Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-07-04
DECLARATION
OF
[ n ID E p E N d E n G. z
In CoNGREss, July 4, 1776.

me CHtteu otuteS, Ht COHyFCSS uSot"tOteN-
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 assume 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 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-cvident: !:
that all men are created equal; that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights; that amang these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; /;
that, to secure these rights, governments are
instituted among men, deriving their Just
powers from the consent of the governed {;
that whenever any form of government be-
comes destructive 10 these ends it is the
right of the people to alter or to abolish it.
and to institute new government, laying its
foundation on such principles, and organz-
ing its powers in such form, as to them shall
seem most likely to effect their safety and
happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate
that governments long established should
not be changed for light and transient
causes and accordingly all experience hath
shown that mankind are more disposed to
suffer. while evils are suffcrable, than to
right themselves by abolishing the forms to
which they are accustomed. But when a
long train of abuses and usurpations, pursu-
ing invariably the same object, evincos a
design to reduce them under absolute des-
pot;sm, it is their right it is their duty, to
throw off such government and to provide
new guards for their future security. Such
has been the patient sutfcrance of these col
onics; and such is now the necessity which
constrains them to alter their former system
of government The history of the present
King Of Great Britain IS history of repeat
cd injuries and uSurpations, all having in
direct object the establishment of an absO-
lutte tyrranv over these states, To prove
this, let facts be submitted to a candid world
He has refused his assent to laws the
most wholesome and necessary for the pub
lie good.
He has forbidden his governors topass
laws of immediate and pressing importance,
unless suspended in their operation till his
assent should be obtained; and, when so
suspended, he has utterly neglected to at
tend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the
accommodation of large districts of people,
unless those people would rclinquish the
right of representation in the legislature
right incstimabIe to them, and formidable
to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies
at places unusual, uncomfortable, and dis
tant from the depository of their public re-
cords, for the sole purpose Of fatiguing them
into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved representative houses
repeatedly, for opposing, with manly firm
ness, his inyasious ON the rights of the peo-
pie.
He has refused, for long time aftersuch
dissolutions, to cause others to be elected :;
whereby the legislative powers, incapable of
annihiation, have returned to the people at
large for their exercise; the state remaining,
in the meantime, exposed to all the danger
of invasion from without and convulsions
within
He has endeavored to prevent the popu-
lation of these states; for that purpose OBJ
structing the laws for naturalization OF for
eigncrs, refusing to pass others to encourage
their migration hither, and raising the con-
ditions Of new appropriations Of lands.
He has obstructed the administration of
justice, by refusing his assent to laws for es-
tablishing Judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his
will alone for the tenure of their Offices and
the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of new offic-
es, and sent hither swarms of officers to mar
rass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace,
standing armies, without the consent Of our
Legislatures.
He has affected to render the military
Independent of and superior to the civil
power.
He has combined with others to subject
us to jurisdiction foreign to our constitu-
ton and unacknowledged by our laws; Civ
ing his assent to their acts of pretended leg
islation,-
For quartering large bodies Of armed
troops among us:
Fer protecting then, by mock trial,
from punishment for any murders which
they should commit on the inhabitants of
these states:
For cutting off our trade with all parts of
the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our
consent:
For depriving us, in many cases, of the
benefits of trial by jury:
For transporting us beyond seas, to be
tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free system of English
law in neighboring province, establishing
therein an arbitrary government, and en-
larging its boundaries so as to render it at