The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-05

SuLy 4. IT'S.

respect for the opinions 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 inalienable rights that
among these life, liberty, and the pursuit OF
happiness; that, to secure those rights, govern
ments are instituted among men, deriving their
just powers from the consent Of the governed that
whenever any form of government becomes de
structive OF these ends, it is the right Of the
people to alter or abolish it, and to institute
new government, laying its foundation on such
principles, and organizing its powers in such form,
as TO them shall seem most likely to effect their
safety and happiness Prudence, indeed, will die
tate that governments long established should not
be changed for light and transient causes; and,
cordingy, all experience has shown that mankind
are moro disposed to suffer, while evils suffer-
able, than to right themselves by abolishng the
forms to which they accustomed But when
long train Ut abuses and usurpations pursuing in
variably the same object cvince design TO reduce
them to 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
and such 10 now the necessity which constrains
them to alter their former systems of government.
The history Of the present King of Great Britain is
history OF repeated injuries and usurpations, oil
solute tyranny over these States. To prove this,
let facts be submitted to q candid world:
lie has refused his assent to laws the most whole
some and necessary for the public good
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws OF
immediate and pressing Importance, unless sus-
pended in their operation till his assent should be
obtained; and when go suspended he has utterly
neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the accom-
mediation of large districts of people, unless those
people would relnquish the right of representation
In the legisature-a right inestimable to them and
formidable to tyrants only. >..E ... '.. ....- D..
He has called together Legislative bodies at places
unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the de-
postory OF the public records for the sole purpose
ir,n lin, lyyth
sures
He has dissolved representative houses repeat
edly, for opposing with manly hrmness his inva-
sions on the rights of the people
lie has refused, for long time after such disso
luton, to others to be ected; whereby the
egis.ativc powers, incapable of annihilaton have
re.arned to the people at large for their exercise
che State remaining in the meantime exposed to
all the danger Of invasion from without and con
vulsions from within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population Of
these Sates for that purpose obstructing the laws
for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass
others to encourage their migration hither, and
raising the conditions of appropriations of
lands. t......
He has INSTRUCTED the administration of justice
by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judi
ciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will alone
for the tenure OF their offices, and the amount and
payment If their salaries.
He has erected multitude of new offices, and
sent hther swarms Of officers, to harass our peo-
pie, ana eat out their substance.
He has Kept among us, in times OF peace,
standing armies, without the consent Of our le-
gislatures.
He has affected to render the military indcpend.
ent of, and superior to- the civil power.
He has combined with others to subject US to a
jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unac-
knowledged by our laws, giving assent to their
acts Of pretended legislation:
For qdartering large bodies Of armed troops
among US. ......
For protecting them by mock trial from pun
lshment Tor any murders which they should COM
init on the inhabitants of these States.
For cutting off our trade with all parts OF the
world.
For imposing taxes US without consent.
For depriving Us, In many cases, OF the benefits
For transporting US beyond the seas to be tried
for pretended offences. ..."
For abolishng the free system of English laws
In a neighboring province, establishing therein an
arbitrary government; and charging tia bounda.
yies, SO ar 20 render it ut once example aud fiji
instrument for introducing the came absolute rule
into those colonies
For taking away our charters, abolishinge our
most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally
the forms of our government. r
For suspcndns our own legislatures, and de-
Ciaring themselves invested with power to lcgis-
late for us In all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicatcd government here by declaring
us out OF his protection, and wagng war against US.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts.
burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our
people
He ia, ut this time, transporting large armies Of
foreign crcenares to complete the works OF death,
desolation, and tyranny, already begun, with cir.
cumstances OF cruelty and perhdy scarcely parai-
ieled in the most barbarous ages, and totally un-
worthy the head Of civilized nation.
He has constrained fellow. citizens, taken
captive the high seas, to bear arms against their
country TO become the executioners OF their friends
and brethren, or fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic instructions amongst
Us, and has endcavorcd to bring on the inhabitants
of frontier the merciless Indian eavages, whose
known rulo OF warfare is an undistinguished de-
struction OF all nges, sexes, AID conditions.
In every etagc of thcse expressions We have petit
toned for redress in tho most humble terms our
repeated petitions have been answered only by re-
psaed injury prince whose character ia thus
marked by every act which may define tyrant,
is unfit to be the ruler of free people.
Nor have wo been wanting in attention to our
British brethren. We have warned them from
time to time Of attempts made by their legislature
to extend unwarrantabie jurisdiction We
have reminded them Of the circumstances of our
emigration and settlement here. We have appealed
to their native justice and magnanimity; we have
cenjured them by the ties of common kindred 10
disallow these usurpations, which would inevitably
interrupt our connexions and correspondence
They, too, have been deaf to the voice Of justice and
consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in
the necessity which demands our separation, and
hold them we hold the rest of mankind:
mics in war--in peace, friends,
We, therefore, the representatives Of the United
States of America, In General Congress assembled
appealing to the Supreme Judge Of the world for
the rectitude of our Intentions do, in the name
and by the authority of the good people of these
colonies, solemnly publish aud declare that these
United Colonies are and of right ought to be, free
and independent States. That they absolved
from all allegiance to the British crown, and that
all political connection between them and the State
OF Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dis
solvcd; and that, ns free and independent States,
they have full power to levy war, conclude peace,
contract alliances. establish commerce, and to do
aitothsr acts and things which independent States
may of right do. And for the supper, OF this decs
ton, with firm reliance on the protection of Di-
vine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other
our lives, our fortunes, and sacred honor.
JOHN HANCOCK.
NeiD Hampshire. es Smith,
John Bartlett, George Taylor,
William Whipple, James Wilson,
Matthew Thornton. George Ross
Massaehusstfs Bay. Dela,rare.
Samuel Adams, Cesar Rodney,
John Adams, MGeorge Read,
Robert Treat Paine, Thomas M'Kean.
Ebridge Gerry. Maryland.
Rhode Island. Samuel Chase
Stephen Hopkins, William Paca,