FRtR > Documents > Declaration of Independence > Note regarding date

The Unanimous Declaration
of the Thirteen United States of America


july 4, 1776


Note regarding date

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This passage, Jefferson wrote at the time, "was struck out in complaisance to South Carolina and Georgia, who had never attempted to restrain the importation of slaves, and who on the contrary wished to continue it. Our Northern brethern also I believe felt a little tender under those censures, for tho' their people have very few slaves themselves yet they had been pretty considerable carriers of them to others."

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