Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-07-03
DECLARATION
TN D z p e n ID e N C e.
lNCONGRESs, JULY 4, l77b.


When in the course Of human events, it be.
comes necessary for one people to dissolve the
political bands which have connected them
with another, and to assume among the powers
of the earth, the separate and equal station to
which the laws of nature and of natures God
entitle them, decent respect for the opinions
ofmankind, requires, that they should declare
the causes which impel the separation.
We hold these truths to be self evident-that
all men are created equal; that they are en-
bowed by their creator with certain unalenable
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 con-
sent of the governed; that whenever any form
of government becomes destructive OF these
ends, it is the right ofthe people to alter or to
abolish it, and to institute new government,
LAYING ITS foundation on such principles, and
organising 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 hight and transient causes and
accordingly all experience hath shewn, that
mankind are more disposed to suffer, while e.
wills are sufferable, than to right themselves by
'aboiishing the forms to which they are accus-
toned But when long train of abuses and
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same OBJ
iect, evinces design to reduce them under
absolute despotism, it is their right, vt IS their
daty to throw off such government, and to
provide new guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient suferance OF these
colonies; and such Is now the necessity which
constrains them to alter their formersystems OF
government The history of the present
King of Great Britain is history of repeated
injuries and usurpations, all having IN direct
object the establishment of an absolute tyranny
over these states. To prove this let facts be
submitted to candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws the most
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws
of immediate and pressing importance, unless
suspended in their operation, 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 &C
commodation of large districts of people, un-
,.eb 49, L. e
representation in the Legislature right in
est,mable 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 fatisuing them into compli-
ance with bis measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses re-
peatedly, for opposing, with manly hrmness,
his invasions on the rights of the people.
lie has refused for a long time after such
dissolutions, to cause others to be elected;
whereby the legislative powers, incapable OF
annihilation, have returned to the people at
large, Tor their exercise; the state remaining III
the mean time, exposed to all the danger OF IN
vasion from without, and csnyulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population
ofthese states; for that purpose obstructing
the laws for naturalization of foreigners re-
fusing to pass others, to encourage their MI
grafton hither; and raising the conditions of
pew appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed the Administration ofjus.