n the inhabitants of our frontiers the
merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is
undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions.

"In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress
in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered
only by repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by
every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a
free people.

"Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We
have warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their
Legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us; we
have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and
settlement here; we have appealed to their native justice and
magnanimity; and we have conjured them, by the ties of our common
kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably
interrupt our connection and correspondence. They too have been
deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity. We must, therefore,
acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our separation, and hold
them, as we hold the rest of mankind, 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 and
by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly
publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of right
ought to be, Free and Independent States; and that they are
absolved from allegiance to the British Crown; and that all
political connection between them and the State of Great Britain
is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and
independent States, they have full power to levy war, conclude
peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other
acts and things which independent 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 honour."

* * * * *

_Note_.--This Declaration will be discussed in the next chapter.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 386: "The theory that the popular leaders w