In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most Not altered. humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injuries. A prince whose character is A prince whose character is thus marked by every act thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a unfit to be the ruler of a people _who mean to be free. _free_ people. Future ages will scarcely believe that the hardiness of one man adventured, within the short compass of twelve years only, to lay a foundation so broad and so undisguised for tyranny over a people fostered and fixed in principles of freedom._ Nor have we been wanting Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British in attention to our British brethren. We have warned brethren. We have warned them from time to time of them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to attempts by their legislature to extend _a_ jurisdiction over extend _an unwarrantable_ _these our states_. We have jurisdiction over _us_. We have reminded them of the reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration circumstances of our emigration and settlement here; _no one of and settlement here; we _have_ which could warrant so appealed to their native justice strange a pretension; these and magnanimity, _and we were effected at the expense have conjured them by_ the of our own blood and treasure, ties of our common kindred unassisted by the wealth or to disavow these usurpations the strength of Great Britain; which _would inevitably_ that in constituting indeed interrupt our connexion and our several forms of government, correspondence. They too have we had adopted one been deaf to the voice of common king; thereby laying justice and of consanguinity. a foundation for perpetual _We must therefore_ acquiesce league and amity with them; in the necessity which denounces but that submission to their our separation, _and hold them_ parliament was no part of our as we hold the rest of mankind, constitution, nor ever in idea enemies in war, in peace if history may be credited; friends. and_ we appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, _as well as to_ the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations which _were likely to_ interrupt our connexion and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity, _and when occasions have been given them by the regular course of their laws, of removing from their councils the disturbers of our harmony, they have by their free election re-established them in power. At this very