Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-05-03

| GTTtcts
on can never be understood from consideration OF the
manner in which it was executed merely. Whether il
was produced by the agency Of one only by the joint
agency OF many, by the several agencies OF different
persons cooperating 10 the same end is OF little conse-
quence Its object aud intended effects must be inferred
from its language although il that is guous these
may very properly be sought for in extaneous circum-
stances OF any kind, whether these circumstances are
found III the manner OF the execution Of the instrument
Or IN any thug else. Let us then turn 20 the act ITSELF
aud Judge from its contents OF its end and object before
we attempt to discover these las, in any other way.
When 50 examined, the Declaration of Independence
seems 10 be Manifesto addressed to the world that is to
TO the civilized world designed oinorm il, oil the pre-
existence OF new event interesting to humanity and Of
the causes aud circumstances which had occasoned the
occurrence OF this new fact Like the Manifesto that &C.
Morally accompanies immediately follows every modern
Declaration of War, which, in announcing the new rela
tons OF the beligeents, and narra,ing how these have
been produced it contains implied appeal TO other
States and to posery for the justification OF those by
whom this new state OF things has been made
Considered in this light, nothing but what had
previously existed although but recently and its object
confined TO the justification OF that pte-expg state Of
things which II so announces. Ii this its purpose, it
cannot be considered creating any community,
orianing any new government, or bestowng any new
name but as intended merely 10 announce the new
don in which former societies, under existing govern
mens and names previously known, placed Its sole
end, is to Justify Others that new condition. which has
been recently assumed by those who utter the Manifesto
Whether this notion of the Declaration of Independence
be correct, must depend mainly upon its own language
Let me then examine what this is.
| IL commences by saying, that when in the OF
human events becomes necessary for people to dis
another. and 10 assume, among the Of tho EARTH
the separate and equal station which the laws nature
and OF natures God entte them decent respect the
opinions oil mankind requires that they should declare the
causes which imPe them to the separation" Here then,
conessedy an appeal 10 mankind induced by the de-
cent respect due to their opinions designed inform
OF the fact OF the dissolution OF the political bands which
had previously connected those making this appeal with
some other community.
Immediately following this introduction comes the in
tended justification of this act This consists of two parts
he assertion oil certain general propositions, which the
auhors oil inns manifesto or appeal held TO he evident
requiring proof TO establish them; and the apple
OF these general and sefevdent truths the particular
notorious historical facts existing in their case which
cts are concisey narrated The general truths here
nounced are those proclaimed in the Declaration Rights
previously promulgated in Virginia, of which have
stated III former number. They are, in brief these:
That all men are created equal; and endowed by
their creator with certain unaienable rights among which
the rights life liberty and 10 the pursuit of their
happiness That TO secure these unaienable rights, 60.
vernments Instituted among men, deriving their Just
powers from the consent OF the governedTha wheneve r
any form oil government becomes destructive of these
ends Is the right OF the people alter abolish IT,
and TO institute government, laying foundations on
such principles and organizing its powers in such FORM
as to them shall seem most likely effect their safety
and happiness-That although these things are true vet
prudence Dictates that governments long established
should not be changed for light and transient causes; and
accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are
more disposed to suffer while evils siderable than TO
right themselves by aboshing the forms 10 which tbev
are accustomed But when a lone train of abuses and
u'urpaionS, pursuing invariably the same object evnces
design to reduce them under absolute des pom it is
ana To provide new guards Tor their future security
Having thus shewn the clear right and solemn duty to
do the act the performance of which they had
namely the dissolution OF the political bands that had
mery connected the authors OF this manifesto and their
respective constituents with another governments prevd
ed such long train OF abuses and OH the mart
OF tins other government, they had referred TO- existed
the declaration next proceeds what were tho
abuses and uspaons the previous of which
would give point and special application their asserted
seli-eviden TRUTH and justify that act The catalogue
of these abuses and usnrpstions ne ed NOT he %
/ A mi that 4 fha al.
true as stated, and II the general propositions affirmed
were correct as affirmed, they made together perect de,
monsraton OF that which they were intended 10 establish
mat to say OF the right to throw off the government of
Great Britain, by which government these abuses and
usurPauons had been pracsed But content with this
"aa" demonstration at sht tho an,o.. Of ,h
! cIaraIon 60 on 10 state further:
That in every stage OF these expressions they had pc
uIlohed Tor redress in the most humble terms but that
their repeated petitions, had been answered only bv re-
peaed niuries-That they had appealed 10 the native
Justice and magnanniiy OF their British brethoen CON
Jurng them by the ties OF common kindred TO disavov
these usurPaons which would inevitably interrupt
Connexions and correspondence: but bat The, TOO hb
been deaf 10 the voice OF justice and of consansunitv
wherefore, they bound oquesce in the necessity
which denounced their separation and TO hold them as
hey hcId the rest oil mankind, enemies in war i'm peace
friends. r
For all these reasons the representatives of the United
states OF America, in general Congress assembled appe al.
ing TO the Supreme Judge OF the World for the rectud
OF their intentions, did, i'll the and by the authority
OF the good people Of these Colonies their respective Con-
stuents, solennly publish and declare that these nid
Colonies were, aud OF right ought be- Free and indie
pendent States-Ihat they absoIved from all aeoi
ance to the BRUSH Crown and that all political come ZION
between them and the State of Great triian was and
ought to be, totally dissolvedAnd that Free and nL
pendent States, they had full power levy war conclude
peace, contract alliances establish commerce and IN do
all other acts and things which independent States might
OF right do. s.
This is full and faithful abstract of every tbino con
tanned III The Declaration Of which any man
can consider as important applicable the question
under examination. For the truth of this assertion
refer to the Declaration ITSELF happily now in the hands
oil almost every freeman in this country-I appeal con-
hdenty, to every candid mind to determine whether
there is one word uttered, one thought expressed or
even Implied, throughout the whole Of this important
clear and able State paper, to countenanco the idea
mat II could have been designed by its authors TO
incorporate the several Communities therein for the
first time styled the United States OF America into one
alton! Whether 1t does alrIn in terms that the
Colonies represented in the Congress which produced this
act were, aud of right ought to be, Free and Indepen-
dent Sates-And whether 1t could have had any other
end or aim than what have stated that is 10 saw TO de-
clare and make manifest the world what was the con-
dton OF these States; and in tracing the which had
produced this condition. TO justify before the world the
position they had already assumed.
ask Of the Constitutional LAWYER TO tell inc ,vbeber
act protesting this does deeIaratorV of what
is and right ought TO be, properly be considered as
an instrument ordaning the existence of that which il de-
elares, merely ask OF any Politician even of the new
SCHOOL, to tell me- in fraDknes whether at that time the
delegates oil any Colony, assembled in general Congress-
could have had authority to extngush the rights Of
their Constituents; by amagamaing them with others into
one Nation, except under their credentials and nstruc
tons-Should he say, speaking in that spirit he must
say, that they could not have had authority derived from