Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-09-26

For the Chronicle.
The declaration of Independence may
be said to be the chart 10 guide US in the
administration of the Government. The
true theory Of human rights is therein
practically applied to the affairs of civil
society. Certain things are regarded as
self evident, needing not the aid of rheto-
ric or logic, to convince the understand
ing of their truth. They are regarded
as admitted and primary truths, and not
within the reach of controversy. What
are they LIST, call men are created
equal +; Cd, they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inaliena6Le rights
and among them, are life, Her,y, and
the pursuit of happiness" Let us UeA
consider the force and effect of these
propositions, for they are the result OF
deep thought, on the part Of Thomas JEFF
ferson. Strike them from the declara-
tion, and that document would hardly
be worth the paper, upon which it is
written I; but with them, it is the price
less germ of human freedom. All men
are created equal. What do these words,
as used and understood, by Thomas JEFF.
ferson, mean? All, does not mean a
part, and men, does not mean the brute
creation. The word men, as used by
Jefferson, does and was intended by him
to embrace the whole human family
All subjects of human government, care
created equal" What do they import ?
and in what sense is equal here used ? 1t
is not here asserted hat all are created
alike, that all are created equal III ply
steal nature, or in mental endowment, or
that they will have the same complexion.
But it is asserted that all men are equal. in
respect to their rights, as subjects of Gov
eminent /; that they are entitled 10 equal
protection, in respect to their persons and
property /; and that law which is design.
ed to be the rule of action for the citizen
and subject, should make no distinction,
as to persons, and that by it, all should
be equally protected. l know it was as
serted by Mr.. Petit, a leading Democrat.
in the United States Senate, on the dis
cussion of the Kansas and Nebraska bill,
that the sentiment, as expressed in the
declaration, that "all men are created
equal" was a self evident lie, but this is
not 'tJeffersOnian Democracy" although
ii may be regarded as good Kansas and
Nebraska Democracy. 1t is well suited
to the popular sovereignty" doctrine as
understood by the advocates of that bill,
and it has been, and is now being pract-
caHy carried out, in the sense expressed
by Mr.. Petit, by the present Admins.
t~ratiOn, touching the organization and
government of the territory of Kansas.
l will proceed with the meaning of the
balance of self evident truths, quoted
above. "that they (men) are endowed
by their Creator with certain inaLiena5le
rights that among them, are life. liber-
ty, and the pursuit of happiness" The
right with which men are endowed, by
God, are here declared to be inaliena6le,
that's, not to be bartered, sold, %aliena-
ted, transferred or disposed of, by them.
selves or others, with or without a con-
sideration /; and that first among their
rights, are life; second, liberty, and third,
the pursuit of happiness. These are in.
herent rights belonging to every man,
without regard to condition or complex
ion. Then follows in the declaration the
corollary. ''that to secure these rights gov
ernments are instituted among men, de-
irving their Just powers from the consent
of the governed The true purpose and
Office Of government, are above defined
so clearly that nom need doubt their ap-