Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-06-29
DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE CE-
In Congress, July A, l778;
The Unanimous Declaration Of the Thirteen
United Stafes Of America.

~ Ig,l-I- -
WHEN. 10 the course Of human events, II
becomes necessary for one people to dissolve
the political bonds which have, connected
them with another, and to assume among the
powers Of The earth the separate and equal
station to which the laws Of nature and ma.
ture's God eptitle them, decent respect TO
the opinions Of mankind requires that they
should declare the causes which impel them
to the separation.
We bold these truths to be self evident,
that all men are created equal. that they are
endowed by their creator With certain una.
lienable rights; that among these are life,
liberty, and the.pursuit Of happiness. That
to secure these rights, governments are insti.
tuted among men, deriving their just powers
from the consent Of the governed I; that when.
ever any form Of government becomes de-
structive Of these ends. it is the right OF the
people to alter or abolish it, aud to institute
a new government, laying its foundation on
such principles, and organizing it's powers in
such form, ss TO them shall seem most likely
to effect their safety and happiness. Pru.
dence indeed, will dictate, that governments
long established should not be changed for
light and transient causes and. accordingly,
ell experience hath shown, that mankind
are more disposed to suffer while evils are
suferable, than to right themselves by abol.
ishing the forms to which they are accustom.
ed. But when long train Of abuses and
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same
object, evinces design to reduce them under
absolute despotism, il is their duty to throw
Of such government and to provide new
guards for their future security. Such has
been the patient suiferance of these colonies
and such is now the necessity which con-
strains them to alter the former system OF
government. The history Of the present
king Of Great Britain is history OF repeated
injuries aud usurpations, oil having 10 direct
object the establishment Of an absolute ty-
ranuy over these 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 psss
laws Of immediate and pressing Importance,
unless suspended 10 their operation, till his
assent should be obtained and when SO sus-
pended, he has utterly neglected to attend to
them. He has refused to pass other laws for
the accommodation Of large districts of peo.
pie. unless these people would relinquisb the
right OF representation in the legislature--a
right uest,mable to them, and formidable to
tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies
at places unusual uncomfortable, and distant
FROM the repository Of their public records,
for the sole purpose Of fatiguing them into
compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved representative houses re.
'psutedly,, for opposing, with,naanly dImness,
his invasions on the rights Of the people.
He has refused, for long time after such
dissolutions, to cause others to be elected
whereby the legislative powers, incapable of
anplhilation, have returned to the people Of
large for their exercise, the state remuiniug
in the meantime exposed to all the dangers
of invasion from without aud convulsons
within.
He has endeavored to prevent the popula-
tion Of these states; for that purpose OBJ
structing the laws for naturalization Of for.
eigners; refusing to pass Others to encourage
their migration hiiher, emo raising the coDdi.
tions Of new appropriations of land
He has obstructed the ADMINISTRATION Of
justice, by refusing his assent TO laws 70.
establishing 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 multitude of Offices, and
sent hither swarms of officers, 70 harass our
people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among US iu times Of peace
standing armies, without the consent of our
legislatures.
He has affected TO render the military in.
dependent OF, aud superior to, the civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us
to jurisdiction foreign to our constitution,
aud uuaek knowledged by our laws; giving his
assent to their acts OF pretended legislation
For quartering large bodies Of armed troops
among US:
For protecting them, by mock trial from
punishment, for any murders which they
should commit on the Inhabitants Of these
states:
For cutting Of our trade with oil parts ol
the world:
For imposing taxes 90 us without our con.
sent:
For depriving us. 10 mony cases, OF the
benefit of trial by jury:
For transporting us beyond seas, TO be
tried for pretended offences;
For abolishiog the free system Of English
iaws in neighboring province, establishing 6
therein an arbitrary government, and enlarge
ing its boundaries go as to render it at once
an example and fit instrument for introducing
the same absolute rule into these colonies
For taking away our charters, abolishing
our most valuable laws. md altering funda.
! tuo VI ouE
For suspending our own legislatures and
declaring themselves invested with power ia
legislate for US in all cases whatsoever:
He has abdcated government; here. by de
caring us out of his protection, and wagiOe
war against Us.
lie has plundered our seas, rsvaged oui
coasts. burnt our Towns, and destroyed the
lives Of our people. s.fr
He is at this time transporting large ar
mics Of foreign mereenariss, to complete the
works OF death, desolstion and tyranny al
ready begun, with circumstances of cruelty
and psr6dy, scarcely psralleled in the mosl
bsrbarous ages, and totally unworthy th'
head OF civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow citizens, ts
ken captive on the high seas. to bear arm'
against their country, to become the execu
ItioEers OF their friends and brethren, or Il
fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic iusurrection.
against US, aud has endeavored to bring or
! the Inhabitants Of our frontiers, the merciles
Indian ssvsges, whose known rule Of warfar,
is an undstinguished destruction OF oil ages
sexes and conditions.
In every stage Of these oppression, We hav
petitioned for redregs in the most bumbl