It was 243 years ago today:
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. . .
He has endeavored 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 kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. . .
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their acts of pretended legislation. . .
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent. . .
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments. . .
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world. . .
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury. . .
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 made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices. . .
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our people. . .
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated 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. . .
Thus, 243 years ago today, the people of these United States answered Benjamin Franklin’s challenge, and chose to keep this great Republic.
A wonderful, joyful, and contemplative Independence Day to everyone.