as we hold the rest of mankind,
enemies in war, in
peace friends. We might have
been a free and a great people
together; but a communication
of grandeur and of
freedom, it seems, is below
their dignity. Be it so, since
they will have it. The road
to happiness and to glory is
open to us too. We will tread
it apart from them, and_
acquiesce in the necessity
which denounces our _eternal_
separation.

We, therefore, the We, therefore, the
representatives of the United representatives of the United
States of America in general States of America in general
congress assembled, do, in the congress assembled, _appealing
name and by the authority of to the supreme judge of the
the good people of these world for the rectitude of our
_states, reject and renounce all intentions_, do in the name,
allegiance and subjection to and by the good people of
the kings of Great Britain, these _colonies, solemnly
and all others who may hereafter publish and declare that these
claim by, through or united colonies are and of
under them; we utterly dissolve right ought to be free and
all political connexion which independent states; that they
may heretofore have are absolved from all