Robert R. Livingston (1746–1813) practiced law in New York City in partnership with John Jay. He was a delegate to the third and fourth provincial congresses and helped draft the state constitution. Livingston was a delegate to the Continental and Confederation congresses and was on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence.
The rights of the King of Great Britain then to America were incident to his right of Sovereignty over those his Subjects that settled America and explored the Lands he claims, for the Idea of right derived from mere discovery, and the vain ceremony of taking possession without planting and continuing that possession is now fully exploded.— Vat: chap: 16—208.1If then we admit what is necessary to our Independence, that the right of Sovereignty over the People of America is forfieted, it must follow that all Rights founded in that Sovereignty are forfieted with it, and that upon our setting up a new Sovereign in America, the rights which the first claimed as such devolve upon the second.