Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-07-05
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, l776.
DECLARATION OF
IN DE p E DE N G. E.
Tie unanlnous Declaration Of the Mirfe

another, and To assume among the powers of
the earth, the separate and equal station TO
which the laws of nature and of natures God
pntile them, decent respect to the opinions of
mankind, requires that they should declare the
causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self evident: That
all men are created equal that they are en-
tlowed by their creator with certain unalienable
rights that among these are life. liberty and
The pursuits 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 gov
prnment becomes destructive to these ends it is
the right of the people TO alter or TO abolish 1t.
and to institute new government, laying It's foun-
daiions on such principles, and organizing its
bowers 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 transient causes and accordingly all
experience hath shewn that mankind are more
disposed TO suffer, while evils are sufferable,
than to right themselves by abolishng the forms
TO which they are accustomed But when a
long train OF abuses and usurpations, pursuing
invariably the same object, evinces design to
reduce them under absolute deSpotiSm, it is
their right, it is their duty to throw off such
government, and TO provide new guards for their
suffrance of these colonies; and such is now
the necessity which constants them to alter their
fnrmer system of government The history of
the present king OF Great Britain, is a history
of repeated injuries and usurpationS, all having
in direct obecl the establishment of an absolute
tyranny over these states. To prove this, let
facts be submitted to a candid world.
lie has refused his assent 10 laws the most
wh0lcsume and necessary for the public good.
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 to pass other laws for the accom-
modaIion of large districts Of people, unless
those people would relinquish the right of rep
resentation in the legislature; ght inesiima-
bic to ihem, and formidable to tyrants only.
lie has called together legislative bodies at
places unusual uncomfortable, and distant from
The repository of the public records, for the sole
purpose Of fatiguing them into compliance with
his measures.
He has dissolved representative houses re-
Pealedly, for opposing with manly frmness, his
luvasions on the rights Of the people.
lie has refused for a long time after SHcfl
dissolutions 10 cause others TO be elected;
whereby the legislative powers, incapable of
annihilstng, have returned to the people at
large for their exercise, the state remaining in
the meantime, exposed to all the dangers oil in
vasion from without, and convulsions within.
lie has endeavored to prevent the population
of these states; for that purpose obstructing
the laws of naturalization of foreigners refu
sing to pass others TO encourage their migration
l.ther; and raising the conditions ofnew appro-
priations Of land.
He has obstructed the administration of JUS
tce,. by refusing his assent TO laws for estab-
Ishing judiciary powers.
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 multitude of new offices,
and sent hilher swarms of officers, 10 harass
our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among US, in times OF peace stan
ding armies, without the consent of our legs-
lures
he has affected to render the military inde-
pendent of, and superior to the civil power.
He has combined with others to subject US
10 Jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and
acknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to
thea aets-of pN tended legislation.
For quairering large bodies of armed troops
among rs.
For protecting them BY mock trial, from
punishment for any murders which they
should commit the inhabitants of these
sttie es7
Fo, cutting ofT: our trade with all parts of the
world.
For imposing taxes on as without our con-
seut.
For deIriving US in many cases, of the beHe-
Ats ot Trial by Jury.
For transporting US beyond seas to be tried
for ErtFnded offences.
For abolishing the free system of English
laws in neigbbering province, establishing
therein an arbitrary government, and enlarg-
ing its boundaries, SO as to render it at once an
example and fit instrument for introducing the
same absolute rule in these colonies.
For taking away our charters, abolishing car
rgost valuable laws, and altering fundamental
ly,the torms of our government.
For sprspending our own legislatures, and de-
clarng themselves invested with power to le-
cislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated government here, by de.
clating us out of his protection, and waglng
war against
He has plurdered our seas, ravaged our
cu.ssts; burut our towns, and destroyed the
hives or oar people.
lie is at tbs time transporting large armies
OF foreign rrsrceHaries to complete the works
of death, deselation and tyranny, already be-
gun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfdy
al. llxafa Il H.