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SAVANNAH • & ICAN> Thursday Morning, July 4, 1816. / AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. “Hail, Indj:fent)knce! hail, the auspicious mom! With jov we welcome thy return; , This is the Day which gave fair Freedom birth, And ranked us with the nations of the earth.” : The Fourth of July, a day memorable in the annals of American history, again returns. Its return is welcomed by thousands and tens of thousands of the American family, who, this day, celebrate the Anniversary of their Liberty—the freedom of the Western World. For ty years ago, the fathers of our country announced the hallowed resolution, “that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; and that they are absolved from all allegiance to the'British crown.” For the exercise of these natural and mo ral rights, the mother country stigmatized us as REBELS, and made war upon us: yes, a bloody, sanguinary, and eventful war ensued. But Heaven crowned our exertions with success. After seven" 5 years” of labor and danger—of disasters and triumphs, Great-Britain acknowledged our independence—and we became a free people—enrolled among the independent nations ol the earth. The return of this day is doubly propitious, because it still finds us a free, prosperous and happy people. Though the storm of war has recently beat upon our shores—though the voice of- disaffection for a moment darkened our horizon—yet a kind Providence has restored to us the blessings of Peace—and unusual tranquility every where reigns. Here, representative go vernment is highly venerated, and in successful operation. Herey civil and religious liberty is sacred, guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws. Here, no haughty monarch, no aspiring duke or lord tramples upon the rights of the people, and grinds them by oppression. Here, the op pressed of the Old World finds an asylum from the oppressor. Here only* on the habitable globe, are genuine freedom and pure republicanism known. Hail, happy people! and “Thrice happy land! where sacred freedom thrives, Friend f the" opprest, andgiiurdian of our lives; Europe amaz’d! beholds thy rising fame, Arid unknown lands shall long revere thy name.” Assembled, fellow-countrymen, as you will be this day to commemorate the birth day of Independence, forget not the hand which has succoured you in ad versify, and made the sun beams of prosperity to shine bright upon you. Cojitrkst your situation with the Old World.— Where will you find a parallel to your own rising greatness and fame? Do you look into the rolls of antiquity? Your search will be in vain. Glance your eye to Africa, Asia and Europe, and nothing but slavery, ignorance, and superstition present themselves. But, Americans, how different is your prospect! Though lately embarked in war, that war has terminated success fully; it has raised our reputation as a military people: Our gallant Navv has acquired laurels which confound our enemies and astonish the world: Our Army has done deeds ol valor which would have beei worthy of Greece or Rome in the zenith of their greatness. But honorable peace ensued. The din of war no longer thunders its echoes on our shore. Theinerchant, the hus- Randman, the mechanic, and the laborer are no longer called to the tented field to defend their coun try and oppose the steps of our invading foe—but each respectively pursues his vocation, none to” disturb or make him a lira id—While we thus call to mind the distinguished goodness of Pro vidence towards as, let this day be observed with propriety. Let ingratitude, intemprance, and profanity be strangers to our breasts. Let party feelings be laid aside, but American sentiments predominate; and the only strife be who shall do most to perpetuate the benign influence of Li berty to generations yet unborn. W e this day take the opportunity of presenting our readers with the Declaration of Independence, the most important and interesting state paper that the records ol history can produce. W hether we regard it, as a monument destined to preserve to a particular people the memory of their own inestimable bright-right—of as an illustrious precedent to which every oppressed nation ol the earth may appeal, when they nobly clare to Rebel against Tyranny and Usurpation—it equally strixis as is the m ist deeply interesting production with which human wisdom and virtue have blessed the race of man. It is notin the power of language to exhibit the magnitude and extent pf its importance to the great family of mankind and to all succeeding ages of the world—Nor could the pen of eloquence itself describe in appropriate terms, even its powerful influence on the minds and hearts of our countrymen. Suffice it to say, that no philanthropic foreigner will ever read it without admiration and applause; nor any true American listen to it without emo tions of sympathy and indignation—of gratitude to his fore-fathers, and everlasting hostility to our oppressors. DECLARATION OF 1 INDEPENDENCE. IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776. By the Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled. A DECLARATION: When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the law's of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect for the opinions of mankind, requires, that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evideut—that all men are created equal; that they are endow ed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights: that among'these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men,-de riving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of govern ment becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute anew government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing Its powers in sucli form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.— Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more dispos ed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same'object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufference of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which con strains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present king of Great-Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. ; He ias refused his assent to law's, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation, till his assent should be obtained; and, when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other laws, for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the Legislature—a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only! He lias called together legislative bodies, at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their puohc records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. . \ He has dissolved Representatives Houses repeatedly, for opposing, with manly firmness, his ^invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused lor a long time after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapaole of annihilation, have returned to the people at large, for their exercise; the state remaining in the mean time, exposed to all the danger of invasion from with out, and convulsions within. He hasjendeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners: refusing to pass others, to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands. He has obstructed tiie administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws, for establishing 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 ofjfcers, and sent hither swarms of offices, to harrass our people and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, without the consent of our Legisla tures. , X He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power. He has combined with others, to suuject us to a jurisdiction, foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:-— For quartering large bodies of anifed troops among us:— For protecting them, by a mock trial, irom punishment for any murders, which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:— i For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:— For imposing taxes on us without our consent:— T!T . ...' depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial hy jury:— For transporting us beyond seas, to be trieckfor pretend’d auffences:—* For abofisfiing-the free system of English lawin a. neighboring province, establishing therp;, i an arbitary government, ind enlarging its boundaries so af to render It at once an example and I instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into tlifese colonies:— i For taking away our-charters; abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamental! I the forms of oiir governments.-— ' . ' 1 For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power, to legi s .j late for us in all cases whatsoever. He has 'abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection, and waging war against! us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged out; coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of ou r i people. * . I ‘ He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the. works ®[i death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun, with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy, scarce. | ly paralelled in the most barbarous ages; and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation. He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive oh the high seas, to bear arms again,; thdir country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by P their hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabi tants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule o£ warfare is an undistin. guished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress, in the most humble term« : our petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked, by every act, Which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts made’by their legislature, to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction I over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration ami settlement 3 here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured then I by the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably in. 9 terrupt our connections and correspondence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice IP and consanguinity. We must therefore acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our seja- " ration, pnd hold them as we hold the rest of mankind—enemies in war;—in peace, friends. We,i therefore, «Ae Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in general C< ti gress Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world, for the rectitude of our intentim >, Do, in the name and by the Authority of the good People of there colonies, solemnly publish an: declare, that these(United Colonies, are, and of rigjitj ought to be, FREE AND kNDK-■ PENDENT STATES; that they are absolted from .all allegiance to the British crown, and that S all political connection, between them and the state of Great-Britaiii, is and ought to be totally ? dissolved; and that, as Free and Independent States, they have full power to levy War, conclude 1 peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things w hich indepen- 1 dent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a linn reliance on the f protection of Divine Providence, w e mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and ! our sacred honor. Signed by order and in behalf of the Congress. • John Hancock. President. Attested. Charles Thompson, Secretary. | New-Hampsliire.—Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Mathew Thornton. Massachusetts Bay.—Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry. R/wde-Island, Sfc.—Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery; Connecticut.—Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcotf. New-lbrk.—William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris.; Mew-Jersey.—Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham 1 Clark. Pennsylvania.—Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Civ- ) mer, James Wilson, George Ross. Delaware.—Caesar Rodney, Thomas M‘Kean, George Read. Maryland:•—Samuel Chase; William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll, of Carrolton. TT.rginiu.'^- 1 George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jeflerson, Benjamin Harrison, Tho mas Nelson, jun. Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton. North Carolina.—William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn. South Carolina.—Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, jun. Thomas Lynch, jun. Arthur Mid dleton, Georgia.—Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton. WASHINGTON S LETTER ON BRADDOCK S DEFEAT. From the Weekly Register. . Mr. Nilf-s-—As the enclosed may cast an ad ditional ray of light upon the history of our coun- try.and as all that relates to Washington, how ever minute, cannot fail to beqiarticularly inter esting to every citizen of independent America, and more especially, an accurate, simple and unaffected relation of an event so important in its nature and consequences as that ot Brad- dock's defeat, dictated in the spirit ot feeling and affection, by one of the most illustrious he roes and patriots our country ever produced; l send it to you for publication and preservation in your valuable Register. This copy w us found among the papers of the late colonel Henry Fitz- hugh, ofKiiig George county, (Virginia,) indors ed in his hand writing thus: “A copy ot colo nel George Washington’s letter to his mother immediately after Braddock’s defeat.” It w ill be recollected that Mrs. Washington, the mother of the late general, then resided at Bushfield, in Westmoreland county, on the Potomac, the next county below King George; and also, that Mr. Samuel Washington, the general's brother, then lived next neither to colonel Fitzhugh, with whom he was in habits of intimacy and friendship. From these circumstances there can be no doubt about its authenticity. Copy of Colonel Ge-.rge Washington’s letter to his mother, immediately after Braddock’s defeat. “‘Honored Madam—As I doubt not you have lizard of our defe.it, and perhaps have had it rittpresented in a worse light (if possible) than it deserves, I have taken the earliest opportunity to give you some account of the engagement, as it happened, w ithin 7 miles of the French fort, on Wednesday, the 9th inst. We marched on to that place, without any ‘ considerable loss, having only now and then a straggler picked up by the French Scouting Indians. When w e came there, we were attacked by a body of French and Indians, whose numbers, I am cer tain, did not exceed 300 men. Our’s consisted of about 1300 well armed troops, chiefly of the English soldiers, who were struck with such a panic that they behaved with more cowardice than it is possible to conceive. The officers be haved gallantly, in order to encourage their men, for which they suffered greatly, there be ing nearly 60 killed and wounded, a large pro portion out of the number we had: The Virgi nia troops shewed a great deal of bravery, and were near all killed; for I believe, out of three companies, there is scarce 30 men left alive. Captain Peyconee and all his officers, down to a corporal, were killed. Captain Poulson shared near as hard a fate, for only one of his men w as leit. In short, the dastardly behavior of those they call regulars, exposed all others, that were inclined to do their duty, to almost certain death —and at last, in despite of all the efforts of the officers to the contrary, they broke and ran, as sheep pursued by dogs, and it was impossible to rally them. “The general was wounded, of which he died three days alter. Sir Peter Hacket was killed in the field, where died many other brave offi cers. 1 luckily escaped without a wound, though I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me. Captains Qrme aadMor ris, two of I the general’s aids-de-camp, were wounded early in the engagement, which ren dered the dijty hai - d upon me, as I was the only person then|left to distribute the general's or ders, which 1 was scarcely able to do, as I was net hall recovered from a violent spell of k- ness that cohfined me to’ my bed apd a waggon lor above ten days.* 1 am still in a w eak ami feeble condition, which induces me to halt here tw o or three days, in hopes of recovering a little strength to enable me to proceed homewards, from whence probably I shall not be able to stir until towarqs September.” The following remarks on the progress nf science in the United States, are extracted from a letter, written, as is said, by Dr. Mitchell to one of lus European correspondents;—(iamdeti Gazette. “There w as probably never such a time as the present for the cultivation of natural sciences in America. Think of the number of able hands actually engaged in the several branches, for which they have a preference, and whom 1 have had the pleasure of seeing within a few months at New-York. Mr. Bradbury, who returned from the land of the Mandanes and Ricaras. on the high Missouri, a few years ago, loaded with indigenous plants and other productions, is now as ardent and as capable as ever to discover new objects. Mr. Frazer, after enriching Eu rope with the plants which he and his father found in tlieir long and diversified tours through the United .States, has lately brought from Great Britain a rich supply for our parterres and gar dens. Mr. lialinc-sque, already distinguished for his ingi nious, learned and original publica tions, is now employing the acuteness of genius in botanical, zoological, and other investigations. Mr. Nestall, the traveller through the vast re gions west of Lake Superior, and north of the river Missouri, possesses superior qualifications and unquenchable ardor. Whitlow, well know n. among other things, for his zeal in favor of a new economical vegetable, and fpr introducing most elegant figures of plants, painted in transparent colors. Mr. Pursdi, the author of the Flora of North-America, a grand performance, posting up all that his predecessors and cotemporaries have done, and adding thereto his own exten sive and correct researches. Mr. Rich, the pub lisher of the Synopsis of the Genera of American plants, the neatest and most convenient manual that has ever been offered to our botanical stu dents. Mr. Le Seur, the famous voyager to Timor, New-llolland and Van Diemen’s Land, whose knowledge of marine zoology surpasses that of every other person with whom I have con versed. Mr. Maclure, long known as our ablest geologist; has now come to take the field again, with directing and doing the most inter esting works. Admiral Coffin, in addition to professional merit of an exalted degree, is a treasure of ichthyological facts; and much may be expected from his spirited exertions to ex plore the depths of the ocean. Nor are these all,” &c. j J. C. i Zimmerman, esq. has been appointed commercial agent, ad interim, of his majesty the king of the Netherlands, for the city and state of New-York.—New- Fork Mercantile Ad- vertmr*.