American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-07-04
Dfrlaratt0al of
IN Dependent E.
IN CONGRESS-. July 4, 1776.

u WHEN, in the course of human events, it be-
comes necessary for one people to dissolve the pc
tical bands which have connected them with a.
mother, and to assume among The powers of the
earth, the separate and equal station to which the
laws OF nature and of natures God cntr them,
decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires
that they should declare the causes which impe
them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self eyident-that all
men are created equal; that they endowed by
their Creator with certain unalieDablr rights that
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit Of hap
piness. That, to secure these rights. governments
are instituted among men, deriving their just powers
from the consent OF the governed; that whenever
any form of government becomes destructive OF
these ends il is the right Of the people alter to
abolish 1t, and 10 institute new government, laying
its foundation on 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
established should not be changed for light and tran
sient causes; and accordingly all experience hath
shown, that mankind more disposed 10 suffer,
while evils are suffeable, than to right themselves
by abolishng the io ms to which they accustom
ed. But when long train OF abuses and usurpa-
tons. pursuing invariably the same object, evinces
| a design to reduce them under absolute despotism
is their right, it is their duty 10 throw off such
government, and to provide new guards for their
future security Such has been the patient suffet-
ance of these colonies and such is now the neces
sity which constrans them to alter their orme sys
TENS OF government. The history Of the present
king Of Great Britain is history OF repeated inju
res and surpations, 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 whole
some and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden, his governors to pass laws #
immediate and pressing importance, unless suspen
ded in their operation, ill his assent should be OBJ
tanned: and, when SO suspended, he has utterly nc
elected to attend 10 them.
| He has refused to pass other laws for the accom-
mediation of large districts OF people. unless those
people would relinquish the right of representation
in the legislature--a right inesmabe to them, and
| formidable TO tyrants only.
He has called together Legislative bodies, at places
nssual uncomfortable, and distant from the de
positoy oil their public records, for the sole purpose
of fatiguing them into compliance with his meas
uTes
He has dissolved representative houses repeated.
", for opposing, with manly 6rmness, his invasions
Oh the rights of the people.
He has refused, for long time after such dssolu
tons, to ause others TO be elected; Whereby the
| gislaive powers. incapable OF humiliation, have
elurned to the people at large. for their exercise ;
the state remaining, in the mean time exposed to
all The dangers Of invasion from without, and conynl
slons within.
| He has endeavored to prevent the population Of
these States for that purpose obstructing the laws
for naturalization of foreigners refusing TO pass
| o hers, to encourage their migration hither, and
raising the conditions Of new appropriations of lands
| He has obstructed the administration OF justice,
by refusing his assent to laws, for establishing judi
ca'y powers.
| He hae made judges dependent on his will alone
70, the tenure OF their Offices and the amount and
paym ent OF their salaries.
| He has erected multitude Of new Offices
and sent hither swarms OF officers, to harass our
people. and eat out their substance
| He has kept among us. IN times OF peace. stand
| ing armies without the consent of our legislatures.
| He has affected to render the military ndepen
dent of, and superior TO. the civil power.
He has combined with others, 10 subject US to a
jurisdiction, foreign to our constitution, and unac
knowledged by our laws giving his assent TO their
ac of pretended legislation,
For quartering large bodies Of armed troops
among us:-
For protecting them, by mock trial, from pun
ishmen' for any tders which they should COM
nit on the inhabitants Of these states:--
| For cutting off our trade with all parts Of The
would -
For imposing taxes on US without our consent -
For depriving US, in many cases, of the benefits
Of rial by jury:-
/ For transporting US beyond seas, to be tried Tor
pretended offences
For abolshing the free system Of English laws in
a Deghbnring province, establishing therein an ar
bllrary government, and enarging its boundaries
so TO render it ct once an example and tit lnslru
ment, for introducing the same absolute rule INTO
| these colonies -
For taking away our charters, abolishing our
most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the
forms OF our governments =
For suspendng own legislatures and deciar
iug themselves invested with power to egisate Tor
US IN all cases whatsoever.