the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
Signed by order and in behalf of the congress.
- Attested, CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Josiah Bartlett,
William Whipple,
Matthew Thornton.
MASSACHUSETTS BAY.
Samuel Adams,
John Adams,
Robert Treat Paine,
Elbridge Gerry.
RHODE ISLAND, &c.
Stephen Hopkins,
William Ellery.
CONNECTICUT.
Roger Sherman,
Samuel Huntington,
William Williams,
Oliver Wolcott.
NEW YORK.
William Floyd,
Philip Livingston,
Francis Lewis,
Lewis Morris.
NEW JERSEY.
Richard Stockton,
John Witherspoon,
Francis Hopkinson,
John Hart,
Abraham Clark.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Robert Morris,
Benjamin Rush,
Benjamin Franklin,
John Morton,
George Clymer,
James Smith,
George Taylor,
James Wilson,
Goerge Ross.
DELAWARE.
Cæsar Rodney,
George Read,
Thomas M'Kean
MARYLAND.
Samuel Chase
William Paca,
Thomas Stone,
Charles Carroll, of Carrollton.
VIRGINIA.
George Wythe,
