|
Sale 30
|
|
press UP arrow key to increase the zoom ratio.
press DOWN arrow key to decrease the zoom ratio.
press RIGHT arrow key to increase the zoom window size.
press LEFT arrow key to decrease the zoom window size.
|
|
Lot 1137
Declaration of the Causes for Taking Up Arms. "A DECLARATION by the REPRESENTATIVES of the United Colonies of North-America, now met in General Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the Causes and Necessity of their taking up ARMS….By Order of Congress, JOHN HANCOCK, President. Charles Thompson, Secretary, Attested, Philadelphia, July 6th, 1775." This declaration, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and modified by John Dickinson, takes up 3½ columns on the front and back pages of the July 15, 1775 issue of The Pennsylvania Ledger: or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser, a Tory newspaper published in Philadelphia by James Humphreys, Jr. The Pennsylvania Ledger was in existence from 1775-1778. It was suspended with the issue of May 23, 1778, no. 155, just previous to the evacuation of Philadelphia by British troops. Brigham lists only five institutions having a copy of the July 15, 1775 issue, with none listed as being in private hands.
In part: "…The legislature of Great Britain …stimulated by an inordinate passion attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic purpose of enslaving these Colonies by violence, and have thereby rendered it necessary for us to close with their last appeal from Reason to Arms…. They have undertaken to give and grant our money without our consent, though we have ever exercised an exclusive right to dispose of our own property; statutes have been passed for extending the jurisdiction of our courts of Admiralty and Vice Admiralty beyond their ancient limits; for depriving us of the accustomed and inestimable privilege of trial by jury in cases affecting both life and property; for suspending the legislature of one of the Colonies; for interdicting all commerce with another; and for altering fundamentally the form of government established by charter…and for quartering soldiers upon the colonists in time of profound peace….by one statute it is declared, that Parliament can 'of right make laws to bind us IN ALL CASES WHATSOEVER.' What is to defend us against so enormous so unlimited a power? Not a single man of those who assume it, is chosen by us; or is subject to our control or influence….We saw the misery to which such despotism would reduce us. We for ten years incessantly and inaffectually besieged the throne as supplicants….We are reduced to the alternative of choosing an unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers, or resistance by force. The latter is our choice. We have counted the cost of this contest, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery….We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them, if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon them. / Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are great, and if necessary foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable….In our own native land, in defence of the freedom that is our birthright…for the protection of our property, we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors…and not before…."
Estimated Value $7,000 - 10,000.
|
| |
| Realized $6,038 |
|
