Words by Thomas Jefferson
Arranged by Randall Thompson
at the same time.
The hand of force may destroy,
but cannot disjoin them."
and find nothing as dreadful as voluntary slavery.
Honor, Justice and Humanity...
forbid us tamely to surrender the freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors,
and which our innocent posterity
have a right to receive from us.
We cannot endure the infamy and guilt
of resigning succeeding generations
to our wretchedness which inevitably awaits them,
if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon them.
Our cause is just. Our union is perfect.
Our internal resources are great.
We gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances
of the divine favor towards us,
that His providence would not permit us to become
us to be called into this severe controversy
until we were grown up to our present strength,
had been previously exercised in warlike operation,
and possessed of the means of defending ourselves.
With hearts fortified with these animating reflections,
we most solemnly, before God and the world,
declare that, exerting the utmost energy of these powers
which are beneficial Creator has graciously bestowed upon us,
the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume,
we will, indefiance of every hazard,
with unabating firmness and preserverance,
employ for the preservation of our liberties,
being with one mind resolved to die as free men,
rather than to live slaves.
we exhibit to mankind.
The remarkable spectacle of a people,
attacked by unprovoked enemies
without any imputation or even suspicion of offense.
They boast of their privileges and civilization,
and yet offer no milder conditions than servitude or death.
In our native land, in defense of the freedom
that is our birthright,
and which we have enjoyed til the late violation of it.
For the protection of our property,
acquired solely by the honest industry
of our forefathers and ourselves,
against violence actually offered
we have taken up arms.
We shall lay them down, when hostilites shall cease
on the part of the aggressors, and all danger
of their being renewed shall be removed,
and not before.
that light and liberty are on steady advance,
and even should the cloud of despotism and barbarism
again obscure the science and liberties of Europe,
this country remains to restore light and liberty to them.
The flames kindled on the 4th of July, 1776,
have spread over too much of the globe
to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism.
On the contrary, they will consume these engines
and all who work them.
The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time,
the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.