The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-04
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
In coscHrss, jury 4, l77e.


among the powers of the earth the separate and equal
station which the laws of Nature and Nature God en-
title them decent respect to the opinions OF mankind
requires that they should declare the causes which impel
them to the separation
We hold these truths to be selfeyiden; that all men
created equal that they endowed by their Crea
tor with certain unaenable rights and among these are
life liberty and the pursuit of happiness that to secure
these rights governments Instituted among men, de-
irving their Just powers from the consent of the govern
ed that whenever any form of government becomes de-
structve of these ends it the right OF the people to
alter abolish it, and TO institute government,
laying its foundation such principles, and organizing
its powers in such FORM to them shall seem most like
ly to effect their safety and happiness Prudence indeed
will dictate that long established should not
be changed for light and transient and, accord
ngly all experience hath shown that mankind more
disposed suffer- while evils suerable than to right
themselves by aboshing the forms to which they
customed. But when long train of abuses and usurpa
tons, pursuing invariably the object evnces de-
sign to reduce them under absolute despotsm it their
right it is their duty to throw off such government and
to provide guards for their future security Such has
been the patient suerance of these colonies and such
is the necessity which constrans them TO alter their
former systems of government The history of the
present King of Great Britain is history of repeated I'M
ures and usurpatons all having in direct object the
Establishment of absolute tyranny over the States To
prove this, let facts be submitted to candid world
He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome
and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws OF imme
date and pressing importance unless suspended in their
/,
suspended he has utterly neglected to attend to them
He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation
of large districts of people, unless those people would
renquish the right of representation in the Legislatures
right nesmable to Them and formidable to yrants only
He has called together legislative bodies at places
sual uncomfortable and distant from the depository of
their public records for the sole purpose of agung them
into compliance with his
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for
opposing with manly frmness his invasion the rights
of the people.
He has refused for long time after such dissoutons
to others to be elected whereby the legislative
powers incapable of annhilaon have returned to the
people at large for their exercise State remaining in
the time exposed to all the danger of invasion from
without and commissions within.
He has endeayored to prevent the population of these
States for that purpose obsructng the laws for natural
zaon OF foreigners refusing to pass Others to encourage
their migration hither and raising the conditions of new
appropriations of lands.
He has INSTRUCTED the administration of justice by
fusng his assent to laws for establishing Judiciary powers
He has made judges dependent his will alone for the
tenure of their offices and the amount and payment of
their salaries.
He has erected multitude of offices, and sent
hher of officers to harass people and cat out
their substance
He has kept among u.s. 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.
He has combined with Others to subject to jurs
dcton foreign constitution and unacknowledged
by our laws giving his assent to their acts Of pretended
legislation:
For quarerng large bodies Of armed troops among us
For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment
for any murders which they should commit the inhab
itants of these States
For cutting of trade with all parts of the world
For imposing taxes without consent
For deprving 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 enargng its boundaries to render
1T at once an example and fit instrument for introducing
the same absolute rule into these colonies
For taking away charters, aboshng most vau-
able laws and altering fundamentally the powers of
governments
For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring
themselves invested with power to egsate for in all
cases whatsoever
He has abdcated government here by declaring us out
of his protection, and waging against
He has pundered our seas ravaged coasts, burnt
our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people
He Is at this time transporting large armies of foreign
mercenares to complete the work of DEATH desoation
and tyranny already begun, with circumstances of
city and perfdy scarcely paraeled in the most bar
barous ages and totally unworthy the head of civilized
nation.
He has constrained ellowcitizens taken captive
on the high to bear against their country to
become the executone of their friends and brethren
to fall themselves by their hands
He has excited domestic instructions amongst us and
has endeavored to bring the inhabitants of from
tiers the merciles Indian savages whose known rule of
warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages
sexes, and conditions
In every stage of these expressions have petitioned
for redress in the most humble terms repeated petit
tions have been answered only by repeated injury
prince whose character is thus marked by every act
which may define yrant is 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 unwar-
rantable jurisdiction We have reminded them
OF the circumstances of emigration and settlement
here We have appealed to their native justice and mag
nanmity and have conured them by the ties of our
common kindred, to disavow these usurpations which
would inevitably interrupt connexions and CORE
spondcnce. They too have been deaf to the voice of
justice and consanguiny. We must therefore acuuiesce
in the necessity which denounces separation and hold
them hold the rest of mankind enemies 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 rcottude of our
intentions do in the and by the authority of the
good people Of these colonies soemnly publish and de-
clare that these united colonies are and of right ought
to be- free and independent States that they absovcd
from oil allegiance to the British Crown and that all po
htca connection between them and the State of Great
Britain is, and ought to be- totally dissolved and that
free and independent States they have full power to levy
war, conclude peace contract alliances establish com
merce and to do all other acts and things which indie
pendent States may Of right do And for the support
this declaration with firm reliance the protection of
Divine Providence mutually pledge to each other
lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
JOHN HANCOCK.
Ne,pH rnar. Jancs Smith