"When forced, therefore, to resort to arms for redress, an appeal to the tribunal of the world was deemed proper for our justification. This was the object of the Declaration of Independence. Not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take. Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind."
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Thomas Jefferson, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson Volume 5, G.P.Putnam and sons, 1899 page 343
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)
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Independence Day (United States)
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