Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-07-04
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
In CONGRESS July, 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration Of the Thirteen u.
States of America.


States of America.
whe, in the course of human events, it be-
comes necessary for one People to dissolve the
uolitical bands which have connected them
with another, and to assume, among the pow
ers of the earth, the separate and equai stauon
70 which the law of nature and oil natures Uou
entitle them, descent respect to the Opinions
of mankind requires that they shouid declare
the causes which impel them to the separation:
We hold these truths to be selCevident: That
all men are created equal; that they are en-
lowed by their Creator with certain unanen-
able rights; that among these are me- hoerty,
aud the pursuit of happiness. That 70 secure
these rights, governments are instituted among
men. deriving their just powers from the consent
Of the Governed; that whenever any govern
ment becomes destructive to those ENDS, II Is the
RIGHT of the People to alter, or to abolish II, ana
toSnstitute new government, laying It's ioun-
dation on such principles, and organizing It's
powers in such form, as to them shaii seem
roost likely to effect their safety and happiness
prudence, indeed, will dictate, that governments
Ions established should not be changed for light
and transient causes; and accordingly, all ex-
nerience hath shown, that mankind are more
5;snosed to suffer while evils are sufferaole,
than to right themselves by abolishing the forms
to which they are accustomed. put wheh
long train Of abuses and usurpatons, pursu-
inc invariably the same object, evinces de-
sion TO reduce them under absolute despotism,
IL is their right il is their duty, to throw Of such
vovernment, and to provide new guards for
their future security. Such has been the pa
tient sufferance Of these colonies; and such IS
now the necessity which constrains them to al
ter their former systems of government Inc
history of the present king OF Great Britain, is
a history of repeated injuries and usurpations
all having direct object the establishment OF
an absolute tyranny over these states. 10 prove
this, let facts be supmitted to candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws the most
wholesome and necessary for the public good.
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 10 pass other laws for the accom-
mediation Of large districts of people, unless
these people would relinquish the rights OF re-
presentation in the legislature-a right inestima-
bic 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 fatiguing them into compliance
with his measures.
He has dissolved representative houses re-
neatedly, for opposing, with manly firmness, his
invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused, for long time after such DIS
solutions. to cause others to be elected where
by the legislative powers, incapable of annihila-
ton. have returned to the people at large for
their exercise, the state remaining in the mean
fine exposed to all the dangers of invasons
from without, and commissions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population
of these states; for that purpose obstructlng the
laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing
10 pass Others to encourage their migration nj
ther, and raising the conditions OF new appro-
priations of lands
He has obstructed the administration of JUS
tice. by refusing his assent to laws for establish
he has made judges dependent on his will
alone for the tenure of their offices, and the
amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude OF new offices, and
sent hither swarms Of officers, to harass our peo-
ple and eat out their substance.
He has kept among u.s. in times OF peace,
standing armies, without the consent OF our le-
gislatures.
pendent of and superior to the civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to
jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and I'M
acknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to
their acts of pretended legislation:
For uuartering large bodies of armed troops
among us:
punishment for any murders which they should
commit on the Inhabitants of these states:
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the
For imposing taxes on us without our con-
sent
For depriving us, in many cases, of the bene-
fits of trial by jury:
For transporting us beyond seas, to be tried
for pretended offences
For abolishing the free system Of English laws
in a neighboring province, establishing an arbi-
trary government and enlarging its boundaries,
so as to render it at once an example and fit in
strument 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 our own legislatures, and de-
claring themselves invested with power to legis-
late for us in all cases whatever.
He has abdicated government here, by declar-
ing us out of his protection, and waging war
against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts,
burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our
He is at this time transporting large armies
of foreign mercenaries to complete the works Of
death. desolation and tyranny, already begun
with circumstances ofcruelty and perfdy scarce
lv naraIleed in the most barbarous ages, and
totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.