The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-07-02
IL CONGRESS, JULY 4, i..76.
A DECLARATION
By THE REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE UNITED stATss
OF AMERICA, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.

By THE REPRESENTATIVES. THE UNITED SIXTIES
OF AMERICA, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED
WHEN in the ccrrIe Of human events i, be-
comes necedary !or people dlIolve the pol,i-
cal bands which nave connected them with another
and to aiume among the powers of the earth the f-
parate and equal aation to which the laws of nature
and OF natures God entitle them, decent reipe to
the opinions o! mankind qiires that they foud de-
clare the cautes which impel them TO the PREPARATION,
We hold hete truths TO be teli evident, that all men
| are created equal; that they endowed by their
Creator with certain unaiienabe rights that among
thee are life, liberty, and the puriut of happies
that to lecture the!e rights governments are inituted
among men, deriving their Jun powers from the con-
lent OF the governed that whenever any form OF 20
vernment becomes detru6tive Of hefe snds it is the
right OF the people alter aboiif it. and to in
ititute new government laying its foundation OH lch
principles, and organizing its powers in fnch form
as 10 them hali eem mof likely effect their iafety
and happircis Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that
goStr nnients long eltabhed ihoud not be changed
Tor light and raniieu caues; and accordingly all ex-
pcrence hath ihewn that mankind are more dino
led to tu!er while evils fuerable than to right
themieives by aboiiihng the form. which they are
aecuitcmed. But when long train of abules aud u,
| inrPatons, purifying invariably the fame object, O.
vnces dehen to reduce them under abiolute defpo-
Tim, It is their right it is their duty, to throw of
iueh government and to provide new guards FOR
their future fecurity Such has been the patient f-
terarce OF theie Colonies; and fuch is now the ne
eeity which conttraus them alter their former ryl
TENS OF government. The hhory of the preteEt ing
OF Great Britain is hfry of repeated injuries and
uiurpatons, ali having in direct object the efiabl;C,
nent oil an abioute tyranny thefe States. To
prove this let ia.s be fubmitted to candid world
! lie has rc!uled his alent laws, the moa whole
tome and neeehary Tor the. public good
He has forbidden his Governors to pafs laws a.
immediate and Preing importance, urlefs fulpended
in their operation till his aent houd be obtained
and when 10 tuiPended, he hes utterly neglected 10
attend to them.
He has refued to pats other laws for the acconnlo
daon OF large dtrias of people unIefs thofe people
would re!inquih the right of representation in the le
giilature, right ineitimable to them, and formida
bic TO tyran,s only.
He has called together Legislative bodies at places
mutual, uncomfortable, and diffant from th,. depoG
tory OF their public records for the ioe purpofe of Ia
! tgning them into compliance with his uleaiiIres
! de has ilfoved Reproductive Houfes repeatedly.
oppolng with manly frmnes his invalions on the
| rights of the people.
He has refufed for long time, after uch diiIoIuti
OILS, to caue others to be elected; whereby the eC;C
lative powers incapable of annihation have return.
cd 10 the people at large for their exercif the State
remaining iHthe mean time expofed to all the DANCER
| OF inVaton from without, and convnions within,
! He has endeavoured to prevent the population, of
thefe States for purpoie oblruaing the laws for
naturalization oforeigners reiufng pals Others to
encourage their mgra;ions hther, and rafting the con-
ditions of new appropriations of lands.
| He has oblructedthe administration of iufiice by
retuiing his aent to laws for eRablihing judiciary
| powers.
| He has made Judges dependent on his will alone.
for the tenure OF their Offices, and the amount and
payment OF their ialaries
| He has erected multitude of new Offices and c,,
\ IN har1f
| out their iub0ance.
lie has kept among US, in times of peace ffandng
armies, without the content of our legislatures
! II. has affected to render the military ndepend-
ent OF ard hyperion to the civil power
| he has combined with others to fubea US to iu.
rnd'ction foreign to our conution, and unacknowl-
edged ny our laws giving his aGent to their acts Of
| pretended iegilatou
| For quarcring large bodies Of armed troops among
! For protecting them, by mock trial, from pun
bmeni for any murders which they ihould commit on
! the inhabitants Of theie States
For cutting of our trade with all parts of tbe
world
For impoing taxes on US without our content
FOR depriNng It's, in many cafes, Of the benefits OF
trial by Jury
For trauPorting beyond feas to be tried for pre-.
tended offences:
For abolfhing the free fyfen1 Of Enol;rh lave u
|
rary government and charging its boundaries +, as
to render 1t at once an example and fit nilrunent for
introducing the iase abfolute rule into thelp Colo
MES
For taking away charters, aboi(b;nq orr n,ca
vauabe laws and altering Fundamentally the forms Of
our governments
For Impending our own legislatures, and declaring
themielye' inverted with power to legilate for u,
| IN all cafes Whatsoever.
lie has abdieaied government here. 5y DECLARING u
OUT o. his protection, and waging war againit ~.
He has runde Cd our feas rsvaged our COATS bur,,,
our towns, and deflroyed the lives Of our people.
lie is at this time, transporting large armies Of IA,
reign mereenarles to complete the works Of death. de-
olltion and tyranny already begun with ercunatan.
ees o. cruelty and Perty, fearccly parscled in the
mott barbarou' ages and totally unworthy the head
| of a civilized ration.
He has conNeained our fellow citizens. taken can.
tive on the high fcas, bear .aiu their .,,,.
ny 20 become the cxeeutione.' h tleir friend, and
brethren, or to ia.l ;hemfcvcs by ihsr hands.
Hs has eyci,et don,enic jnluflr. = IONS s,,,.,a .