The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-07-09
pEcLARATloN or rINpEpENDENcE,


oecomes necessary, for one people 10 dosolso
the political bands, which have connected
them with another, and to assume, among the
powsrs Oh tho earth, the ssporate & equal sta-
tion, 20 which the laws Of nature and of ma
ture'sGod cnti.le them, decent respect to
the opinions Of mankind requires. that they
shouid declare the causes which impel them
to the. seperasiou.
We hold thcss truths TO be self evident,
that silynen arc created equal that they are
endowed by their Crea,or, with certain una
iie0ahle rights that among these are life,
liberty, and the pursu Of hsppiness that TO
secure thescrigh,s, governments are insiitvt-
ed suSog men, deriving their just powers
from the consent OF the governed; that,
whencvcr any form Of government becomes
deslEpctive Of thcse ends, IL is the right Of
the peQple 10 alter or 10 abolish il, and to To-.
stitnte new government, laying hs iound-
alton on such principles, and organizing ts
powers ia such form, as 10 them shah seem
most likely 10 affect their safety and hsppi-
ness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that
Pgosefnments long cs,ablished, should Dot be
changed for light and ,raDcient causes F; and
accordinsly all experience hath shewn, thar
rna0kind a,e more Disposed to suffer, while
esiia are sufferabie, than 10 right hcmsslxes
by abolishing the forms TO which they arc
sceus,omsd. But when long train Of abus.
cs aud usurpatiens, pursuing, invariably the
same object, evinccs . design TO reduce
them ondcr absolute despo,ism, il Is their
du,ys sothfow of such government, and 10
provide new guards for their future security.
ouck has been the patient suHcrsuce OF these
Colonies ! and such IL now the necessity,
which constants them TO alter their former
systems OF COVE, ntncnl. The history Of the
prescn, King Of creas Britain, is q history
OF repeated injuries and surpa,ions, oil hav.
ing 10 direct object, the estabishrnsn, oil an
dbsoiu,c tyranny over these Sts,es. To
ptofe this, let tscts be submitted to candid
world.
Y lie has refused bis assent 10 laws, the most
wholesome and necessary for the publick
good.
lie has forbidden his Govsrnours 10 pass
laws Of innledia,e and pressing importance,
ualeSs suspended in their operation Till his
asssDi shnlsl1 BE- al. -;.A--is ~.d ,~i,...
pended, he has uuefly aeglected,o attcnd 10
.ssssSsc - <. "a.
He has refosed TO PAYS other laws for the
accommodation Of large districts OF people,
anless those people would relinqoish the
right OF representation in The Legislature, .
tight incslimable 10 them, and toi micablc 10
Iyrants sny.
Ne has called together legislative bodies,
at places unusual, uncumforiahie, and distant
from the depository Of their pvblic records,
for the soIs purpose Of fesiguing them into
compliance with his measures.
flc has dissolved Rcprsscntstive Houses
repeatedly, for opposing with manly h'm-
ness, his invasion on the rights Of the peo-
pie. ~
Heshas refused for long sine, after sach
6issolutions, to cause otlsrrs 10 be elected
whereby the Legislative powers, incapable oi
snoihiia,ion, have returned 10 the people at
isrgefor their exercise the State re naming
in the mean time exposed 10 all The dangers
OF invasion from without, and convulsion
within.
lie has cndeavoured 10 prevent the popu.
lation of'ihesc States; for, that purpose OBJ.
s,ructing the laws for the naturalization Of
foreigners refusing to pass others 10 en-
courage their migrsli JOS hisher, and raising
the conditions Of new appropriations Of lands.
He has obstruetcd the administration Of
justices by refusing his assent 10 laws for CO.
labIishing judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will
alone for the tenure Of their Offices, and the
amount and payment Of their salaries.
He has erected multitude Of new Offices;
and sent hither swsrms Of oiIicers 10 harsss
eur people, and cat out their substance.
He has kept among US, in time OF peace,
standing armies, without The consen, Of our
Legislature.
He has affected 70 render the military in.
dependent Of and superior to the civil power.
He has combined with others to subject
usio jurisdiction foreign to our constitution,
aud upscknow!edged by our laws; giving
his assent 10 their acts Of pretended Iegisla-
tion: ~
For quar,sring large bodies Of armed
troops among usi
For protecting them, by mock trisi from
puoishmsns fos ssy murders which they
should commit On the inhabiisnts Of these
Ststcs. rD tf48h rfJtfu
For ess,ios Of our trade with aII parts Of
the world, 80
C.. .-.>.;.~ s~->~ ~ % xv:,s.~..s os,~