OCR Text |
Show J7" ' CfCtf rftE THEREFORE, the representatives of the United States of America in General Aj Congress Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judse of the world for the recti- taSJ tude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of D R S these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right 111 ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to H u R the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great flj Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States. 8 B ' they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establiih commerce, I I and to do all other Acts and things which Independent States may of right do. And for Men the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Provi- 9 H E dence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. g 8 I |