Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-07-04
DECLARATION oFINDEPs@ DEMcE
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, l776.
The unaai1souS Declaration Of the Tar


teen nifed States Of .7Dleried.
When, in the course of human events, 1t
becomes necessary for one People 10 dissolve
the political bands which have connected them
with another, and to assume, among the pow
ers of the earth, the separate and equal sta
ton to which the law of nature and OF natures
God entitle them, decent respect TO the OPT
Mons of mankind requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them 10 the
separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident:-
That all men are created equal that they are
endowed BY their Creator with certain una
Eenable rights that among these are life, IL
berry, and the pursuit of happiness. That to
secure these rights, governments are instltut-
ell among men, deriving their Jus powers
from the consent OF the governed; that when
ever any government becomes destructive to
those ends, il is the right of the People to al
ter. or 10 abolish II, and TO institute new gov
eminent, LAYING its foundation on such prin-
cip!es, and organizing lis powers IN such form,
as to them shall seem most likely 10 effect their
safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will
dictate, that governments long established
should not be changed for light and transient
causes and accordingly, all experience hath
shown, that mankind are more disposed to
suffer while evils are suffera5lc, than to right
themselves by abolshing the forms to which
they are accustomed. But when long train
of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably
the same object, evinces design to reduce
them under absolute despotism, 1t is their
right, il is their duty, to throw of such gov
ernmeat. and to provide new guards for their
future security Such has beeu the patient
suferance of these colonies; and such is now
ths.aaaass..ias-AsS ssssswe~ cfA government. The
history of the present king of Great Britain,
is history Of repeated injuries and usurpa-
tons, all having direct object the establish
ment Of an absolute tyranny over these states.
To prove this, let facts be submitted to can
did world.
He has refused his assent to laws the most
wholesome and necessary for the public good.
lie 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 10 attend TO them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the ac-
commodation Of large districts OF people, I'M
less these people would relinquish the rights
of representation in the legislature right
inestimabe to them, and formidable TO tyrants
only.
He has called together legislative bodies at
places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant
from the repository of their public records,
for the sole purpose Of fatguing them into
compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved repre- sentative houses re-
peatrdiv, for opposing, with manly frmness,
his invasions on the rights of the psople.
He has refused, for long time after such
dissoutions, TO cause others TO be elected;
whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of
Stimulation, have returned to the people at
large for their exercise, the state remaining
in the mean time exposed 10 all the dangers
of invasion from without, and commissions
within.
He has endeavored to prevent the popula-
ton Of these states; for that purpose obstruct-
ing the laws for naturalization Of foreigners;
refusing to pass others to encourage their mi
CRATIC hither, and raising the conditions Of
new appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed the administration of JUS
tioe, by refusing his assent to laws for estab-
fishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his will
alone tor the tenure of their Offices, and the
amount and payment of their salaries.
Tie has erected a multitude of new Offices,
and sent hither swarms of officers, TO harass
our people and eat out their substance.
lie has keptamong us, in times of peace,
standing armies, without the consent of our le-
gislatures. =.
tie has affected to render the military indie
pendent of, and superior to the civil power.
He has combined with others TO subject us
to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution,
and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his
assent to their acts Of pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops
among US:
For protecting them, by mock trial, from
punishment for any murders which they
sao,,id commit ON the inhabitants Of these