fequences.

conciliation. The best men in England were shocked at the measure; the most difpaffionate men in America forefaw and lamented the conThe British Miniftry, however, perfifting in their latent views of fubjugating the Colonies, and attempting by open force as well as secret stratagem to fubdue and disunite them, gave eventual rife to that Independence, Confederacy, and Legislation, defcribed, fupported, and avowed, in the following docu

ments.

A LIST

IN CONGRESS.

RESOLVED,

DECEMBER 29, 1780.

THAT a Committee of three be appointed to collect, and cause to be published, two hundred correct copies of the Declaration of Independence, the articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, the Alliances between thefe United States and his Moft Chriftian Majefty, with the Conftitutions or Forms of Government of the several States, to be bound together in boards. The members chofen, Mr. Bee, Mr. Witherfpoon and Mr. Wolcott.

Extract from the Minutes,

CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.

In CONGRESS,

JULY 4, 1776.

A

DECLARATION

BY THE

REPRESENTATIVES

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.

W

HEN, in the courfe of human events, it becomes neceffary for one people to diffolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to af

fume among the powers

of the earth the fe

parate and equal ftation to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent refpect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the caufes which impel them to the feparation.

We hold thefe truths to be felf-evident : That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with B

certain una

lienable