Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-07-02
INDEPENDENCE!

Gf the United States at .dmerlcG, III
Congress assembled. July 4th, 1776.
WHEN, in tho course Of human e.
vents, it becomes necessary for ono
people to dissolve the political bands
which have connected them with ano-
Their, and to assume among the pow
ers of the earth, the separate and e
quail station to which the laws of ma
ture and Of INJURIES God entitle them,
a decent respect to the opinions Of
mankind requires that they should de-
clare the causes which impel them to
the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evi-
dent, that all men are created equal
That they are endowed by their Crsa-
tor with certain unalienabie rights
That among these are life, liberty, and
the pursuit Of happiness That to se-
cure these rights, governments are in
sfitated among men, deriving their
Just powers from the, consent of the
governed That whenever any form
OF government becomes destructive of
hese ends, it is the right Of the PEG
PIE to alter or to abolish it, and to in
stitute n new government, laying It's
foundation on such principles, and or
gsnizing its powers in such form as to
.hem shall seem most likely to effect
their safety and happiness. Prudence,
indeed, will dictate, that governments
long established should not be chang
ed for light and transient causes and
accordingly all experience hath shewn,
that mankind are more disposed to
suffer, while evils are siderable, than
to right themselves by abolishing the
forms to which they are accustomed.
But when a long train of abuses and
usurPatioas. pursuing invariably tae
same. object, eyinces desiga 20 .ro-
luce them under absolute desp0tism,
e is their right, it is their duty, to
throw of such government, and 10
provide new guards for their security.
Sach has heen the patient suffarance
Of these Colonies; aud such is now the
necessity which constrains them to al
ter their former system of govern
ment.-The history Of the present
King of &. Britain is history Of re-
peated injuries and usurpations, all
having in direct.object the establish
ment ofan absolute tyranny 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
Importance. unless suspended in their
operation till bis assent should be OBJ
tanned; aud when so suspended, he
has utterly neglected TO attend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws
for the accommodation of large dis
tricts Of people, unless those people
would relinquish the right,of repre-
sentation in the legislature, right in
estimable to them, and formidable To
| tyrants only.
He has called together Legislative
bodies at places unusual, uncomfort;l-
BILE, and distant from the depositor,
oftheir public records, for the sole pur
pose of fatiguing them into compIi
ance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative
Houses repeatedly, for opposing with
manly firmness his inyasions on the
rights of the people.
He hes refused for long time, af
ter such dissolutiebs, to cause other,
TO be eleetsd whereby the legisla tiy.
powers, incapable o. anuihilation ,s',avc
returned to the people at large 70,
their exercise; the state remaining II
the mean time exposed to all the dan
| ger ofinvasion FROM without, and con
yulsions within.
| He has enjeavored to preyen
1 The population ct these States TO
that purpose obstructing the law
FOR naturalization of foreigners re.
tusing topass others to encourage thei
nigratioDs hitber, and raising tn,
conditions Of new appropriations o
lands.
! He has obstructed the administrati
on OF justice, by refusing bis assent to
Jaws for establishing judiciary powers
/ He has made Judges dependent OF
his will alone, for the tenure of thei
Offices, and the amount and Ipaymen
OF their salaries.
lie has erected a multitude Of new
offices, aad sent hither swarms Of Off