can not yet cease to hope and as sure them they are aware as they must be that they have nothing more to expect from the same common enemy than the humble favour of being last devoured. JOHN DICKINSON'S DRAFT. A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North America now sitting met in General Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the Causes and Necessity of their taking up Arms. If it was possible for Beings whe entert feel a proper Reverenee for endued with Reason to believe that the Divine Author of their Exist enee Men, who exercise their Reason in contemplating the works of Creation, 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, mark'd out by his infinite Merey Goodness and Wisdom, as the legal Objects of a Domination never rightfully to be resistable, however severe and oppressive, the Inhabitants of these Colonies would might with at least with propriety at least require from the Parliament of Great Britain some Evidence, that this dreadful Authority was vested in that Body Authority over them has been granted to that Body. But since Reflecti Considerations drawna take notice how many great Men in Parlt. and how many considerable Cities and Towns in England have acknowledg'd the Justice of our Cause.1 Q. Ld. North's Proposal.1 FINAL FORM. A declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North America, now met in General 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 reverence for our great 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 'These paragraphs are in the writing of Dickinson. due Reverence a Reverence for our great Creator, Sentiments Principles of Humanity and the Dietates of Reason have convinced the wise and good and the Dictates of Common Sense, have must convince all those who will 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, sinee these generous and noble Prineiples have on no Part of the Earth been so well asserted vindicated and enforced as in Great Britain, the Legislature of that Kingdom hurried on by an inordinate pas sion for Power, of Ambition for a Power' which their own most ad mired Writers and their very Con stitution, demonstrate to be un just; and which they know to be inconsistent with their own polit ical Constitution the Legislature of Great Britain stimulated by an inordinate Passion for a Power not only generally pronoune'd-held to be unjust, but unjustifiable, but which they know to be peculiarly reprobated by the very Constitution of that Kingdom, and desperate of Success in a Mode of Con test in any Mode of Contest, where any a Regard should be had to Truth, or Justice, or Reason, have at last appeal'd length Law or 2 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 desperate 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 slight 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. 1 An alternative phrase, also rejected, was here interlined: "Passion for a Power manifestly unjust and which" * "be reprobated by the very," was here inserted, but struck out. Right, have at length attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic Purpose by Violence, and have thereby rendered it necessary for us to change close with their last Appeal from Reason to Arms. Yet however blinded they that Assembly may be by their intemperate Rage, yet 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 G. B. left their native Land, to seek in the distant and inhospitable Wilds of America on inhospitable Wilds of America on these Shores, a Residence for civil and religious Liberty Freedom. To describe the Dangers, Difficulties and Distresses, the Expence of Blood and Fortune, Treasure they were obliged to encounter in executing their generous Resolutions, would require Volumes. It may suffice to observe, that, at the Expence of their Blood, to the Ruin of their Fortunes, and every Prospect of Advantage in their native Country without the least Charge to the Country from which they removed, with by unceasing Labor and an unconquerable Spirit, they effected Settlements in the distant and inhospitable Wilds of America, then filled with numerous and warlike Nations of Barbarians. Societies or Governments, vested with perfect legisla 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 expence of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes, without the least charge to the country from which they removed, by unceasing labor, and an unconquerable spirit, they effected settlements in the distant and inhospitable wilds of America, then filled with numerous and warlike nations of 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 tures within them, were formed under Charters from the Crown, and such an harmonious Intercourse and Union was established between the Colonies and the Kingdom from which they derived their Origin. The mutual benefits of this Union that some occasional Assumptions of The mutual Benefits of this Union became in a short Time so extraordinary as to excite the Astonishment of other Nations. Every British Writer of Eminence, who has treated of the Subject Politics for near a Century past, has uniformly asserted that the amazing Increase of the Wealth, Strength and Navigation of that Kingdom the Realm, arose from this Source; and the Minisister who so gloriously presided ably wisely and successfully directed the Councils, Affairs, Measures of Great Britain during in the last War, publickly declared, that these Colonies had enabled enabled her to triumph over her Enemies. At Towards the Conclusion of that War, it pleased our Sovereign to make a Change in his Counsels. From that fatal Moment, the Af fairs of the British Empire began to slide fall into Confusion, that sinee has been continually enereas ing and now has produced the most alarming Effects and gradually declining sliding from that splendid Summit of glorious Prosperity to which they had been ear 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 moment, 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 of then subduing her faithful friends. ried advanced by the Virtues and Abilities of one Man, are at Length distracted by the present most most alarming Convulsions, that now shake it to its lowest deepest Foundations. The new Ministry finding the brave brave Foes of Brit ain subdued, took up the unfor tunate Idea of defeated bravely1 tho frequently defeated, yet bravely still contending, took up the unfortunate Ideas of granting them a hasty Peace and these to them, and then of subduing her faithful Friends. They judged those devoted Cot onies were judged to present to then [A paragraph of some nine lines incomplete and not legible is omitted. The sense and a good part of the very words seem to have been used in the next paragraph.] These devoted Colonies were judged to be in such a State as to present a Prospeet Victories without Bloodshed, and all the easy Emoluments of statutable Plunder. The uninterrupted Tenor of their peaceable and respectful Behaviour from the Beginning of Colonization, their dutiful, zealous and useful services during the War, that has been mentioned, tho so recently and amply acknowledged in the most honorable Manner by his Majesty, by the late King, and by Parliament, could not avail to 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 honorable manner by his majesty, by the late king, and by Parliament, could not save them from the meditated innovations.— 1 Another line, illegible, is here inserted but was stricken out. The words "struggle," "contending" and "defeated" may be deciphered. |