Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-07-07
CLARA ON
OfAmerican independence
IN CONGRESS, 4rH JULY, ITO.

| necessary
nolilical bands which have connected 'hen' WIN
ano,ber and 10 assume, among the powers OF lux
aar,h Tho separate and equal station 10 which Inc
I.ws Of Nature and of Natures God en!lt!e them
decent respect for the opinions oil mankind re-
oures that they should declare The causes WHICH
impel them TO the separation.
We hold these truths 10 be self-evIdent thai
all men are created equal that they are endowed
no their Creator with certain unalienabe rights;
tina, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit
| of happiness; that 10 secure lhese lSn1s, 40
| vernmenls are Instituted among men, deriving
their lust powers from the consent OF the govern
ed and that, whenever any i'rm Vi uoVefnine =.
becomes destructive OF these enas' IL IS 'ne .isn'
of the people 10 alter or Abolish H. anu ~ hs'l.ue
new Government, LAYING lis foundations on such
nrncines and organizing lis 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
shonld NOT he changed for light and transient
causes. and accordingly, all experience hath
4 shown that mankind are more disposed TO suffer,
while evils are suf1erable, than TO right them-
selves by abolishng The forms TO Which lney are
| accustomed. But when long raln OF ABUSES
and usurpaions, pursuing invariaoiy inc same
| object. evinces design TO reduce iheHl uluei ao
solue despolism il is their rign' II IS Inell guy,
10 throw off such Government. ana 20 p1ogh,u 0e
new Guards for their future security. such mas
h..., sbc na,ient suflerancc oil the Colonies; and
such Is now The necessity which constrans them
- ,l,er their former system OF Government The
history Of the present King of Great Britain is
history of repeated injuries and usurpatons, all
having in the direct object, the establishment OF
an absolute tyranny over these States. 10 prove
This lei facts be submitted to candid world
He has refused his assent TO laws The most
wholesome and necessary for the pubic good;
He has forbidden his Governors 10 pass laws
If immediate and pressing importance, unless
snsnended in their operations I'LL his assent should
he obtained. and when so suspended he has inter-
L. neglected 10 attend 10 them:
He has refused 10 pass other laws for the &C
comm oda;ion OF large districts OF people, unless
these people would relinquiSh their right OF Ie-
nresentalion in The Lesislature-a right inesti-
inable 10 them, and formidable TO lyranls only:
He has called together Legislative bodies at
places unusual, uncomfortable and distant from
Inc repository Of their public records for The sole
purpose Of farguing them into compliance with
his measures:
He has dissolved representative houses repeat
edly, for opposing with manly hrmness his IN
vasons on The rights of the people:
He has refused Tor long time alter such dis
solutions, TO cause others 10 be elected; whereby
the Legislative powers incapable OF annhilatlun,
have returned to the people a, large, Tor their ex
ercise; the Stale remaining, IN The mean time, ex-
posed 10 all the dangers ol invasion from without
and commissions from within:
He has endeavored 10 prevent the population
OF these States; Tor that purpose obstrucling the
laws OF naturalization OF foreigners, refusing 10
pass others TO encourage their migration lhither,
H. Nfno "a y N .Ylrta nor
OF lands:
He has obs,ructed The administration Of justice,
by refusing his assent 10 laws Tor establishing Ju-
dietary 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, TO harass our peo-
pie and ca, out their substance:
He has kept among US in time OF peace stand
ing armies, without the consent OF our Legisla-
lures
He has affected to render the military indie
pendent OF, and superior 10, the civil power:
He has combined with others 10 subject us 10
a Jurisdiction foreign 10 our Constitution and I'M
acknowledged by our laws; giving his assent TO
their acts OF pretended legislation
For quartering large bodies Of armed troops
among US:
For protecting them, by mock trial, from pun
ishment for any murders which they should COM
nit on the inhabitants OF these States:
For cutting off our trade with all paris OF the
world:
For imposing taxes on us, without our consent:
For depriving US, in many cases, oil Inc oeneht
Of trial by Jury:
For transporingus beyond seas, TO be tried for
pretended offences:
For abolishine the free system OF English laws
in a neighboring province; establishing therein an
arbitrary government, and enlargng It's bounda-
ries so as TO render il al once an example and Ill
instrument for introducing the same absolute ru-
in into these Colonies:
For taking away our charters, abolishing our
most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally
the forms Of our Governments:
For suspendng our own Legislatures, and de-
clarng themselves invested with power to legis-
late for US in all cases whatsoever. lie has alb
dictated government here, by declaring US out OF
his protection, and waging war against 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 Of
foreign mercenaries, 10 complete the works OF
death, desolaton and tyranny, already begun,
with circumstances OF cruelty and perfdy scarce
ly paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and TO-
tally unworthy the head oil civilized nation:
EIe has constrained our fellow Citizens taken
captive on the high seas 10 bear arms against
their country, TO become the executioners OF their
friends and brethren, or 20 fall themselves by their
hands:
He has excited domestic instructions against
US, and has endeavored TO bring on the inhabi-
tans OF our frontiers the mercless Indian sava-
ges whose known rule of warfare is an undistin-
guished destruction of all ages, sexes and condi-
tons.
In every Stage OF these expressions, we have
petlioned Tor redress in the most humble terms:
our repeated petitions have been answered only
by repeated injury.
A prince whose character is thus marked BY
rYsfy a., which may define a tyrant, is unit 10
Lc The ruler ol a tree people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention 10 our
British brethren. We have warned them, from
time To time, Of attempts by their Legislature 10
extend an unwaIranlable jurisdiction over US,
We have reminded them OF the circumstances OF
our emigration and settlement here. We have
appealed 10 their native Justice and magnanimity;
and we have eonjured them, By the lies OF our com
mon kindred, TO disavow these usurpaiions, "hlch
would inevitably interruptour connexion and cor
respondence. They, too have been deaf 10 Inc
voice OF Justice and of consanguinty. we must
therefore, acquiesce in The necessity whlch ae
nounces our separation, and hold them as we
hold The rest of mankind-enemes IN war, II
peace, friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives OF the Uni
led States OF America, in General Congress as
sembed, appealing to The Supreme Judge Of The
world Tor The recltude Of our Intentions do II
The name, and by the authority Of The good people
OF these Colonies, solemn'y publish and declare
that these Colonies are, and OF right ought to be
Free and Independent States-,hat they are alb
solved from all allegiance 10 the British Crown
and that all political connection between Them ant
the Stale Of Great Britain is, and ought 10 be, TO
tally dissolved-and that, as free and lndependen
States, they have full powerto levy war, conclude
peace contract alliances, establish commerce
and 10 do all other acts and things which indie
pendent States may OF right do. And for tn
support of this Declaration, with firm reliance
on The protection Of Divine Providence, we mu
tually pledge 10 each other our lives, our fortunes
and our sacred honor.
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.