Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1841-08-03
UNANIMOUS DECLARATION
WASHINGTON MprR. soc,r.tv

When IN The course Of human events, il becomes
Necessary for amy class OF people To dissolve the
sands IN which they had previously been connected
md To assume among the inhabitants OF n Christian
and the independent and manly station to which
me laws OF nature and of natures God eniiile them,
4 decent respect for the opinlJhs of mankind, as
wen as a proper regard for their own character. re.
lulres that they should declare tho causes which
them TO the separation.
we hold these truths 10 be selcevideni:-iha all
men are created free and equal thai ihuy are en-
dowed by their Creaior with certain unalienable
rights That anioug these are life liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness. That to secure these r;gb,.
certain moral and physical laws are established
among men. designed for thor best good. ,ha,
whenever any habit or appetite beconesdestructiy
OF these ends. IL Is the tight of those concerned io
alter or 10 abolish IL. aud to establish better habits.
laying Their ioundaiirn on such principles rs shall
be nosi likely To effect their safety and happiness
Prudence. perhaps. wall dictate that cusiums long
established shauld not be changed for light and
transient causes; aud all experience has shown.
that mankind are mote disposed to suffer while
evils are suterable, Than TO right themselves bv
abandoning habits 10 which they have been attach.
ed But when a long train of abuses AMI u.urna.
tions, pursuing invariably the same object, eyinces
a tendency TO reduce them under absolute dcspo,-
ism, u Is their right, il is their duty, ,o throw off
such a yoke. and to provide new guards for their
future security, Such mas been our patient suffer.
ance' and such is now the necessity which constants
Ms TO alter our former habits. by shaking of IN, tv.
ranny under which we have been bound. The his.
tory OF that prince Of Indebtedness, Alcoh 4. ia n
history Of repeated injuries md usur ,a,ions, oil
having n direct tendency TO establish nm absolute
tyranny over both mind and body. To prove this
let facts he submtted 10 a candid community.
lie has utterly overturned and reversed laws the
most wholesome and necessary for the public and
indi viduHl goud.
lie has restrained our faculties from their rroper
eIer Use nay he has absolutely suspended their
operation. and when 50 suspended, he has laid some
OF us PROSTATE in the ditch.
He has called together carousing sembl a,
places unwholesome, uncomfortable. and distant
from the bosom Of our families, mainly for the DIR.
pose Of bringing his victims under his complete
control.
lie has dissolved The dearest lies Of affection,
repeatedly, and caused the basest and most tIegrad.
ing nssociaii ms 10 be formed. The mental roven,
have been almost annihilaied the body remain inp
in the mean time. exposed 10 filth and nakednes,
without. and trcmors and commissions within,
He has made our reason and judgment depend.
ent on his will for the tenure Of their office, and al
most for their very existence.
lie has erected a multitude Of OFFICES. unde,
various deceptive titles. such rs houses OF refresh.
rneni.' 'rcieCicries.' travellers homes and other
kindred appellations. occupied by sxarms Of har
ries, TO harlss us nd eat ont our substance,
lie has Kept nmung us ut all times. q standing
army OF jugs, bottles, casks, and hogsheads OF rank
poison.
lie has affected to render The animal annette.
and passions independent Of and superior to, the
mental faculties.
lie has. under various combinations, subjected m,
To a jurisdiction foreign To our constitutions, and
wholly subyersive To our health aud comfort
For cutting of our inIercour c with respectable
socieyi
For imposing lie heaviest and most eSborb;ton,
taxes upon ns, without rendering US any equivalent:
For arrIigning us. (for no offence whatever e,'
csri untoundcd devotion 10 him. before The bar ol
a tavern or groggery, aEi, without the shadow o.,
Justice causing liquid ie tobs poured down our
ihroaiS, until tJme Of us were dead-DRuSK.
For Trans. oriiug us. IL not beyond the seas. nj
least IN many instances more than half seas over"
under the mask of pretended friendshipi
For taking away our characters. ab fishing OBJ
most valuable privileges and deraDging all the
functions Of nature.
He has plundercd our houses, ravuVed our orop.
eriy, burnt our very viIols. aud DESTROYED the hap.
Piness OF our families.
lie ~ even at This Time, coming with large auaa
lilies OF foreign allies, the "clIoice spirii." of otbor
lands, TO complete The work OF death. desola,ioo a,d
tyranny so long carried on. with circumstances of
fraud and pcrfidy scarcely parnlleled I'm the most
bafbarous ages, and totally unworthy the tolerance
Of n civilized community.
lie has constrained US. taken captive OF his will
10 array ourselves against our best friends and 10
become their won't enemies
lie has excited domestic brawls among ne. md
has visited Our defenceless families with almost un.
mIiigaie1 and unallOyed distress his known rule
oil warfare Is an undislingJished ruin OF all ages
sexes and conditions.
For all these oppressions. we have Obtained no
redress; but every aitempt TO free ourselves has
been attended only by repeated injury. A prince
whose character is thus marked Nv every net which
could define a yrani, is totally unfit 10 bear sw,v
over rational beings.
nor have we been waning In attention TO Rum
ana IT'S conductors. We have loved them rs our
own hves-we have on all occasions manifested To-.
wards them the most devoted nttacf ment-nnd even
WIN all the evils we have suffered. the severance
L3|AfnRond was a most severe trial. But having
iouE- Them mAery deaf 10 the voice Of justice and
humanity. we must refa2Rpco oil connection With
them. and hold them. a. we hold other desGrUye rs
Of our peace, enemies now and forever.
We, therefore, the members Ellington
Temperance Society, in general o. - n embled.
booking TO heaven for strength to aaA4I mug in
legrity, do solennly publish and declare, that we
are and OF right ought TO be. free and Independents
men. That We are absolyed from oil conneTion
WIN Intoxicating drinks, and that our attiiode 10.
ma'u mem IT, and ought 10 be. Total Abstinence
ihai as ireemen, we have full power to oct for our.
serves 10 follow the things which make for our
peaoe' pursue honorable occupations, and do ali 9th.
er things which rational and intelliaen, men may NJ
nghi DO. And for the support Of this declaration
n"h a hrm reliance on the help of Divine Poyi.
dence' we mutually pledge to each other our live,
our fortunes, ESQ far rs our misouuDes have len n.