The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-07-01
DECLARATION OF TNDEPEN-
,DENCE

the earth, the separate and equal station to
ettttle them, decent respect for the opinions
| Of mankind, requires that they should declare
the causes which npel them to the separation
| owe hold these truths to be self-evideht:-
that all men are created equal; that they are en-
dowed by their Creator with Ger tain 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 con-
sent of the governed; that, whenever any form
Fends it is the right of the people to alter or to
abolish it, and to institute new government,
LAYING its foundation on such principles, and or
ganizing its powers in such iorm as to them shall
seem most likely to effect their safety and happi-
ness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that gov
erntrents long established should not be changed
for light and transient causes; and accordingly
| all experience hath shown, that mankind are
more disposed to suffer, while evils are suflerable,
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, evinces design to
reduce them under absolute despotsu,, it is, their
right, it is their duty to throw ofsuch govern
ment ana to provide new guards for their future
security. Such has been the patient sufierance
of these colonies; and such is the necessl tJ
which constrans them to alter their former sys-
tens of government. The history of the pres
ent king of Great Britain, is history ofrepeat-
ed inlur es 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 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 ut
terly neglected to attend to them Tie has re-
fused to pass other laws for the accommodation
of large districts of people, unless those people
would relnqush the right Of rep resentation in
the legislatures right inestimable to them an d
formidable to tyrants only
ale 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-
peatedly, for opposing, with manly tirmne.s, his
invasons on the rights Of the people.
" He has refused, for long time after such
dissolution to cause others to be elected
whereby, the Legislative powers; incapable OF an
initiation, have returned to the people at large,
for their exercise, the state remaining, in the
meantime, exposed to all the dangers OF nva-
sion from without, and commissions within.
| &c He has endeavored to prevent the popula-
ton of these states for that purpose, obstructing
the laws for naturalization of foreigners refusing
to pass Others to encourage their migi alton hith-
er, and raising the condition of new appropria-
lions oflands.
| "He has obstructed the adnhnstrat ion ofius-
ice, by refusing his assent to laws for establish
ing Judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent oh ri, will
alone, for the tenure of their Offices, and the a.
mount and payment ofther salaries.
i" He has erected multitude of new Offices
and sent hither swarms Of officers, to harass our
people, and eat out our substance.
" He has kept among us, in times of peace,
standing armies, without the consent of our le-
| gislatures.
He has affected to render the military inde-
| pendent of, and superior, to, the civil power.
" He has combined with others to subject us
| 70 Jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and
acknowledged by OUR laws; giving his assent
| to their acts of pretended legislation, for quar-
tering large bodies of armed troops among u.s.
for protecting them, by mock trial, from punish
ment for any murders which they should commit
on the inhabitants Of these statcs for cutting off
our trade with all parts of the world: for impos-
ing taxes on us without our consent: for depriv-
ing us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by
Jury: for transporting us beyond seas to be tried
for pretended offences for abolishiug the free sys-
TEN of English laws in a neighboring province,
establishing therein an arbitrary government
and charging its boundaries, so as to render it
at once an example and fit instrument for intro
ducng the same absolute rule into these colo
MES; for taking away our charters, abolislisng
our most valuable laws, and altering fundamen-
tally, the forms Of our governments: for sus-
pending our own legislatures, and declaring
themselves invested with power to legislate for
us in all cases whatsoever.
He is abdicated government here, by decla-
ring US out of his protection, and waging war a.
ganst us.
/" He has plundered our seas, ravaged our
coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives
Of our people.
" He is at this time transporting large armies