The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-04
DECLARATION OF
L y u K p + N D ENC E..
S6(<C
Nv CowcRRss, JuJ 4, Yrs

WHEN, in the courfe Of human events IL becomes
neceiiary for people dcve the political bands
which have connected them with another and to at
tune, among the powers of the earth the eparate and
equal ation to which the laws Of nature and of natures
God entitle them, decent repea to the opinions of
mankind requires that they fhoud declare the caule
which impel them to the feparation.
We hold thefe truths to be felf-eydent. that all
men are created equal; that they are endowed, by
their Creator with certain unaienabIe rights that A.
mong theie are life, liberty, and the purut of happi-
neisIhat to fecure thee rights governments are in
itituted among men, deriving their uft powers from
the content OF the governed that whenever any form
oil government becomes detruive of thef ends il is
the right OF the people alter or to abo it. and TO
lnttute new government laying its foundation on ilch
principles and organizing its powers in 1ch form, a,
to them iha eem n;o likely effect their iaety and
happiness. Prudence, indeed will dictate that ero-
vernInens long eablihed, hould not be changed for
hight and tranent cauies and accordingly all expert
ence hath fhewn humankind difpofedtofuHer
while evils are ulerabe, than right thenlelves by
abolifhing the forms to which they are accutoned
But when long train Of abues and ufpasons, purli-
ing invariably the fame objea evinces delipn to re-
duce them under abfolute depotifn, it is their right
1t is their duty, throw off fuc government, and to
provide guards for their future iecuritv Such
has been the patient ferance of thefe colonies and
fuch is the necety which conftrains them tn AL
ter their former fytems Of government. The hiaorv
OF the prefent King of Great-Britain is hiliory of
repeated injuries and uirpation all having in direct
object the efablilhment Of ablolute tyranny over
theie ates. To prove this let facts be fubmitted to
candid world
He has refmed his anent TO laws the mot whole
lone and neceiary for the public good.
lie has forbidden his governors pats laws of inn
mediate and prening importance, rnefs fufbended il,
their operation till his aent loud be obtained and
when 70 fuPended, he has utterly neglected to attend
to them.
He has -efufed to paf other laws for the aecomn,o
daton oflarge dRrias Of people, unle thofe people
would relinquh the right of representation in the le-
giiature right ineaimabe to tlien and formidable
TO yrants only. He has called together legislative bo-
dies at places unuual uncomfortable and diiiant FROM
the dePoltoy Of their public records for the foe pur
pole OF iatguing them into compliance with his ea-
iures
He has dnolyed representative houfes repeatedly.
for oppoing, with manly rmHes his invaGons on the
rights Of the people.
He has refuied for bong time, after fueh difolui-
ons to caufe others to be neglected. whereby The le-
glative powers, incapable of annihation, have rec
turned to the people large for their exereilg the
tate remaining, in the time, expofed to ali the
dangers OF inyaiion from without, and convulEons
within
He has endcavoured to prevent the population of
theie Rates. for that purpoie obftfu6ing the laws for
naturalization Of foreigners refung pats others TO
encourage their mgrations hther and rafting the con-
drtiois OF new appropriations of lands.
He has obhru6ed the administration Of iunce BY
refining his aAent to laws for elablihng judiciary
powers
lie has made judges dependant On his will alone,
Tor the tenure Of their Offices and the amount and pay
nent Of their falaries
He has ereSed multitude Of new Offices, ard tent
hthet warns Of officers, hafras our people and eat
ous their fubnance.
lie has kept among Us, in times Of peace, ftaoding
ARMIES without the content Of our Legislatures.
He has affected to render the military independent
OF, and inPcrior TO The civil power.
he has combined with others TO fubjca US to- iu-
ridietion foreign to our sonOtution, and Unaesnow4