that we mean not in any wise to affect that union with them in which we have so long and so happily lived and which we wish so much to see again restored: that necessity must be hard indeed which could may force upon us this desperate measure, or induce us to avail ourselves of any aid which their enemies of Great Britain might proffer. We took up arms to defend in defense of our persons and properties under actual violation: when that violence shall be removed, when hostilities shall cease on the minis terial the ministerial party there fore shall cease be suspended hos tilities on the part ministerial of the aggressors, hostilities they shall be suspended cease on our part also; when the moment they withdraw their armies we will disband ours. next to a vigourous exertion of our own internal foree, we throw ourselves for towards we did not embody men a soldiery to commit aggression on them; we did not raise armies for march to or to glory glory or for conquest; we did not invade their island, proffering carrying death or slavery to it's inhabitants Towards the atchievement of this happy event we call for and confide on in the good offices of our fellow subjects beyond the Atlantic. Of their friendly dispositions we eenfide we hope with justice reason did not embody a soldiery to commit aggression on them; we did not raise armies for glory or for conquest; we did not invade their island carrying death or slavery to it's inhabitants. We took arms in defence of our persons and properties under actual violation, we have taken up arms we took up arms; when that violence shall be removed, when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors, hostilities shall cease on our part also. The moment they withdraw their armies, we will disband ours. For the atchievment of this happy event, we call for and confide in the good offices of our fellow subjects beyond the Atlantic. Of their friendly dispositions we do not yet cease to hope; 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. And we devoutly implore the assistance of Almighty god to conduct us happily thro' this great conflict, to dispose the minds of his majesty, his ministers, and parliament to reasonable-terms reconciliation with us on reasonable terms, and to deliver us from the evils of a civil war. Q. If it might not be proper to take notice of Ld. Chatham's Plan and its being rejected, mentioning his great abilities.' Q. If it might not be proper to This paragraph is in the writing of Dickinson. can not yet cease to hope and assure 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 Reverence 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 drawn a 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.' 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 1These 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, since these generous and noble Principles 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 Constitution, 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 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" 2" 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 Affairs 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. |