Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-06-26
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
July Attn, ATTIC.


When in the course of human events
it becomes necessary for one people tc
dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another, and to as
sumo among the powers of the earth, the
separate and equal station to which the
laws of nature and of natures God emit.
tie them, decent respect to the opinions
OF mankind requires that they should de.
clare the causes which impel them to a
separation.
We hold these truths to be self evi.
dent, that all men are created equal
that they are endowed by their creator
with certain unalienable rights; that
among these are life, liberty, and the
pursuit OF happiness that to secure these
rights, governments are instituted among
men; deriving their just powers from
the consent OF the governed; that when
ever any form of government becomes
destructive of these ends, it is the right
Of the people to alter or abolish it, and TO
institute new government, laying its
foundation on such principles, and or
ganizing its powers in such form, as to
them shall seem most likely to effect
their safety and happiness. Prudence
indeed, will dictate, that governments
long established should not be changed
for light and transient causes; and &C
cordingly all experience has shewn, that
mankind are more disposed to suffer,
while evils are sufferabie, than to right
themselves by abolishing the forms to
which they are accustomed: But when a
long train of abuses and usurpations,
pursuing invariably the same object,
eynces design to reduce them under
absolute despotism, it is their right, it is
their duty, to throw off such government,
and to provide new guards for their fu-
ture security.-Such has been the patient
suFerance of 'hese colonies and such is
now the necessity which constrains them
to alter their former systems of govern
ment The history of the present king
of Great Britain is history of repeated
injuries and usurpations, all having in d.
rect object the establishment of an abso-
lutte 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 for immediate and pressing impor-
lance, unless suspended in their opera
ton till his assent should be obtained !;
and when SO suspended he has utterly
neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws for
the accommodation of large districts of
people, unless those people would re-
linquish the right Misrepresentation in the
legislature, right inestimable to them,
and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative
bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable,
and distant from the depository of their
public records, for the sole purpose of
fatiguing them into compliance with
his measures.
ehas dissolvedrepresentative houses
repeatedly, for opposing with manly
frmness his invasions on the rights Of the
people.
He has refused for long time after
such dissolutions, to cause others to be
elected; whereby the Legislative powers,
incapable of humiliation, have returned
to the people at large for their exercise,
the state remaining in the mean time ex-
posed to all the danger of invasion from
without, and commissions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the
population of these states; for that pur-
pose obstructing the laws for naturaliza-
ton of foreigners refusing to pass
others to encourage their migration
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 otflces'
and the amount and payment OF their
salaries. =
He has erected multitude of new Of
Gees, and sent hither swarms OF ofhcers
to harrass our people, and eat out their
substance, He has kept among US, IN
time of peace, standing armies, without
the consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the military
independent of and superior to the civil
He has combined with others to sub
isct us to jurisdiction foreign to ou'