The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-07-03
IN CONGRESS. Jury 4, l77S.
Il DECLARATION
by THE
REPRESENTATIVES,
UNITED STATES or AMERICA,
IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.

comes necetiary for one people to diffolve the
political bands which have connected them
with another, and TO anupe among the powers
OF the Garth, the feparatc and equal cation TO
which the laws of mature and of NATURES G cd
entitle them, a decent refpett to the opinions
OF mankind requires that they fl,ould declare
the causes which impel them to the fcparation
We hold thefe truths to be fcf-e vdent, that
all man are, created equal tina, they are en-
dowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
rights that aTorg thefe are lille, liberty, and
the pur!uit of happinefs; that to frcurc thefe
rights, governments are inaituted among men,
deriving their juR powers from the content of
the governed; that whenever any form of 60
vefnmen' becomes deGtruttive of theie ends, it
,sthe I's' at the people TO alter or TO aboiifh
u, and TO initi'ute new government, laying its
tounidt'on OF fuch principles, and organizing
Its powers in fuch form, ne to them fIal feen,
moR likely 10 efftt their flfety and happinefs
Prudence, indeed. will dictate, that govern
ments 'org eaablin,ed Ii,ouli NOT be changed
for light and trahiient ca,ifes aud accordingly
all experience hath lhewn, that mankisd are
more d;ipo!ed to fliftr, while evils are fufiera-
bic, than 10 right themlelves by aboliiliing the
forms to which thsy are accuitomed. But
when long Train of abufes ard ufurpstions,
purf.ing Invariably the fame otieet, evinces a
defgn To reduce them unt,sr abiolutc dsfpotifm
II is their right, it is their daty, to throw off
1uch government, and to provide new guards
for their future tecurty. Such has been the
patient futferance of thtfe Colonies; and fuch
is SOW the necefIity which eouitrains them to
alter their former y rem. Of government The
hi'tory OF the prefent King of Great-Britain is
hlaory % repeated injuries and ufu!pations,
s''having in drea object tie Establishment of
an a'''i'ie tyranny over ttefe States. To
prove ihis, let Facts be iabmitted to candid
world.
H has rsfufed his afIent to laws. the mon
w"oleiome aud necef,iry for the public good.
h has forbidden his Governors to pats Laws
o. immediate and preiiing Importance, unlefe
iuipended in their operation till his aiitn, ihonld
he obtained and when 70 fufpeneied, he has
utterly neglected to attend TO them.
lie has refuieti to pats Other laws for the ac-
commodation of large diiritts of people unleis
thoie people would reliuguiih the right of re.
pre'entation in the lcCll,ture, a right NETTING
bic to them, and formidable to tyrants ONLY
He has called together legi( tive bodies at
places unnlua', uncomfortable and ditant from
the oopoftory of their public records, for the
fo'r purpof- of fatisuing them into compliance
w',a his meafurcs.
He has diGolved Rrprc r.n.ative Houfes re.
Peatediy. for opPoling wit, manly frmnefs
his invaiions on the rights of the people.
he has refuied for long time, fter fuch dif
fontIons, to caufc Others to be elet1ed where
by the leglil1iiye powers. Incapable of anuihi-
h;ion, have returned 10 the people at large for
ther exerciie the State remaining in the mean
tine expoisd 10 all the danger of invafon from
without, aud convu lions within.
IL: has endeavored 10 prevent the population
or theie States; for that purpoic obftru6ting
The laws for NATURALIZATION of foreigners refu.
fng TO pats others TO encourage their migrate
cas- hitAer, and rafting the conditions of new
appropriations of lands.
L. r
fIce hy refuirg his a.ient to laws for eitablifI-
inc judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his will a
lone, for the tenure OF their Offices, and the a.
mount and payment Of their falaries.
He has erected multitude Of new Offices
aad ieni hither fwarrs Of Officers TO harrafs Our
people, and eat out their fubaance.
H has sept among us, in times of peace,
Handing armies, without the content of our e-
cultures.
He has affected to render the military indie
pcadsnt Of and hyperion to the civil power.
He lbs combined with Others to fubjret Us
- jur,idittion foreign to our contribution, and
UDacsnowicdged by our laws; giving his afIeni
TO tttiF acts of pretended leg Ration:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops
among us I:
For protet cling them, by mock trial, from
Punlihmeut for any murders which they ihoud
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the
world
For imPoing taxes on us without our con-
f-nt:
For deprivirg ua, in many cafes, of the bene-
fi's of trial hyjury:
For Transporting us beyond reas to be tried
for pretended offrncts:
For aho'ilhing thc free fy9cn Of Euglifh lave
~ nc'ghbouring Province, eli lhliiflng therein
~ arbitrary governotn., AID euiargug il boun-
daries. 70 rs to- render II At once an example
and it inarumcm for introducing the fame abfo-
lute RUE into theie Colonies:
For taking away charters. aboliGiing our
nctt valuable laws, AID altering fundamentally
the ferns ofour government
For infpandinS our cwo 'cgiaatuTes, and de-
cis:i"g t;icmfclyes iyea:d with power to lcgii-
Jate Cor Us in al caf.s whaiiocvcr.
He has abdica'ed government here, BY de-
r'7ring us cut OF his protection, and ~aging
gar agant us.
Hc has plundered cur f'7e, ravaFcd orr COATS,
Ipn: our towns, and defroyed the lives OF our
people.
Heis at this time, transporting large armies
ofiorgign n.ercenaI - to complete the works
o. death, defolation and Tyranny, already begun
with circumstances Ct cruelty AID perIiIy,
iearcely paralIeed in the moi barbarous ages,
and totally unworthy the head Of a civilized
nation.
.,:r,.y 1850 en- ,;,;-a,, To-