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<br />Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. <br />We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, <br />Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our <br />intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, <br />solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be <br />Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British <br />Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is <br />and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full <br />Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all <br />other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of <br />this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually <br />pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. <br />The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated: <br /> <br />Column 1 <br /> <br />Georgia: <br /> <br /> Button Gwinnett <br /> Lyman Hall <br /> George Walton <br />Column 2 <br /> <br />North Carolina: <br /> <br /> William Hooper <br /> Joseph Hewes <br /> John Penn <br />South Carolina: <br /> <br /> Edward Rutledge <br /> Thomas Heyward, Jr. <br /> Thomas Lynch, Jr. <br /> Arthur Middleton <br />Column 3 <br /> <br />Massachusetts: <br /> <br />John Hancock <br />Maryland: <br /> <br />Samuel Chase <br />William Paca <br />Thomas Stone <br />Charles Carroll of Carrollton <br />Virginia: <br /> <br />George Wythe <br />Richard Henry Lee <br />Thomas Jefferson <br />Benjamin Harrison <br />Thomas Nelson, Jr. <br />Francis Lightfoot Lee <br />Carter Braxton <br />Column 4 <br /> <br />Pennsylvania: <br /> <br /> Robert Morris <br /> Benjamin Rush <br /> Benjamin Franklin <br /> John Morton <br /> George Clymer <br /> <br />