He  has  excited  domestic  insurrections  amongst  us,  and  has
endeavored  to  bring  on  the  inhabitants  of  our  frontiers  the  merci-
less Indian  savages,  whose  known  rule  of  warfare  is  an  undis-
tinguished 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  imfit  to  be  the  ruler  of  a  free  people.
Nor  have  we  been  wanting  in  attentions  to  our  British  breth-
ren. "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  emigra-
tion and  settlement  here.  "We  have  appealed  to  their  native  jus-
tice and  magnanimity,  and  we  have  conjured  them,  by  the  ties  of
our  common  kindred,  to  disavow  these  usurpations,  which  would
inevitably  interrupt  our  connections  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.
