Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-02
DECLARATION
IN d E p E y d E N E E.

II DECLARATIONS by the Rehresensa-
tives Of the Un'trd S,afes of Inerica, in
Congress assembled, July &, l776.
WHEN, in the course nf human events,
it becomes necessary for one people 10
dissolve the political bands which have con-
needed them with another, and to assume
among the powers OF the earth, the sepa-
rate and equal station to which the laws OF
nature and oil, natures God enille them,
a decent respect to the opinions Of man.
kind requires that they should declare the
causes which impel them to the separa-
ton.
We hold thes truths to be self evident
-that all men are created equal; that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienab!e rights; that among these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit ofhappiness.
That, to secure the rights, governments
are instituted among men, deriving their
Just powers from the consent Of the go
verned; that whenever any form of GO
verument becomes destructive of these
ends, it is the right ofthe people to alter
or to abolish it, and to institute new 60,
yernment, laying its foundation on such
principles, and organizing its powers in
such FIRM, Us tn them shall seem most
likely to effect their safety and happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that govern.
ments long established should not be chan.
ged for light and transient causes; and
accordingly all experience h-th shewn,
that mankind are more disposed 10 suffer,
while the evils are sufferable, than to right
themselves by abolishing the forms to
a long train of abuses and usurpations,
pursuing invariably the same object, eyin.
ces design to reduce them under ALSO.
lute despotism, it is their right, it is their
duty, to throw off such government, and
TO provide new guards for their future Sc.
curity. Such has been the patient suffer-
ance OF these colonies and such is now
the necessity which conslrains them 10 al
ter their former systems of government.
The history of the present King Of Great
Britain is history Of repeated injuries
and usurPations, all having in direct OBJ
jea the establishment of an absolute ty-
ranny over these States. To prove this,
let facts be submitted to candid world.
He has refused his assent TO laws, the
most wholesome and necessary for the
public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass
laws of Immediate and pressing impor-
lance, unless suspended in their operation,
till his assent should be obtained and,
when SO suspended, he bas utterly neglect
cd to attend to them.
He has refused TO pass other laws, for
the accommodation of large districts of
people, unless those people would relin-
quish the right of representation in the Lee
g'slature rightinestimableto them, aud
formidable TO tyrants only.
He has called together legislative DO.
dies, at places unusual, uncomfortable
and distant from the depository OF their
public records, for the sole purpose of fa-
tiguIng them into compliance with his
mea sure..
He has dissolved r Representative Houses
repeatedly, for opposing, with manly firm
ness, his invasions on the rights of the
people.
He has refused, for long time after
such dissolu,ions, 20 cause others to be e.
Iecsed; whereby the legislative powers,
'"SaP"o'S Va duHittduOIis nave returned 10
the people at large, for their exercise the
state remaining, in the mean time, expo.
sed to all the danger Of invasion from
without, and commissions within.
He has ende avored to prevent the Do.
pulation of these states for that purpose
obs'ruciing the laws for naturalization Of
foreigners refusing to pass others, TO en-
courage their migr"'ion hither. and raising
the conditions Of new appropriations OF
lands.
He has obstrueted the administration of
Justice, by refusing his assent to laws, for
establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his
will alone, for the tenure Of their Offices,
and the amount and payment OF. their sa-
faries.
He has erected multitude of new Offices, and
sent hiher swaTms of officers, 10 hanass our peo.
pie, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among US, in times Of peace, stand.
ing armies without the consent of our legislatures.
He has aHe6ted to render he military independ.
ent OF, and SUI erior to, the civil power.
He has combined with others, TO subiea us TO
jurisdiction. foreign to our Constitution, and
unaeknow'edged by our laws giving his assent
10 their acts of pretended legislation -
For quartering large bodies OF armed trooos =