The large advances strides of late taken by the legislature of Great Britain towards establishing in over these colonies their absolute rule, and the hardiness of their present attempt to effect by force of arms what by law or right they could never effect, render it necessary for us also to shift change the ground of opposition and to close with their last appeal from reason to arms. And as it behoves those who are called to this great decision to be assured that their cause is approved before supreme reason, so is it of great avail that it's justice be made known to the world whose prayers cannot be wanting intercessions affections will ever be favorable to a people take part with those encountring oppression. Our forefathers, inhabitants of the island of Gr. Britn harassed having there Fainly long endeavored to bear up against the evils of misrule, left their native land to seek on these shores a residence for civil and religious freedom. At the expense of their blood, with to the less ruin of their fortunes, with the relinquishment of everything quiet and comfortable in life, they effected settlements in the inhospitable wilds of America; they there established civil societies un der with various forms of constitution, but possessing all, what is inherent in all, the full and perfect

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The large strides of late taken by the legislature of Great Britain towards establishing over these colonies their absolute rule, and the hardiness of the present attempt to effect by force of arms what by law or right they could never effect, render it necessary for us also to change the ground of opposition, and to close with their last appeal from reason to arms. And as it behoves those, who are called to this great decision, to be assured that their cause is approved before supreme reason; so is it of great avail that it's justice be made known to the world, whose affections will ever take part with those encountering oppression. Our forefathers, inhabitants of the island of Great Britain, having long endeavored to bear up against the evils of mis rule, left their native land to seek on these shores a residence for civil and religious freedom. At the expence of their blood, with to the ruin of their fortunes, with the relinquishment of everything quiet and comfortable in life, they effected settlements in the inhospitable wilds of America; they and there established civil societies with various forms of constitution. But possessing all, what is inher ent in all, the full and perfeet powers of legislation To continue their connection with the friends whom they had left, they arranged

powers of legislation. To continue their connection with the friends whom they had left and but loved they arranged themselves by charters of compact under the same one common king who became the thro' whom union was ensured to the multiplied who thus became the controul link uniting of union between the several parts of the empire. Some occasional assumptions of power by the parl. of Gr. Brit. however foreign and unknown to unacknowledged by the constitution we had formed of our governments were finally acquiesced in [

]thro' the warmth of affection. Proceeding thus in the fullness of mutual harmony and confidence both parts of the empire encreased in population and in wealth with a rapidity unknown in the history of man. The various soils political institutions of America, it's various elimes soils and climates opening sure certain resource to the unfortunate and to the enterprising of all every country where and ensured to them the acquisition and free possession of property. Great Britain too acquired a lustre and a weight in the politi eal system among the powers of the world earth which it is thought her internal resources could never have given her. To the a communication of the wealth and the power of the several parts of the whole every part of the empire

themselves by charters of compact under one the same common king, who thus completed their powers of full and perfect legislation and became the link of union between the several parts of the empire.

Some occasional assumptions of power by the parliament of Great Britain, however unacknowledged by the constitution of our governments, were finally acquiesced in thro' warmth of affection. Proceeding thus in the fullness of mutual harmony and confidence, both parts of the empire increased in population and in wealth with a rapidity unknown in the history of man. The political institutions of America, it's various soils and climates opened a certain resource to the unfortunate and to the enterprising of every country, and ensured to them the acquisition and free possession of property.

Great Britain too acquired a lustre and a weight among the powers of the earth which her internal resources could never have given her. To a communication of the wealth and the power of the whole every part of the empire we may surely ascribe in some measure the illustrious character

we may surely ascribe in some measure surely ascribe the illustrious character she sustained thro' her last European war and its successful event. At the close of that war however Gr. Britain having subdued all her foes she took up the unfortunate idea of subduing her friends also. Her parliament then for the first time asserted a right of unbounded legislation for over the colonies of America: by an several acts passed in the years of the 5th the 6th and the 7th and the 8th years of the reign of his present majesty several duties were imposed for the purpose of raising a revenue on the American colonists, the powers of courts of admiralty were extended beyond their antient limits and the inesti mable right [of being tried in all cases civil] trial by twelve peers of our vicinage was taken away in eases affecting both life and prop erty. By part of an act passed in the 12th year of the present reign an American colonist charged with the offenses described in that act may be transported beyond sea-for trial [of such offense] by the very persons against whose pretended Sovereignty [the supposed offense] is supposed to be committed and pursuing with eagerness the newly assumed thought have in the space of 10 years during which they have

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she sustained through her last European war, and its successful event. At the close of that war however having subdued all her fees' it pleased our sovereign to make a change in his counsels. The new ministry finding all the foes of Britain subdued she took up the unfortunate idea of subduing her friends also. her parliament then for the first time asserted a right assumed a power of unbounded legislation over the colonies of America; and in the space course of ten years during which they have proceeded to exercise this right, have given such decisive specimen of the spirit of this new legislation, as leaves no room to doubt the consequence of acquiescence under it.

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exercisd yt right have made given such decisive severe specimens of the spirit in which this new legislation would be exercised con ducted [illegible word] towards the establishment of absolute govern ment over us as leaves no room to doubt the consequence of our fur ther acquiescence under it by two three two other acts passed in the 14th year of his present majesty they have assumed a right of alter ing the form of our governments altogether, and of thereby taking away every security for the pos session of life or of property.

By several acts of parliament passed in the reign of his present majesty within scope that period space of time they have imposed upon us duties for the purpose of raising a revenue attempted to take from us our money without our consent, they have taken away the interdicted all commerce first of one of our principal trading towns thereby annihilating it's property, in the hands of the holders, and more lately they have cut off our the commercial intercourse with all of several of these of whole colonies with all foreign countries whatsoever; they have extended the jurisdiction of the courts of admiralty beyond their antient limits thereby depriving us of the inestimable right of trial by jury in cases affecting both life and property and subjecting both to the decision arbitrary decision

By several acts of parliament passed within that space of time they have attempted to take from us undertaken to give and grant our money without our consent: a right of which we have ever had the exclusive exercise; they have interdicted all commerce to one of our principal towns, thereby annihilating it's property in the hands of the holders; they have cut off the commercial intercourse of whole colonies with foreign countries; they have extended the jurisdiction of courts of admiralty beyond their antient limits; there by they have deprived us of the inestimable right privilege of trial by a jury of the vicinage in cases affecting both life and property; they have declared that American Subjects charged with certain offenses shall be transported beyond sea to be tried before the very

of a single and dependent judge; they have declared that American subjects committing charged with certain pretended offences shall be transported beyond sea for trial to be tried before the very persons against whose pretended sovereignty offense is supposed to be committed; they have attempted fundamentally to alter the form of government in one of these colonies, a form established by acts of it's own legislature, and further secured to them by charters of compact with and grants from on the part of the crown; they have erected a tyranny in a neighbouring province, acquired by the joint arms of Great Britain and America, a tyranny dangerous to the very existence of all these colonies.

But why should we enumerate their injuries in the detail? By one act they have suspended the powers of one American legislature and by another they have declared they may legislate for us themselves in all cases whatsoever. These two acts alone form a basis broad enough whereon to erect a despotism of unlimited extent, when it is considered that the per sons by whom these acts are passed are not with us subject to their agents and what is to prevent secure us against the demolition of our present and establishment of new and despotic forms of go ernment? this dreaded evil? The persons who assuming these pow

persons against whose pretended sovereignty the offense is supposed to be committed; they have attempted fundamentally to alter the form of government in one of these colonies, a form established secured by charters on the part of the crown and confirmed by acts of it's own legislature; and further secured by charters on the part of the crown; they have erected in a neighboring province, acquired by the joint arms of Great Britain and America, a tyranny dangerous to the very existence of all these colonies. But why should we enumerate their injuries in the detail? By one act they have suspended the powers of one American legislature, and by another have declared they may legislate for us themselves in all cases what