Parliament's Deaf Ear

They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity, and when occasions have been given them, by the regular course of their laws, of removing from their councils the disturbers of our harmony, they have by their free election re-established them in power. At this very time too they are permitting their chief magistrate to send over not only soldiers of our common blood, but Scotch and foreign mercenaries to invade and deluge us in blood. These facts have given the last stab to agonizing affection, and manly spirit bids us to renounce forever 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 free and a great people together; but a communication of grandeur and of freedom it seems is below their dignity. Be it so, since they will have it; the road to happiness and to glory is open to all of us too; we will climb it apart from them, and. . .

Commentary:

This passage was removed from Jefferson's draft by Congress because they felt it was too harsh towards the English people. It was removed because many of the delegates worried about alienating friends back in Great Britain. This is best illustrated by a passage from one of Jefferson's journal:

The pusillanimous idea that we had friends in England worth keeping terms with, still haunted the minds of many. For this reason passages which conveyed censures on the people of England were struck out, lest they should give them offense.

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Commentary Provided By: D.J. Mason