A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant [free] is unfit to be the ruler of a [ ] people [_who mean to be free. 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 in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their [an unwarrantable] legislature to extend [_a_] jurisdiction over [us] [_these our states_]. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here, [_no one of which could warrant so strange a pretension: that these were effected at the expense of our own blood and treasure, unassisted by the wealth or the strength of Great Britain: that in constituting indeed, our several forms of government, we had adopted one common king, thereby laying a foundation for perpetual league and amity with them: but that submission to their parliament was no part of our constitution, nor ever in idea, if history may be credited: and_,] [have] we [ ] appealed to their native justice and [and we have magnanimity [_as well as to_] the ties of our conjured them by] common kindred to disavow these usurpations [would inevitably] which [_were likely to_] interrupt our connection 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 time too, they are permitting their chief magistrate to send over not only soldiers of our common blood, but Scotch and foreign mercenaries to invade and destroy us. These facts