Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-07-05
DECLARATION
0rAmerican Inde pendeMce
nj coNGREss. july 4TH. INC.

comes necessary ior ono People 70 dissolve lhe po
r,;,,, hands which have connected them with an
o,h,r. and 10 assume. among The powers oil sh'
Garth the separate and equal station to which th'
laws Of Nature and o; Nalnre's God en'i'le them
deem, respect for the opinions OF mankind re-
an,es ,ha, they should declare the causes whicf
mpel Them 10 the separation.
Ne hold these truths 10 be self-evidenl: tina
Ill men are created equal; that they are endowed
10 heir Creator with certain unalienable rights
Il, among these are life, liberty and the pursui
i happiness. That, 10 secure these rights, TO
r,rpmen,s are Instituted among men, deriving
heir lust powers from the consent OF The govern
4. and that, whenever any torn Of Government
ZONES destructive 10 these ends j, IS The rIgh
4 he people 10 alter or abolish it, and 10 institute
rev Government, laying lis foundations on sucf
principles, and organizing its powers IN sucf
ann as 10 them shall seem most likely TO ef1ec
,bai, salely and happiness. Prudence, indeed
Mill dictate, that Governments long established
,hond moi be changed for light and transient caus'
-. aud, accordingly, all experience hath shown,
hi mankind are more disposed 10 suffer, while
sC;ls are siderable, than 10 right themselves by
ssnl;sbipy the forms TO which they are accustom-
FL. Bui, when long train Of abuses and nsur'
.s,;ons pursuing invariably The same OBJECT eyin-
LAG
co;sm. i, is their right, it is their duty, TO throw
y such Government, and to provide new guards
~ ,heir future security. Such has been The pa
,,n, sufIeiance OF The Colonies; and such is now
~ necessity which constrains them 10 alter their
r,mer system OF Government.
The history oflhe present King ofGrea, Britain
:. 4 history Of repealed injuries and usurpatlons,
shaving, in the direct object, the establishment OF
N absolute tyranny over these States. To prove
ms lie, facts be submitted TO candid world
He has lefused his assent 10 laws The most
wholesome and necessary for the public good;
He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws OF
immediate and pressing Importance, unless sus.
pented in their operations till his assent should
s chained; and, when so suspended, he has III
.ry neglected 10 attend 10 them:
lie has refused 10 pass other laws for The &C
commoda,ion of large districts of people, unless
bsse people would reinquish their rish, OF re-
n,ssen,alion in The Legisa,ure-a right inestima-
r. n Them and formidable 10 iyrsnls only:
10 has called together Legislative bodies al
,,aces mnusnal uncomfortable and distant from
,ne renosi,ory Of their public records for the sole
nnrnose Of laliguing Them into compliance win
re ba, dissolved representative houses repeat
sdr FIR opposing with manly frmness his inva-
s;ons on The rights oil the people:
He has refused for long lime after such dis
s,lu,;ons. 10 cause Others 10 be elected; whereby
n, legislative powers, inc liable OF annihialion,
have returned 10 the people al large, for their ex-
.rcise; The State remaining, in The meantime, ex-
posei 10 all The dangers OF invasion from without
and convu>ions from within:
He has cnleavored TO prevent the population
Of these States; for that purpose obslrnctins the
hvs Of naturalization Of foreigners, refusing 10
fhatr
and raising The conditions Of new appropriations
Glands
He has distracted The administration OF justice,
BIZ refusing his assent 10 laws for establishing ju'
ciciary powers: -,
he has made judges dependent on his will
.lone for the tenure OF their Offices and the amount
and paymen, OF their salaries:
&c has erected multitude of new Offices, and
eul hnber swarms OF officers 10 harrass our peo-
pc and cal out their substance:
fle has KEEP, among us in time OF peace stand
mo armies without the consent OF our Lesisia-
lures:
He mas affected 10 render the military ndepen-
c,a.. and superior TO, The civil power.
He has combined with others 10 subject US 10
r.fsd,c.inn foreign TO our Constitution, and
acknowledged by our lawsi giving his assent
/ % hei1 acts 81 pretended legislation
For ouar,ering large bodies OF armed troops
among us:
For protecting them, b: mock trial, from pun
l. i.bment for any murders which they should COM
Il mi, on The inhabitants oi these States
For cutting Of cur trade with all paris OF The
world:
For imposing taxes on us, without our consent
For deprlvine us, in many casss, OF The oeneht
d! uial by jury:
Fortranspoing US beyond seas, 10 be tried Tor
pretended offences:
For aholishing the free system OF English laws
IN neishborns province; establishing therein
an arbitrary government, and enlarg'ns us ooen,
.ales, 50 as to render II al once an example and
/ i. instrument for introducing the same absolute
lan into these Colonies
For taking away our charters, abolishins our
most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally
b. forms Of our Governments:
Pofsuspendns our own Legislatures, and oe'
Caring themselves invested with power to legs
ale ioI US in all cases whatsoever
lie has abdicated government here, by declar.
as US out OF his protection and Waging wal
against Us.
Hehas plundercd our seas. ravaged our coasts
bum. our towns. and destroyed the lives oil Gu
people:
He is a, this time transporting large armies
o'sisn mercenaries, 10 complete The WORKS
L -ah, desoa,ion, and tyranny, already begun
srh circumstances Of cruelty and perhdy scarce
paralieled in the most barbarons ages, ana 10
! : unworthy the head Of a civilized nation:
he has constrained our fellow citizens taken
apive on the high seas, 10 bear arms agains
A.r country, TO become the execu,ioners OF thei
.snds and brethren, or 10 fall themselves by lhei
lands:
He has excited domestic instructions asains
s and has endeavored 10 bring on The inhabi
ants Of our frontiers The mercess Indian sava
sss whose known rule Of warfare is an nndis
insuished destruction Of all ages, sexes and con
fions.
In every stage Of these expressions we hav'
eiliuned for redress in the most humble terms
u, repeated petitions have been answered only
y repeated injury.
A prince whose character is thus marked By
''sly acl which may define ,yrant, is unfit 10 b
u ruler Of free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention 10 on
British brethren. We have warned them, from
Inc 10 time, OF attempts 10y their Legislature Il
,,iend an unwarrantabe jurisdiction over u.s.
wehave reminded them Of the circumstances o
aa' emigration and settlement here. We have
appealed TO their native justice and magnaniml
y and we have conjured them by The ties oil GU
anmon kindred, 10 d;savow these usurpations
talch would inevitably interrupt cur connexior
III correspondence. They, too have been dea
:. The voice Of justice and oil consequently
We We must, therefore, acquiesce in The necessity
.hch denounces our separation, and hold them
hVs hold the rest OF mankind enemies in war
Peace friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives Of the Uni
States Of America, 10 General Congress as
snaed, appealing 10 the Supreme Judge Of the
VIZ Tor Inc reclilude oil our intentions, do, in
name and by The authority OF the good people
,hsse Colonies, solemnly publish and declare
al these Colonies are, and Of right ought TO be
zee ana Lsdepeade0 States; that they are alb
n'ed from all allegiance to the British Crown
sahal all political connection between them and
Estate Of Great Britain is, and ought 10 be, To-
J.. dissolved; and that, as free and independent
.a sss' hsy have full power To levy war, con-
s.e peace, contract alliances, establish com
,:'ee, aud 10 do all other acts and things which
s..sFndenl States may Of right do. And, for The
.3pon o! this declaration, with firm reliance
= ,.G ns Projection OF Divine Providence, we mu.
,.May pledge 10 each other our lives, our fortunes
- our sacred honor.
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
ss1aLEs THOMPSON Secretary.