The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-07-04

liz CONGRESS. JnLY 1. l71e.

eessary for people 10 dissolve the political bands which
have connected them with another and 10 among
the powers of the earth the separate and equal station TO
which the laws Of Nature and Of Natures God entte
them decent respect TO the opinions Of mankind requires
that they should declare the which mpel them 10
the separation.
We hold these truths be sefevident that all men
created equal that they endowed by their Creator
with certain unaienable rights; that among these
life liberty, and the pursuit OF happnessj that TO
rights govern instituted among men, de-
irving their just powers from the consent of the governed
that whenever any form of government becomes de-
structve Of these ends ii is the right of the people TO
alter abolish it. and TO institute government
las ing its foundation such principles and organizing
its powers in such FORM them shall most likely
effect their safety and happiness Prudence indeed win
dictate that governments long established should not be
changed for light and transient causes and accordingly
all experience hath shown that mankind more dis
I posed suffer- while evils suferabe than to figh;
themselves 10y abolshng the forms 10 which they
fustonied. But when long train Of abuses and usurpa
tons pursuing invariably the object, evnces de-
sign 10 reduce them under absolute desposm is their
right il Is their duty to throw oil such government and
provide guards for their future security Such has
been he patient suerance Of these colonies and such
now the necessity which constrains them TO alter their
former systems OF The history of the present
King of Great Britain is history of repeated injuries and
usupaiions, all having in direct object the establishment
of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove this
4 let facts tie submitted to candid world.
He has refused his assent 10 laws the most wholesome
and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his governors TO pass laws Of imme-
diae and pressing importance unless suspended in their
I operation till hs assent should be obtained and when
suspended he has utterly neglected attend them
He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation
Of large districts of people, unless those people would
renqush the right OF representation in the legislature
right inesmable to them, and formidable to tyrants
only.
lie has called together legislative bodies places
sua uncomfortable, and distant from the depository Of
their public records for the sole purpose Of tgung them
linz lions a,pith hiu ppa et,rac
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for
opposing with manly rmness his nvasions the rights
OF the people.
He has refused, for long time after such dssoutions to
Others be eleced whereby the legislative powers
incapable of humiliation, have returned the people
large for their exereise-the State remaining in the
time exposed TO all the danger of invasion from without
and commissions within.
lie has endeavored prevent the population of these
States for that purpose obstrucng the laws for natural
zaton Of foreigners refusing pass Others to encourage
their migration hther and raising the conditions Of new
appropriations OF lands.
He has obsrncted the administration of justice, by
usiug his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers
lie has made judges dependent bis will alone for the
tenure OF their offices and the amount and payment of their
salaries.
He has erected a multitude Of new Offices and sent
hther swarms Of officers harass people and eat out
their substance
He has kept among us, in times OF peace standing
mics, without the consent of our legislature.
He has affected to render the military independent Of
/ and superior to, the civil power.
lie has combined with others to subject uris-
diction foreign TO constitution and unacknowedged
by laws giving his assent to their acts of pretended
| legislation:
For qnprterng large bodies of armed troops among
For protecting then, by mock trial. from punishment
for murders which they should commit the nhab-
itants of these States
For cutting OFF trade with all parts of the world
| For imposing taxes US without our consent
For deprging in many cases of the benefits of trial
| by jury:
| For transporting beyond seas TO be tried for pre-
| tended offences:
For abolishing the free system of English laws in
neighborng province establishing therein arbitrary
government and charging its boundaries to render
it at example and tit instrument for introducing
the same absolute rule into these colonies
For taking away our charters abolishng most vau-
able laws, and alterng fundamentally the powers of
governments:
themselves invested with power 10 legsaie for in all
cases whatsoever.
He has ahdcated government here by declaring out
OF his protection, and wagng war against us,
He has pundered ravaged coasts burnt
towns aud destroyed the lives of our people
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign
mercenaries complete the work OF DEATH desola and
ranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and
perfdy scarcely parleed in The barbarous ages and
totally unworthy the head Of D civilized nation.
He has constrained flowcitzens, taken captive on
the high seas bear against their country, TO be-
the eXecutouers OF iheiGwfiends and brethren
fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic instructions amongst US and
has endeavored to bring The inhabitants Of from
tiers the mercess indian savages whose known rule Of
aud conditions.
In every stage Of these expressions have pettioned
for redress in the most bnmbla terms repeated petit
tons have been answered only by repeated injury.
prince whose character is thus marked by every
which mag define tyrant is unfit TO be the ruler oa free
/ people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British
brethren. We have warned hom from time time of
attempts made by their legislature TO extend an unwar-
rant,be jurisdiction We have reminded them
OF the circumstances OF emigration aud settlement
here haze 0ppeaied their native Justice and mag
nanimy, and have oonIre3 them hy the ties of our
common kindred to disavow these psurpGtioas which
would inevitably Interrupt our connexions and cores
/ pondence They, too, have been deaf the voice OF
in the necessity which denounces separations and hold
them hold the of manknd--enemies in war; in
] peace friends
We therefore the representatives OF the United States
of America, in General Congress assembled appealing
the Supreme Judge of the World the rectude of
intentions do, in the and BY the authority Of the
good people of these colonies soemny publish and de-
clare that these united colonies are and of right ought
10 be free and independent Sates that they absoyed
itica connexion between them and the State of Great
Britain IL, and ought to be- totally dissolved aud that as
free ana independent States they have full power to levy
war conclude peace contract alliances establish commerce.
and to do all other acts and ipes which independent
States may of right do. And for the support OF his dec
laaton, with hrm reliance the protection Of Divine
Providence mutually pledge 10 each other our lives
our fortunes, and our sacred honor
JOHN HANCOCK
Nep Hampshire. James Smith,
Josiah Bartlett, George Taylor
William Whppe James Wilson
Matthew Thornton George Ross
Massachusetts Brv DolapaEe