|
King George's Rebellion Proclamation -
August 23, 1775
King George officially declared the American
colonies to be in rebellion on August 23, 1775. This was a slap in the face to Americans
who had just sent him a petition of peace, known as the
Olive Branch Petition. This petition assured the king that the Americans remained
his loyal subjects and had no desire for independence, as long as their
grievances were satisfactorily addressed. The American representatives
Richard Penn and Arthur Lee presented the petition to the Secretary of
State for the American colonies, Lord Dartmouth. It was two days later
that King George issued his proclamation. This is one of the actions
that persuaded many wavering American colonists that the king was
actively seeking to destroy their God-given rights and led to their
Declaration of Independence
the next year.
King George's Rebellion Proclamation:
"Whereas many of our subjects in divers parts of our Colonies and Plantations in North
America, misled by dangerous and ill designing men, and forgetting the
allegiance which they owe to the power that has protected and supported
them; after various disorderly acts committed in disturbance of the
publick peace, to the obstruction of lawful commerce, and to the
oppression of our loyal subjects carrying on the same; have at length
proceeded to open and avowed rebellion, by arraying themselves in a
hostile manner, to withstand the execution of the law, and traitorously
preparing, ordering and levying war against us: And whereas, there is
reason to apprehend that such rebellion hath been much promoted and
encouraged by the traitorous correspondence, counsels and comfort of
divers wicked and desperate persons within this realm: To the end
therefore, that none of our subjects may neglect or violate their duty
through ignorance thereof, or through any doubt of the protection which
the law will afford to their loyalty and zeal, we have thought fit, by
and with the advice of our Privy Council, to issue our Royal
Proclamation, hereby declaring, that not only all our Officers, civil
and military, are obliged to exert their utmost endeavors to suppress
such rebellion, and to bring the traitors to justice, but that all our
subjects of this Realm, and the dominions thereunto belonging, are
bound by law to be aiding and assisting in the suppression of such
rebellion, and to disclose and make known all traitorous conspiracies
and attempts against us, our crown and dignity; and we do accordingly
strictly charge and command all our Officers, as well civil as military,
and all others our obedient and loyal subjects, to use their utmost
endeavors to withstand and suppress such rebellion, and to disclose and
make known all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which they shall
know to be against us, our crown and dignity; and for that purpose,
that they transmit to one of our principal Secretaries of State, or
other proper officer, due and full information of all persons who shall
be found carrying on correspondence with, or in any manner or degree
aiding or abetting the persons now in open arms and rebellion against
our Government, within any of our Colonies and Plantations in North
America, in order to bring to condign punishment the authors,
perpetrators, and abetters of such traitorous designs.
Given at our Court at St. James's the twenty-third day of August, one
thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, in the fifteenth year of our
reign.
God save the King.
|
|
