Columbus Democrat., 1838-06-30
The Immortal Document.
DECLARATIoN or INnEPENnrNcE-

Nhen m the course Othuman events, it becomes
necessary tlr one people 10 dissolve the poitic.
bands which nave connected them with anotier, an
10 assume, amoag the powers of the earth. the SEP
arate and equal station TO which the laws of naturs
and OF nature 5 God endte them, decent respec
Tor the eopnons Of mankind requires that they shoug
declare the causes which impel them to the separa.
ton.
We hold these truths to be seli-evident-tbata al
men are created equal; that they are endowed b,
Their Creator with certain unalcnab.e rights: that
among these, are life, Liberty, and the pursuit OF
happiness. That, to secure these rights, govern
ments are instituted among men, deriving their pst
powers from the consent Of the governed; that
whenever any form OF government becomes deStruc-
1--WE oi these ends II is the right Of the people 10 al
Ter or To abolish It, and 10 institute new govern
ment, laying It's foundation on such principles, and
organizing ITS powers IN such form, as to them shall
seem most likely TO effect their Saittyan happiness.
Prudence, indeed, wd dictate, that governments
long established should not be changed for light and
transient causes and accordingly alexperience hath
shown, TIA, mankind are more disposed to suffer-
while evils are sutembe, than To right themselves
by aholishing the forms to which they are accustom
ed. But, when long train Of abuses and usurpa-
tons, pursuing invariably the same object, evinoes,
design TO reduce them under absolute deSputism
il Is their night, is their duty, TO throw off such
government, and to provide new guards for their
future security Such has been the patient suffer
ance Of these colonies; and such is now the nccess-
ty which constmiuS them TO alter their former sys-
tens OF government The history of the present
king of Great Britain, is history OF repeated mju-
ries and usurpations all having in direct object the
establishment Of an absolute tyranny over these
states. 10 prove this, let facts be submitted to a
candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws, the most whole
some and necessary for the public good
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws OF
immediate and pressing importance unless suspan-
dcd in their operation, till his assent should be oh
taAed and, when so suspended, he has utterly neg
ected to attend to them. He has refused to pass
other laws for the accommodation Of large districts
OF people, unless those people would rclmqush the
right OF representation IN the legislature Ia right ln-
estlmabIe 10 them, and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places
unusual, uncomfortable and distant from the repos.
tory Of their public records, for the sole purpose ol
latlgning them into compliance with his measures
lie has dissolved representative houses repeatedly,
Tor opposing, with manly lirmness his invasions on
the rights Of the people.
lie has refused for long time after such dissolu-
tons, 10 cause Others TO be elected; whereby the e-
glsIati9e powers, incapable Of annihaton, have re-
turned to the people at large, for their exercise the
state remaining in the meantime, exposed to all the
dangers OF invasion from without. and conyuIsons
within.
lie has cndeav nred to prevent the population Of
these states lor that purpose, obstnctng the laws
iur naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass 9th
crs to encourage their migration hither and raising
the conditions OF new appropriations OF lands.
lie has obStruCted the administration of Justice.
by refusing his assent to laws for establishing udica
ry powers.
IIs i'ao n'hdc badges dependent on MS WIN alone,
for the tenure OF their Offices, and the dnIuunt and
payment Of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of new Offices and
seni hther swarms of officers, TO harass our people
and cat out their substance.
He has kept among US, in times OF peace, stand
ing armies, without the consent Of our legislatures
He tas affected to render the military independent
of, and superior to, the civil power.
lie has combined with others to subject us toa
jurisdiction foreign to our con titution, and unac-
knowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their
acts Of pretended Iegisation for qulrtcrng large
bodies OF armed troops among u.s. for protecting
them, by mock trlai, from punishment for any
murders which they should commit on the inlabit-
ants Of these states for cutting of our trade with
all parts OF tie word for imposing taxes on US with
out our consent: for deprying us, in many cases. Of
the benefits of trial by jury for Transporting US be-
yond seas to be tried for pretended Offences for abo
lshing the free system Of English laws in a neigh
bourng province, establishing therein an arbitrary
government and charging ITS boundaries, SO as TO
render IT at once an example and tit instrument for
Introducing the same absolute rule into these colo
MES; for taking away our charters, abolshing our
most valuable laws, and altering, fundamentally, the
forms of our governments for Suspending our own
legislatures and declaring themselves invested with
power 70 lcgsate for us III oil cases whatsoever,
| He has abdcatcd government here, by declaring
US out ofhls protection, and Saglng war against u.s.
| lie has pundecd our seas, rayagcd our coasts
burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives Of our peo-
pie
He is at this time transporting arge armies of
foreign mercenareS 10 complete the works Of DEATH
desolalion, and tyranny, already begun with circun
stances Of perGdy, scarcely paraeled in the most
barbarous ages and totally unworthy the head Of a
civilized nation.
He has constrained our faow-ctizens, taken cap
tive on the high seas, TO bear arms against their
country TO become the eXecutoaers Of their friends
and brethren or 10 fall themselves BY their hands
He las excited domestic instructions amongst
us, and has endeayoured 10 bring Oh the inhabitants
Of Our frontiers tie mercieSs Indian sayages whose
known rule ofwarare is ar undistinguished desruc-
ton Of all ages, sexes, and conditions.
In every stage OF these expressions, re have pc
ttoned for redress, in the most humble terms. our
repeated petitions have been answered only by re-
peated injury A prince, whose character is thus
marked by every act which may define tyrant, is
unfit TO be the ruler Of a free people.
| Nor have we been wanting in attention 10 our
British brethren. We have warned them, from
time to time, OF attempts made by their legislature
to extend an unwarrantahle jurisdiction over Us -
| We have reminded them Of the circumstances ofour
| emigration and settlement here, We have appealed
/ 10 their native justice and magnanimity, and we
have coniurcd them, by The ties Of our common KIN
dred, TO dsavow these usurpatons, which would in
evitably interrupt our connexions and correspond
cncc They, too, have been deaf TO the voice Of
! Justice and OF consanguinty. We must therefore,
acquiesce in tile necessity which denounces our sep
aration and hold them, as we hold the rest Of man
kind--enemies IN war; in peace friends.