"Witness his excellency Samuel Huntington, President of the Congress of the United States of America, at Philadelphia, the 29th day of September, in the year of our Lord 1779, and in the fourth year of our Independence.....
....I am certain that the people of America never were so well united as they are at present in that of their independence. Exclusive of actual observation on the spot I think so, because--
(1) The Declaration of Independence was made by Congress at a time when the great body of their constituents called for it.
(2) Because that declaration was immediately recognized by the general assemblies and legislatures of the several States without exception.
(3) Because the successful army under General Burgoyne was defeated and captured by a great collection of the neighboring militia, to whom he had offered peace and tranquillity on their remaining at home, terms which it was natural to suppose a great many of them would have accepted had the Declaration of Independence been disagreeable to them.
(4) Because the Congress, who consists of members annually elected, have repeatedly, expressly, and unanimously declared their determination to support it at every hazard.
(5) Because their internal enemies have been either expelled or reduced, and their estates, to a very great amount in some of the States, confiscated and actually sold.
(6) Because constitutions and forms of government have since been instituted and completely organized, in which the people participate, from which they have experienced essential advantages, and to which they have of consequence become greatly attached.
(7) Because Congress unanimously refused to enter into treaty with the British commissioners on any terms short of independence, and because every State, though afterwards separately solicited, refused to treat otherwise than collectively by their delegates in Congress.
(8) Because the inhuman and very barbarous manner in which the war has been conducted by the enemy has so alienated the affections of the people from the King and Government of Britain, and filled their hearts with such deep-rooted and just resentments, as render a cordial reconciliation, much less a dependence on them, utterly impossible.
(9) Because the doctrine propagated in America by the servants of the King of Great Britain, that no faith was to be kept with Americans in arms against him, and the uniformity with which they have adhered to it in their practice as well as professions, have destroyed all confidence, and leave the Americans no room to doubt but that, should they again become subjects of the King of Britain on certain terms, that those terms would as little impede the progress of future oppression as the capitulation of Limerick in 1691 did with respect to Ireland.
(10) Because the treaty with France, and consequently virtue, honor, and every obligation due to the reputation of a rising nation, whose fame is unsullied by violated compacts, forbid it.
(11) Because it is the evident and well-known interest of North America to remain independent.
(12) Because the history of mankind, from the earliest ages, with a loud voice calls upon those who draw their swords against a prince deaf to the supplications of [his] people to throw away the scabbard.
(13) Because they do not consider the support of their independence as difficult. The country is very defensible and fertile; the people are all soldiers, who with reason consider their liberty and lives as the most valuable of the possessions left them, and which they are determined shall neither be wrested or purchased from them but with blood.
(14) Because for the support of their independence they have expressly, by a most solemn act, pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor; so that their bond of union for this very purpose, thus formed of all the ties of common interest, common safety, mutual affection, general resentments, and the great obligations of virtue, honor, patriotism, and religion may with reason be deemed equal to the importance of that great object.....
I have the honor to be, etc.,
John Jay....
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