The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-06-29
Declaration of independence.
In CONGRESS-, July 4, l776.
The Unanimous Declaration Of
fE5e Thirteen United states of
America.

America
WHEN, in the course of human events,
it 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 opinions Of
mankind requires that they should declare
the causes which impel them to the sepa-
ration.
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with GER
tain uualienable rights that among these
are life, liberty, and the pursuits OF hap
piness. That to secure these rights, gov
ernments are Instituted among men. de-
irving their Just powers from the consent
OF the governed that whenever any
form of government becomes destructive
of these ends, it is the right of the people
10 alter or to abolish it, and to institute
new government, laying lis foundation
on such principles, and organizing It's
powers in such form as to them shall
seem most likely to effect their safely
and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will
dictate, that governments long established
should not be changed for light and
transient causes and according gly all ex-
perience hath shown, that mankind are
more disposed to suffer while evils are
sufferable, than to right themselves by
abolishing the forms to which they are
accustomed. But when long train of
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invarl-
ably the same object, evinces a desigrto
reduce them under absolute despotism, it
is their right, it is their duty to throw of
such government, and to provide new
guards for their future security. Such
has been the patient suiierance of these
colonies; and such is now the necessity
which constrains them 10 alter their for
mer systems of government. The history
of the present king of Great Britain is a
history ofrepeated injuries and usurpa-
lions, all having in direct object the estab-
lishIhent of an absolute tyranny over these
states. To prove this, let facts be sub
mltted to candid world
He has refused his assent 10 laws the
most wholesome and necessary for the
public good.
lie has forbidden his governors to pass
laws of Immediate and pressing impor-
tance, unless suspended in their opera
lion, till his assent should be obtained /;
and when so suspended, he has utterly
neglected to attend to them. He has re-
fused to pass other laws for the accommo-
dalion of large districts ofpeople, unless
those people would relinquish the right
of representation in the Legislature
right incslinlable to d EN-, and formidable
TO tyrants only.
lie 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.
lie has dissolved representative houses
repeatedly, for opposing. with manly
firmness, his inyaslons on the rights OF the
people.
He has refused for a long time after
such dissolutions. TO cause others to be
elected; whereby the Legislative powers,
incapable Of annihilation, have returned
to the people at large, for their exercise,
the state remaining, in the mean time, ex-
posed to ali the dangers 6f invasion from
without, and convuIsion within.
lie has endeavored to prevent the pop
ulaiion of these states; for that purpose
oostructng the laws Of naturalization ol
foreigners refusing to pass others TO en-
courage their migration hither, and raising
the conditions Of new appropriations Of
lands.
He has obstructed the administration
OF Justice, by refusing his assent to law: