Fragment
of Thomas Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration of Independence
This is the only fragment of Thomas Jefferson's
original draft of
the Declaration of Independence. It is currently held at the Library of
Congress in Washington D.C.
The text of the fragment appears on
this page. It contains Jefferson's own deletions and corrections. None
of the words deleted on this fragment appear in the Rough Draft of the
Declaration of Independence, which is the draft the Committee of Five
presented to Congress. However, all of the other 148 words on this
fragment do appear in the Rough Draft. The writing
at the
bottom of the page is Jefferson's draft of a resolution receiving the
resignation of General John Sullivan.
Click to view larger image of
Thomas Jefferson's Declaration
of Independence fragment
re-establishing them in po[wer...] this
conduct and at this very time too, they are permitting
their sovereign chief magistrate to send
over not only soldiers of our own common
blood but Scotch & foreign mercenaries to destroy
us invade and deluge us in blood. this is
too much to be borne even by relations. enough then be it to say, we
are now done with them.
these facts have given the last stab to agonizing affection, &
manly spirit bids us to renounce for ever these unfeeling brethren! we
must endeavor to forget our former love for them and to hold them, as
we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends. we might
have been a great free & a happy
great people together, but a communicatedion
of happiness [g]randeur & of grandeur
freedom it seems is beneathlow their
dignity. we will climb then the roads to glory &
happiness apart be it so, since they will have it: the
road to glory &to
happiness & to glory is open to us too, we will climb it in
a separate state apart from them & acquiesce in
the necessity which pro denounces our everlasting
Adieu eternal separation. these facts
have given the last stab to agonizing affection, & manly spirit
bids us to renounce for ever these unjustunfeelingbrethren.
