The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-07-01
IN CONGRESS, July 4,1T7G, the Repre-
sehtatives of The United states. i'm Con-
gress assembled, made the following
BecHaFatiO1 of Independence &c:


gress assembled, made the following
Declaration OfIndepensEence.
WHEN, in the course of human events,
1t becomes necessary for one people to dis
solve the political bands which have con-
nected them with another, and to assume
among the powers of the earth, the separ-
ate and equal station to which the laws of
nature and ofnature's God entitle them, a
decent respect for the opinions of mankind
requires, that they should declare the eau
ses which impel them to 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
unalienable rights; that among these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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 be-
comes destructive of these ends, it is the
right the people to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new government, laying
Its foundation on such principles, and Or
ganlzing its powers in such form, as to them
shall seem most likely to effect their safety
and happiness. Prudence, 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 are more dispo-
sed to suffer, while evils are suiierable,
than TO right themselves by abolishing the
forms to which they are accustomed. But
when long train of abuses and usurpations,
pursuing invariably the same object, evin-
ces design 10 reduce them under absolute
despohsm, it is their right, it is their duty
to throw OF such government, and TO pro-
vide new guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient suflerence of
these colonies; and such is now the neccs-
sity which constrains them to alter their
former system of government. The histo-
ry of the present king of Grca, Britain, is a
history of repeated injuries and usurpations,
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 wholesome and necessary for the pub
lie 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 at
tend to them.
He has refused TO pass otherlaw for the
accommodation of large districts Of people
unless those people would reinquish the
right of representation in the legislature--a
right inestimable TO them :nd formidable to
tyrants only.
He has called together Legislative bodies,
at places unusual, uncomfortable, and dis
tant from the depository of their public re-
cords, for the sole purpose of flaGguing them
into a compliance with his measures.
lie has dissolved representative houses
repeatedly, for opposing, with manly firm
ness, his invasions on the rights Of the peo-
pie.
He has refused for long time after such
dissolulions, to cause others to be elected
whereby the legislative powers, incapable
of annihilatiou, have returned to the people
at large, for their exercise; the state remain
ing, in the meantime, exposedt TO all the dan
ger Of invasion from without, and conyul-
sions within.
lie has endeavored to prevent the popu-
lation of these statesi for that purpose OBJ
structing the laws of naturalization Of for
eigners, refusing to pass others to encour-
AGE their migration hither, and raising the
conditions Of new appropriations Of lands.
He has obstrueted the administration of
Justice, by refusing his assent to laws for
establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependant on his
will alone, for the tenure Of their offices, |