Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-07-12
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
July 4M, l776.


lands which have connected them with another
and TO assume among the powers of the earth, III
separate and equal station TO which the laws of ma
ture and of natures God entitle them, decent re
spect for the opinions of mankind requires that they
should declare the causes which impel them TO tn,
separation.
We hold these truths to be selfevident--that al
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 hap
plness. That to secure those rights. governments
are instituted among men, deriving their just pow
ers from the consent of the governed that whenever
any form OF government becomes destructive Of
these ends, 1t is the right of the people to alter
10 abolish II, and to institute a new government,
laying It's foundation such principles, and orga-
nlllng lis powers in such form, as to them shall
seem most likely 10 effect their safety and happi-
ness. Prudence, indeed will dictate that govern
mentS long established should not be changed for
light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all
experience hath shown that mankind are more dis
posed TO suffer, while evils are suilerable than to
right themselves by abollShing the forms TO which
they are accustomed. But when long train of a
buses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same
npject, evince design TO reduce them TO absolute
despotsIn II Is their duty. 10 throw off such gov
eminent and to provide new guards for their future
security. Such has been the patient suflerance Of
these colonies and such is now the necessity which
cohstrains them TO alter their former systems of gov
ernment. The history of the present King of Great
Britain is history of repeated injuries and usurpa-
Tons, all having iii direct object the establishment
OF an absolute tyranny over these States To provo
this, let facts be submitted 10 a candid world
lie has refused his assent 10 laws the most
wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of
and pressing importance, unless sls-
pended IN their operation till his assent should bs
obtained; and when suspended he has utterly
neglected to attend to them
lie has refused TO pass other laws for the accom-
mediation of large districts of people, unless those
people would reinquish the right Of representation
in the legslature-a right inestimable to them and
10 tyrants only.
lie has called together legislative bodies at pla.
ces unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the
depository of their public records, for the sole pur
pose of fatlgulng them into compliance with his
measures.
lie has dissolved representative houses repeated
ly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasion,
on the rights OF the people.
He has refused, Tor long time after such disso-
luiiuns, 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 meantime exposed to all
danger of invasion from without and commissions
from within.
lie has endeavored to prevent the population of
these States Tor that purpose obStructing the laws
for naturalization of foreigners refusing to pass O.
theirs TO encourage their migration hitler and rails
ing the conditions of new appropriations of lands
lie has INSTRUCTED the administration of Justice
by refusing his assent TO laws for establishing iudi
ciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his will alone
Tor the tenure of their Offices and the amount and
payment of their salaries.
10 hoe cd
sent hitber swarms of officers to harass our peone
and eat out their substance
lie has Kept among us, in times of peace, stand
Ing armies without the consent Of our legislatures
lie has effected 10 render the military indepen-
dent of, and superior to, the civil power
He has combined with others 10 subject us 10 y
jurisdiction, foreign TO our constitution and unac-
knowIedged by our laws, giving assent to their acts
Of pretended legislation.
For quartering large bodies of armed troops 4.
mong
For protecting them by mock trial from pnp-
ishment for any murders which they should COM
nit on the inhabitants Of these States.
For cutting OFT our trade with all parts of tho
world.
For imposing taxes us without our consent.
For depTlvlng US, in many cases, OF the benefits
ofrial by Jury.
For transporting us beyond the seas to be tried
for pretended offences
For aboilshlng the free system of English laws
III a neighborng Province, establishing therein an
arbitrary government; and charging its boundaries
so as 10 render II at once example and fit instru
ment Tor introducing the same absolute rule INTO
these colonies.
For taking away our charters aboshiDu cur
most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally tho
forms Of our government
For SuspenJlng our own legislatures, and declar-
ing themselves invested with power to lepislate for
US in all cases whatsoever
He has abdicated government here by declaring
us OF, of his protection, and waging war agaips,
lie has plundered our seas. ravared our coos,s
burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our
people
lie is, at this time. transporting large armies Of
foreign nercenarleS 10 complete the works of death
desoatlon and tyranny already begun with crcum
stances of cruelty and peridy scarcely paraleled in
the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy tho
head OF Il civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow citizens, taken
captive the high seas, to bear arms against their
country to become the eXecutioners oftGeir friends
and brethren. or fall themselves by their hands.
( He has excited domestic Instructions AMONGST
us, and has endeavOred 10 bring on the inhabian;,
Of our frontier the mercilesS Indian savages whose
known rule of warfare is an undistinrnished de-
strucuon of all ages, sexes and conditions
In every stage Of these expressions we have pc
tiiOned for redress in the most humble terms: our
repeated petitions have beeh answered only by re-
pcated injury. prince whose character is thus
marred by every act which may define tyrant. il
unfit to be the ruler of a free people
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our
British brethren. We have warned them from
time to time of attempts made by their legislature
TO extend an unwarrantabIe Jurisdiction over US
We have reminded them Of the circumstances ne
our emigration and settlement here We have an
peaed 10 their native justice and marnanirnitv. we
have conjured them by the ties of common kindred