The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-04
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
\ coSoREss, JuIr 4, lT7e,

among the powers of the earth the separate aud equal
station TO which the laws of Nature and Natures God en-
title them, decent respect to the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the which mPel
them 10 the separation.
We hold these truths to be sefevdent that all men
are created equal that they endowed by their Cca
tor with certain unaenabe rights and among these
life liberty and the pursuits Of happiness that to secure
these rights governments are instituted among men, de-
irving their just powers from the consent Of the govern
ed that whenever any form OF becomes de-
struotive OF these ends it il the right Of the people to
alter or to abolish IT, and to institute government
laying its foundation such principles, and organizing
its powers Ia such FORM TO them shall most like
y to effect their safety add happiness Prudence indeed
will dictate that governments long established shouldnot
be changed for light and transient causes and aecor
dinghy all experience hath shown that mankind are moro
disposed to suffer while evils suerablc than TO right
themselves by aboshing the forms to which they
customed. But when long train Of abuses and usurpa
lions, pursuing invariably the object, eynces de-
sign TO reduce them under absolute despots It Is their
right 1t Is their duty to throw off such government and
TO provide new guards for their future security Such has
been the patient suerance Of these colonies and such
is the necessity which oonstains them to alter their
former systems of government The history OF the
present King of Great Britain IL history of repeated In
uries and usurpaons all having in direct object the
Enlistment of an 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. es
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of imme
date and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their
/
so suspended he 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
renqnsh the right Of representation in the egsaturea
right inestmablc to Them and formidable to tyants dly
He has called together legislative bodies at places unu-
sual uncomfortable and distant from the depository OF
their public records for the sole purpose OF atguing them
into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for
opposing with manly mncss his invasion on 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 humiliation, have returned to the
people at large for their exercise State remaining in
the time exposed TO oil the danger Of invasion from
without and commissions within.
He has endevored to prevent the population OF these
States for that purpose obstrucng the laws for natural
ion of foreigners refusing to pass others to encourage
their migration hher and raising the conditions Of new
appropriations of lands
He has obstructed the administration of justice by
sng 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 OIL
their salaries
He has erected multitude of new Offices, and sent
hither of officers to harass people and eat out
their substance.
He has kept among u.s. in times of peace, standing ar
miles, 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 us to juris
ioon foreign to our constitution, and nnacknowe,ged
by laws giving his assent to their acts Of pretended
legislation
For quarering large bodies of armed troops among
For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment
for any murders which they should commit the nhab
ants of these States:
For cutting off our trade with all parts Of the world
For imposing taxes without our consent
For dcpIiving in many cases. of the benefits OF trial
by jury
For transporting us beyond seas, to be tried for pre-
tended offences
For abolishing the free system of English laws in a
neighboring province, establishing therein arbitrary
government and charging its boundaries to render
it at example and fit instrument for introducing
the same absolute rule into these colonies
For taking away charters, aboishing most vau
able laws and altering fundamentally the powers OF our
governments
For suspendng our own legislatures, and declaring
themselves invested with power to legslae for us In all
cases whatsoever.
He has abdcated government here by declaring out
| of his protection, AMI waging war against us
He has pundered our seas ravaged our coasts burnt
towns, and destroyed the lives Of our people.
He is this time transporting large armies of foreign
mercenaes to complete the work of DEATH desoation,
and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruz
city and perfdy scarcely paraleed in the most bar
barous ages and totally unworthy the head of civilized
nation.
He has constrained fcow-c citizens, taken captive
the high seas to bear against their country, to
become the executioners Of their friends and brethren
to fall themselves by their hands.
lie has excited domestic Instructions amongst u.s. and
has endcavored to bring the inhabitants of from
tne nefcllehs WHOSE VI
warfare is an undstinguishcd destruction Of all ages,
sexes, and conditions.
every stage of these expressions have petitoncd
for redress in the humble terms repeated petit
tions have been answered only by repeated injury.
prince whose character is thus marked by every act
which may define tyrant is unfit to he the ruler of
free people.
Nor have been wanting in attention to British
brethren We have warned them from time to time of
attempts made by their legislature to extend
iantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them
Of the circumstances of emigration and settlement
here We have appealed to their native justice and mag
nanmity and have conjucd Them by the tics Of
common kindred, to disavow these usupations, which
would inevitably interrupt connexions and cores
pondencc, They too, have been deaf to the voice Of
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 rcctitude of
intentions, do in the and by the authority of the
good people of these colonies solenpy publish and de-
clare that these united colonies are and Of right ought
TO be- free and independent States; that thoy avcd
from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all po
litca connection between them and the State Of Great
Britain is and ought to be- totally dissolved and that
free and independent States they have power oevy
war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish COM
merce and to do oil other acts and things which indie
pendent States may Of right do And for the support of
this declaration with firm reliance the protection of
Divine Providence mutually pledge to each other
lives our fortunes and sacred honor.
HANCOCK
N,y UrnpstIS. Smith,
Josiah 2rllt, Sese isylor,