American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-07-02
DECLaR4TTOW OF
INDEPENDENCE.

necessary for one people TO dissolve the political
bands which have connected them with another,-I
and TO assume among the powers OF the earth. thel
separate and equal station to which the laws of ma
ture and of natures God enlite them, decent res
poet to the opinions OF mankind requires, that they
should declare the causes which impe them to thcl
separation
We hold these truths to be self cvdcnt THAT all
men are created equal that they are endowed byI
their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that
among these are life, liberty and the pursuit OF hap
lpiness That, TO secure these rights. governments
are instituted among men, deriving their just pow
Iers from the consent of the governed that whene-
yer any form Of government becomes destructive of
these ends, it is the right o the people to alter or
abolish it and to institute government; laying
tits foundation such principles and organizing its
powers in such form, as TO them shall seem most
likely to effect their safety and happiness. Pru-
dence indeed will dictate, that governments long
tabshed should not be changed for light and tran
sient causes; and accordingly all experience hath
shown, that mankind are more disposed TO suffer,
while evils sufferable, than to right themselves
by abosbing the forms to which they are accus
toned But when a long ain of abuses and usurp
ations pursuing invariably the same object, evinces
ia design to reduce them under absolute despotism.
ut 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
lot these colonies and such is now the necessity
which consraDs them to alter their former system.
of government. The history of the reign of the
present king of Great Britain, is history Of repeat
ed injuries and usurpatons all having in direct OBJ
Ject, the establishment OF absolute tyranny over
these states To prove this, let facts be submitted
10 candid world.
He has refused his assent 10 laws the most whole.
some and necessary for the public good
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws oil
immediate and pressngtmportance, unless suspend
ed in their operation till his assent should be OBJ
tanned; and when so suspended, he has utterly ne.
elected to attend to them.
lie has refused to pass other laws for the accom-
modation of large districts OF people unless those
people would relinqush the right of representation
IN the legslature-s right inestimable to them and
formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodes at plac
es unusual uncomfortable, and distant from the de-
pository Of their public records for the sole pur-
pose OF iatiguing them into compliance with his /
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly,
Tor opposing with manly 6rmness, his invasions on
he rights Of the people.
He has refused, for long time after such disso l
utons, TO cause others TO be elected whereby the
legislative powers incapable of annhation, have
returned to the people at large, for their exercise
he state remaining IN the mean times exposed to ALL
he danger of invasion from without and conyuls.l
ons within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population oil
hese states; for that purpose obstructng the lawsl
Tor naturalization of foreigners; refusing TO pass
others to encourage their migration hither and rails
hg The conditions OF new appropriations Of lands.
lie has Distracted the administration of iustce,l,
~ refusing his assent to laws for establishing Judi
;iary powers. II
tie has made judges dependant on his will alone,
or the tenure OF their offices, and the amount andl;
payment OF their salaries.
lie has erected multitude Of new Offices, and
las sent hither swarms OF officers, to harass our
people and cat out their substance. |,
lie has kept among as in times of peace, stand-ls
hR armies without the consent OF our legislatures
He has affected to render the military independ k
mt OF, and superior to, the civil power.
ne mas combined with others, to subject us to ale
Jurisdiction foreign to constitution, and unac-Ia
snowledged by our laws: giving his assent to their
icts OF pretended Legislation - Is
Forquartering large bodies Of armed troops among
Isl
For protecting them, by mock trial, from pun.l
shment Tor any murders which they should commit
IN the inhabitants Of these states - 10
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the 70
world: N"S Id
For imposing taxes on US without our consent 1T
FOR deprving US, in many cases, of the benefits odo
RAJ oy Jury s. "
FOR transporting us beyond seas, to be tried for
pretended offences -
FOR aoollshng the free system of English laws in o
neighborng province establishing therein an a,bi F
rary government, and charging its boundaries, sole
IS 70 render 1t at once an example and fit instru 10
neht Tor introducing the same absolute rule into
hese colonies - s's ''.o n
ror taxing away our charters abo.hing our most Isl
'siuaoe laws and altering fundamentally, the FORMS
IT our governments -
Tor suspending our own legislatures, and declar-
ne themselves invested with power TO legslate for
iae mas aodicated government here, by declaring .
is Ouk OF bis QrQfectiofa- anil. III