The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-06-30
DECLARATION
INDEPENDEN CE.
In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776:
The unanimous Declaration Of the fhir-
fcpa Taifed .Sfafes of america.

!
1t becomes necessary for one people to
dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another, and to as
sumo, among the powers Of the earth,
the seperate and equal station to which
the laws of nature and of NATURES God
entitle them, decent respect to the opin-
ions 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 endowed by their Creator with
certain 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 of government becomes destructive of
these ends, it is the right of the people
to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a
new government, laying its foundation
on such principles, and organizing It's
! 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
should not be changed for light and tram
sient causes; and accordingly all expe-
rience hath shown, that mankind are
| more disposed to suffer while evils are
suferable, than TO right themselves by
| aboiishing the forms to which they are
accustomed. But when long train of
abuses and usurpations, pursuing in
variably the same object, evnces design
to reduce them under absolute despotism,
it is their right, il is their duty to throw
| off such government, and to provide new
guards for their future security. Such
has been the patient suferance Of these
colonies; and such is now the necessity
which constrains them to alter their for
mer systems of government. The histo-
ry of the present king of Great Britain
is history ofrepeated injuries and usur-
pations, 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 import
ance, unless suspended in their operation
till his assent should be obtained: and
when so suspended, he has utterly neg
lected to attend to them. He has re-
fused TO pass other laws for the accommo-
dation of large districts of people, unless
those people would relinquish the right
of representation in the Legislature
right inestimable to them, and formidable !
to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies
at places unusual, uncomfortable, and dis
tant from the repository of their public !
records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing
them into compliance with his meas
ures.
He has dissolved representative houses
repeatedly, for opposing, with manly |
firmness, his invasions on the rights of |
the people.
He has refused, for long time after |
such dissolutions, to cause others to be |
elected, whereby the legislative powers, |
incapable of annihlation, have returned |
to the people at large for their exercise,
the state remaining, in the mean time, |
exposed to all the dangers of invasion !
from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the pop |
ulation of these states; for that purpose !
obstructing the laws for naturalization OF
foreigners; refusing to pass others TO
encourage their migration hither, and |
raising the conditions of new appropria-
tions of lands.
He has obstructed the administration |
of justice, by refusing his assent to laws
for establishing 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 hither swarms Of officers
to harrass our people, and eat out their
substance.
He has kept among us, in times of
peace, standing armies, without the con-
sent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the military
independent OF, and superior to, the civil
power.
He has combined with others to sub
ject us to jurisdiction foreign to our con-
stitution, and unacknowledged 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 punishment for any murders which
they should commit on the inhabitants OF
these states: