trained by Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors; and alfo to fhip and tranfport all, and all Manner of Goods, Chattels, Merchandizes, and other Things whatsoever that are or shall be ufeful or neceffary for the Inhabitants of the faid Colony, and may lawfully be transported thither; Nevertheless, not to be difcharged of Payment to Us, our Heirs and Succeffors, of the' Duties, Cuftoms and Subfidies which are or ought to be paid or payable for the fame. And further, Our Will and Pleafare is, and We do for Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, ordain,

minifter the

declare, and grant unto the faid Governor and Company, and The king's their Succeffors, That all, and every the Subjects of Us, Our fubjects in Heirs, or Succeffors, which fhall go to inhabit within the faid this colony to Colony, and every of their Children, which fhall happen to enjoy all the be born there, or on the Seas in going thither, or returning privileges of from thence, fhall have and enjoy all Liberties and Immuni- free and natu ral fubjects. ties of free and natural Subjects within any the Dominions of Us, Our Heirs or Succeffors, to all Intents, Conftructions and Purposes whatsoever, as if they and every of them were born within the Realm of England; And We do authorise and impower the Governor, or in his Abfence the Deputy-Governor for the Time being, to appoint Two or more of the said Affiftants at any of their Courts or Affemblies to be held as aforefaid, to have Power and Authority to adminifter the Oath Power to adof Supremacy and Obedience to all and every Perfon and oath of fuprePerfons which fhall at any Time or Times hereafter go or pafs macy and obeinto the said Colony of Connecticut, unto which faid Affiftants dience. fo to be appointed as aforefaid, We do by thefe Prefents give full Power and Authority to adminifter the faid Oath accordingly. And We do further of Our efpecial Grace, certain Knowledge, and meer Motion, give, and grant unto the faid Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, in America, and their Succeffors, That it fhall and may be lawful to and for the Governor, or DeputyGovernor, and fuch of the Affiftants of the faid Company for the Time being as shall be Affembled in any of the General Courts aforefaid, or in any Courts to be especially fummoned or affembled for that Purpose, or the greater part of them,, whereof the Governor, or Deputy-Governor, and Six of the Affiftants to be always Seven, to erect and make fuch Judica- To erect juditories, for the hearing, and determining of all Actions, Cau- catories. fes, Matters, and Things happening within the faid Colony, or Plantation, and which fhall be in Difpute, and Depending there, as they fhall think Fit, and Convenient, and alfo from Time to Time to Make, Ordain, and Establish all manner of wholesome, and reasonable Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, Di- To ordain and rections, and Inftructions, not Contrary to the Laws of this establish laws for fettling the Realm of England, as well for fettling the Forms, and Cereforms of govmonies of Government, and Magiftracy, fit and neceffary for ernment, &c. the faid Plantation, and the Inhabitants there, as for Naming, and Stiling all Sorts of Officers, both Superior and Inferior, which they shall find Needful for the Government, and Plantation of the faid Colony, and the diftinguishing and fetting forth of the feveral Duties, Powers, and Limits of every fuch Office and Place, and the Forms of fuch Oaths not being contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Our Realm of England,

To impofe
fines, mul&s,
&c.

Laws to be
published.

to be adminiftred for the Execution of the said feveral Offices and Places as alfo for the difpofing and ordering of the Election of such of the faid Officers as are to be annually chofen, and of fuch others as fhall fucceed in cafe of Death or Removal, and adminiftring the faid Oath to the new-elected Officers, and granting neceffary Commiffions, and for Impofition of lawful Fines, Mulets, Imprifonment or other Punishment upon Offenders and Delinquents according to the Course of other Corporations within this our Kingdom of England, and the fame Laws, Fines, Mulets and Executions, to alter, change, revoke, annul, release, or pardon under their Common Seal, as by the faid General Affembly, or the major Part of them fhall be thought fit, and for the directing, ruling and difpofing of all other Matters and Things, whereby Our faid People Inhabitants there, may be fo religiously, peaceably and civilly governed, as their good Life and orderly Converfation may win and invite the Natives of the Country to the Knowledge and Obedience of the only true GOD, and the Saviour of Mankind, and the Chriftian Faith, which in Our Royal Intentions, and the adventurers free Poffeffion, is the only and principal End of this Plantation; willing, commanding and requiring, and by these Presents for Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, ordaining and appointing, that all fuch Laws, Statutes and Ordinances, Inftructions, Impofitions and Directions as fhall be fo made by the Governor, Deputy-Governor,and Affiftants as aforefaid,and published in Writing under their Common Seal, fhall carefully and duly be obferved, kept, performed, and put in ExLaws to be ecution, according to the true Intent and Meaning of the put in Execufame, and these Our Letters Patents, or the Duplicate, or Extion. emplification thereof, fhall be to all and every fuch Officers, Superiors and Inferiors from Time to Time, for the putting of the fame Orders, Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, Inftructions, and Directions in due Execution, against Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, a fufficient Warrant and Discharge. And We do further for Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, give and grant unto the faid Governor and Company, and their Succeffors, by these Prefents, That it fhall and may be lawful to, and for the Chief Commanders, Governors and Officers of the faid Company for the Time being, who fhall be resident in the Parts of New-England hereafter mentioned, and others inhabiting there, by their Leave, Admittance, Appointment, or Power to af- Direction, from Time to Time, and at all Times hereafter, for femble & put their ipecial Defence and Safety, to Affemble, Martial-Array, and put in warlike Pofture the Inhabitants of the faid Colony, and to Commiffionate, Impower, and Authorize fuch Perfon or Perfons as they fhall think fit, to lead and conduct the said Inhabitants, and to encounter, expulfe, repel and refift by Force of Arms, as well by Sea as by Land, and alfo to kill, flay, and destroy by all fitting Ways, Enterprizes, and Means whatfoever, all and every fuch Perfon or Perfons as fhall at any Time hereafter attempt or enterprize the Destruction, Invafion, Detriment, or Annoyance of the faid Inhabitants or Plantation, and to use and exercife the Law Martial in fuch Cafes only as Occafion fhall require ; and to take or furLaw Martial. prize by all Ways and Means whatfoever, all and every fuch

in warlike
pofture the
Inhabitants.

To use the

33

Declaration to

Perfon and Perfons, with their Ships, Armour, Ammunition and other Goods of fuch as fhall in fuch hoftile Manner invade or attempt the defeating of the faid Plantation, or the hurt of the faid Company and Inhabitants, and upon juft Causes to invade and destroy the Natives, or other Enemies of the faid Colony. Nevertheless, Our Will and Pleasure is, and We do hereby declare unto all Chriftian Kings, Princes, and His Majefty's States, that if any Perfons which shall hereafter be of the faid all Princes and Company or Plantation, or any other by Appointment of the States, against faid Governor and Company for the Time being, fhall at any fuch as hall Time or Times hereafter rob or spoil by Sea or by Land, and rob or fpoil by do any Hurt, Violence, or unlawful Hoftility to any of the Sea or Land. Subjects of Us, Our Heirs or Succeffors, or any of the Subjects of any Prince or State being then in League with Us, Our Heirs or Succeffors, upon Complaint of fuch Injury done to any fuch Prince or State, or their Subjects, We, Our Heirs and Succeffors will make open Proclamation within any Parts of Our Realm of England fit for that Purpose, that the Person or Perfons committing any fuch Robbery or Spoil, fhall within the Time limited by fuch Proclamation, make full Reftitution or Satisfaction of all fuch Injuries done or committed, fo as the faid Prince, or others fo complaining may be fully fatisfied and contented; and if the said Perfon or Perfons who shall commit any fuch Robbery or Spoil fhall not make Satisfaction accordingly, within fuch Time fo to be limited, that then it shall and may be lawful for Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, to put fuch Perfon or Perfons out of Our Allegiance and Protection; and that it fhall and may be lawful and free for all Princes or others to profecute with Hoftility fuch Offenders, and every of them, their, and every of their Procurors, Aiders, Abettors and Counsellors in that Behalf. Provided alfo, and Our exprefs Will and Pleasure Liberty referis, and We do by these Presents for Us, Our Heirs, and Suc- ved for all his ceffors, Ordain and Appoint, that these Presents fhall not in Majesty's fubany Manner hinder any of Our loving Subjects whatsoever jects to fith upto use and exercise the Trade of Fishing upon the Coaft of on the coast. New-England, in America, but they and every or any of them fhall have full and free Power and Liberty, to continue, and use the faid Trade of Fishing upon the faid Coaft, in any of the Seas thereunto adjoining, or any Arms of the Seas, or Salt Water Rivers where they have been accustomed to fish, and to build and fet up on the wafte Land belonging to the said Colony of Connecticut, fuch Wharves, Stages, and Work-Wharves, &c. Houses as fhall be neceffary for the falting drying, and keep- upon wafte ing of their Fish to be taken, or gotten upon that Coaft, any Lands. Thing in these Prefents contained to the contrary notwithftanding. And Know Ye further, That We, of Our abun dant Grace, certain Knowledge, and mere Motion, have giv- lands within en, granted, and confirmed, and by thefe Prefents for Us, our the limits exHeirs and Succeffors, do give, grant and confirm unto the faid preffed to the Governor and Company, and their Succeffors, all that Part of governor and Our Dominions in New-England in America, bounded on the company, Eaft by Narraganfet-River, commonly called Narraganfet- modities Bay, where the faid River falleth into the Sea; and on the thereof &c, North by the Line of the Maffachusetts-Plantation; and on

To build

Grant of the

with the com

To be held in free and common foccage;

the South by the Sea; and in Longitude as the Line of the Maffachufetts-Colony, running from East to West, That is to fay, From the faid Narraganfet-Bay on the Eaft, to the South Sea on the Weft Part, with the Iflands thereunto adjoining, together with all firm Lands, Soils, Grounds, Havens, Ports, Rivers, Waters, Fifhings, Mines, Minerals, precious Stones, Quarries, and all and fingular other Commodities, Jurifdictions, Royalties, Privileges, Franchises, Preheminences, and Hereditaments what foever, within the faid Tract, Bounds, Lands, and Islands aforefaid, or to them or any of them belonging. To have and to hold the fame unto the said Governor and Company, their Succeffors and Affigns for ever, upon Truft, and for the Ufe and Benefit of Themselves and their Affociates, Freemen of the faid Colony, their Heirs and Affigns, to be holden of Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, as of Our Manor of Eaft-Greenwich, in free and common Soccage, and not in Capite, nor by Knights Service, yielding and paying therefore to Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, only the Fifth Part of all the Ore of Gold and Silver which from Time to Time, and at all Times hereafter, fhall be there gotten, had, or obtained, in Lieu of all Services, Duties, and Demands whatfoever, to be to Us, our Heirs, or Succeffors therefore, or thereout rendered, made, or paid. And lastly, We do for The patent to Us, our Heirs and Succeffors, grant to the said Governor and have the moft Company, and their Succeffors, by these Presents, That these favorable con- Our Letters Patents, fhall be firm, good and effectual in the Aruction for Law, to all Intents, Conftructions, and Purposes whatsoever, according to Our true Intent and Meaning herein before declared, as fhall be conftrued, reputed and adjudged most favourable on the Behalf, and for the best Benefit, and Behoof of the faid Governor and Company, and their Succeffors, although exprefs Mention of the true Yearly Value or Certainty of the Premifes, or of any of them, or of any other Gifts or Grants by Us, or by any of Our Progenitors, or Predeceffors, heretofore made to the faid Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, in America, aforefaid, in these Presents is not made, or any Statute, A&t, Ordinance, Provifion, Proclamation, or Restriction heretofore had, made, enacted, ordained, or provided, or any oth er Matter, Cause, or Thing whatsoever, to the contrary thereof, in any wife notwithstanding. In Witnefs whereof, We have caufed thefe Our Letters to be made Patents. Witness Ourself at Westminster, the Three and Twentieth Day of April, in the Fourteenth Year of our Reign.

the benefit of

the

and

governor company.

By Writ of Privy Seal,

HOWAR D.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, by the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in Congrefs affembled.

WH

THURSDAY July 4, 1776.

THEN, in the course of human events, it becomes neceffary for one people to diffolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to affume, among the powers of the Earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's GOD entitle them, a decent refpect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the feparation.

We hold thefe truths to be felf evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights; that among thefe are life, liberty, and the purfuit of happiness.--That to fecure thefe rights, governments are inftituted among men, deriving their just powers from the confent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes deftructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to inflitute a newgovernment, laying its foundation on fuch principles, and organizing its powers in fuch form, as to them fhall feem moft likely to effect their fafety and happinefs. Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that governments long established, should not be changed for light and tranfient caufes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more difpofed to fuffer, while evils are fufferable, than to right themfelves by abolishing the forms to which they are accuftomed. But when a long train of abuses and ufurpations, pursuing invariably the fame object, evinces a defign to reduce them under absolute defpotifm, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off fuch government, and to provide new guards for their future fecurity. Such has been the patient sufferance of thefe colonies; and fuch is now the neceffity which constrains them to alter their former fyftems of government. The hiftory of the prefent king of Great-Britain is a history of repeated injuries and ufurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an abfolute tyranny over these ftates. To prove this, let facts be fubmitted to a candid world.

He has refused his affent to laws the most wholesome and neceffary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pafs laws of immediate and preffing importance, unless fufpended in their operation till his affent fhould be obtained; and when fo fufpended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refufed to pafs other laws for the accommodation of large diftricts of people, unless thofe people would relinquith the right of representation in the legiflature; a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unyfual, uncomfortable. and diftant from the depofitory of their public records, for the fole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has diffolved representative houfes repeatedly, for oppofing with manly firmnefs, his invafions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after fuch diffolutions, to caufe others to be elected; whereby the legiflative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercife; the ftate remaining, in the mean time, expofed to all the dangers of invafion from without, and convulfions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of thefe ftates; for that purpose obftructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refufing to pafs others to encourage their migrations hither, and raifing the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obftructed the adminiftration of juftice, by refufing his affent to laws for eftablishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and fent hither fwarms of officers to harrafs our people, and eat out their fubftance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, ftanding armies, without the confent of our legislatures.

R