against
colony, all of them uninformed what ransom would redeem their lives; and
thus to extort from us, at the point of the bayonet, the unknown sums that
should be sufficient to gratify, if possible to gratify, ministerial
rapacity, with the miserable indulgence left to us of raising, in our own
mode, the prescribed tribute. What terms more rigid and humiliating could
have been dictated by remorseless victors to conquered enemies? in our
circumstances to accept them, would be to deserve them.
Soon after the intelligence of these proceedings arrived on this
continent, general
Gage, who in the course of the last year had taken
possession of the town of Boston, in the province of Massachusetts-Bay, and
still occupied it a garrison, on the 19th day of April, sent out from that
place a large detachment of his army, who made an unprovoked assault on the
inhabitants of the said province, at the town of Lexington, as appears by
the affidavits of a great number of persons, some of whom were officers and
soldiers of that detachment, murdered eight of the inhabitants, and wounded
many others.
From thence the troops proceeded in warlike array to the town of Concord,
where they set upon another party of the inhabitants of the same province,
killing several and wounding more, until compelled to retreat by the country
people suddenly assembled to repel this cruel aggression. Hostilities, thus
commenced by the British troops, have been since prosecuted by them without
regard to faith or reputation.
The inhabitants of Boston being confined within that town by the general
their governor, and having, in order to procure their dismission, entered
into a treaty with him, it was stipulated that the said inhabitants having
deposited their arms with their own magistrate, should have liberty to
depart, taking with them their other effects. They accordingly delivered up
their arms, but in open violation of honour, in defiance of the obligation
of treaties, which even savage nations esteemed sacred, the governor ordered
the arms deposited as aforesaid, that they might be preserved for their
owners, to be seized by a body of soldiers; detained the greatest part of
the inhabitants in the town, and compelled the few who were permitted to
retire, to leave their most valuable effects behind.
By this perfidy wives are separated from their husbands, children from
their parents, the aged and the sick from their relations and friends, who
wish to attend and comfort them; and those who have been used to live in
plenty and even elegance, are reduced to deplorable distress.
The general, further emulating his ministerial masters, by a proclamation
bearing date on the 12th day of June, after venting the grossest falsehoods
and calumnies against the good people of these colonies, proceeds to
"declare them all, either by name or description, to be rebels and traitors,
to supercede the course of the common law, and instead thereof to publish
and order the use and exercise of the law martial."
His troops have butchered our countrymen, have wantonly burnt
Charlestown, besides a considerable number of houses in other places; our
ships and vessels are seized; the necessary supplies of provisions are
intercepted, and he is exerting his utmost power to spread destruction and
devastation around him.
We have rceived certain intelligence, that general
Carelton[Carleton], the governor of Canada, is
instigating the people of that province and the Indians to fall upon us; and
we have but too much reason to apprehend, that schemes have been formed to
excite domestic enemies against us. In brief, a part of these colonies now
feel, and all of them are sure of feeling, as far as the vengeance of
administration can inflict them, the complicated calamities of fire,
sword and famine.
We are reduced to the alternative of choosing an unconditional submission
to the tyranny of irritated ministers, or resistance by force. The latter is
our choice. We have counted the cost of this contest, and find nothing so
dreadful as voluntary slavery. Honour, justice, and humanity, forbid us
tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant
ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us.
We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations to
that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them, if we basely entail
hereditary bondage upon them.
Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are
great, and, if necessary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable. We
gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the Divine favour towards us,
that his Providence would not permit us to be called into this severe
controversy, until we were grown up to our present strength, had been
previously exercised in warlike operation, and possessed of the means of
defending ourselves. With hearts fortified with these animating reflections,
we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the
utmost energy of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously
bestowed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume,
we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and
perseverence, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one
mind resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves.
Lest this declaration should disquiet the minds of our friends and
fellow-subjects in any part of the empire, we assure them that we mean not
to dissolve that union which has so long and so happily subsisted between
us, and which we sincerely wish to see restored. -- Necessity has not yet
driven us into that desperate measure, or induced us to excite any other
nation to war against them. -- We have not raised armies with ambitious
designs of separating from Great-Britain, and establishing independent
states. We fight not for glory or for conquest. We exhibit to mankind the
remarkable spectacle of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies, without any
imputation or even suspicion of offence. They boast of their privileges and
civilization, and yet proffer no milder conditions than servitude or death.
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
protection of our property, acquired solely by the honest industry of our
fore-fathers and ourselves, against violence actually offered, we have taken
up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of
the aggressors, and all danger of their being renewed shall be removed, and
not before.
With an humble confidence in the mercies of the supreme and impartial
Judge and Ruler of the Universe, we most devoutly implore his divine
goodness to protect us happily through this great conflict, to dispose our
adversaries to reconciliation on reasonable terms, and thereby to relieve
the empire from the calamities of civil war.
