American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-07-03
Declaration Of
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IN CONGRESS, JULY A, 17T6.
by the Representatives of the UNITED STATE
OF AMERICA, in Congress assembled:
A DECLARATION.
WHEN, in the course of human events, it be
comes necessary for one people to dissolve tn
political bands which have connected them wit
another, and to assume among the powers of tn
earth, the separate and equal station 10 which tn
laws of nature and of natures God entitle them
decent respect for the opinions of mankind re
quires, that they should declare the causes whic
impc them to the separation.
! We hold these truths to be self cvdent--tha
all men are created equal; that they are endowed
By their creator with certain unalienable rights
that among these are life, liberty, and the pussui
Of happiness. That, to secure these rights gov
! ernments are instituted among men. deriving thei
Just powers from the consent Of the governed
that whenever any form Of government become
destructive of these ends, 1t is the right Of tn
people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute
new government, laying its foundation on suc
principles and organizing lts powers in such form
as to them shall seem most likely to effect thei
safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, vii
dictate, that governments long established shoul,
not be changed for light and transient causes an,
accordingly all experience hath shown, that man
kind are more disposed to suffer, while evils ar
suflerable, than to right themselves by abolishin,
the forms to which they are accustomed. Blu
when long train Of abuses and usurpations, pur
suing invariably the same object, evinces dcsigi
to reduce them under absolute desputism, it i
their right, it is their duty to throw off such gov
eminent. and TO provide new guards for their iu
ture security. Such has been the patient sulier
ance OF these colonies and such is now the ne
cessity which constrains them to alter their forme
systems Of government The history Of the pre-
sent king of Great Britain is history of repeat
ed injuries and usurpations, all having in direc
object the establishment of an absolute tyrann,
over these states To prove this, let facts be SUB
mltted to candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws the mos
Wholesome and necessary for the public good
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws q
immediate and pressing Importance, unless sus
pended in their operation, till his assent should b,
obtained aud, when suspended, he has uttcrl,
neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws Cor the &C
com mediation OF large districts of people, unles,
those people would relinquish the right of repre-
sentation in the lesislature-a right inestmable t
them, and formidable To tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies a
places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from
the depository Of their public records, for the sole
purpose Of iatiguing them into compliance viii
his measures.
tie mas dissolved representative houses repeat
edly, tor opposing, with manly firmness, his inya
sions on the rights Of the people.
He has refused for long time after such d;sso
utions, to others to be elected whereby tho
legislative powers. incapable of annihilation, have
returned to the people at large, tor their exercise
the state remaining, in the mean time. exposed Il
oil L.. IS
vulsions within.
He has endcayored 70 prevent the population 81
these states for that purpose obstruciing the law,
tor naturalization OF foreigners refusing to pas,
others, to encourage their migration hither, ana
raising the conditions of new appropriations o.
lands.
He has obstructed the administration Of Justice
BY refusing his assent to laws for establishing Judi
ciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will
alone. Tor the tenure OF their offices, and the
amount and payment of their salaries.
He has created 4 multitude of new Offices. and
sent hther swarms Of officers to harass our people
and eat out their substance.
lie has Kept among Us, in times Of peace. stand
ing armies, without the consent of our legislatures
lie has affected to render the military indcpen
dent Of, and superior to, the civil power.
lie has combined with others, to subject ~ TO =
jurisdiction. foreign to our constitution, and unsc
knowle'ige, BY our laws giving his assent to thel
acts OF pretended legislation -
For quartering large bodies Of armed troop,
among US:
For protecting them by mock trial, from nun
lshment tor any murder Which they should COMM
on the inhabitants of these states:
For cutting off our trade with all parts of III,
world:
For imposing taxes on US without our consent
For 'lepriving US, in many cases, Of the benefit
Of trial by jury:
For transporting US beyond seas, to be tried 70
pretended offences:
For nbolishing the free systeH, of English law il
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