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Show 200 Years Ago This Week By Congressman Allan Howe On May 15, 1776, the Virginia Vir-ginia Convention instructed its delegates to the Continental Continen-tal Congress to propose independence. IN THE resolution passed by the Virginia Convention, the reasons for taking the road to independence were spelled out: "Forasmuch as all the endeavours of the United Colonies, by the most decent representatives and petitions to the King and Parliament of Great Britain, to restore peace and security to America under the British Government, and a reunion with that people upon just and liberal terms, instead of a redress of grievances, have produced, from an imperious and vindictive Administration, Administra-tion, increased insult, oppression, and a vigorous attempt to effect our total destruction: - By a late act all these Colonies are declared to be in rebellion, and out of the protection pro-tection of the British Crown, our properties subjected to confiscation, our people, when captivated, compelled to join in the murder and plunder of their relations and countrymen, coun-trymen, and all former rapine and oppression of Americans declared legal and just; fleets and armies are raised, and the aid of foreign troops engaged en-gaged to assist these destructive destruc-tive purposes; the King's representative in Uiis Colony hath not only withheld all the powers of Government from operating for our safety, but, having retired on board an armed ship, is carrying on a piratical and savage war against us, tempting our slaves by every artifice to resort to him, and training and employing them against their masters. IN THIS state of extreme danger, we have no alternative alterna-tive left but an abject submission sub-mission to the will of those overbearing tyrants, or a total separation from the Crown and Government of Great Britain, uniting and exerting the strength of all America for defence, and forming alliances with foreign Powers for commerce and aid in war: - Wherefor, appealing to the Searcher of hearts for the sincerity of former declarations declara-tions expressing our desire to preserve the connection with that nation, and that we are driven from that inclination by their wicked councils, and the eternal law of self-preservation: "RESOLVED, unanimously, unani-mously, That the Delegates Dele-gates appointed to represent thisColonyinGeneralCongress be instructed to propose to that respectable body to declare the United Colonies free and independent States, absolved from all allegiance to, or dependence upon, the Crown of Parliament of Great Britain. . . " |