Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-07-02
Declaration OF independence
SIGNED July 4TH, 1776


dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another, and to as
sumo among the powers Of the earth the
seperate and equal station to which the
laws Of nature and Of natures God entitle
them a decent respect to the opinions of
mankind requires that they should de-
clare the causes which impel them to the
separation.
We hold these truths to be sclf-evi-
! deut-that all men are created equal
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unaienablc rights; that
among these are life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness that to secure these
rights governments are instituted among
men, deriving their just powers from the
governed that Whenever any form Of
/ Government becomes destructive to these
ends; it is the right of the people to al
/ ter and abolish it and to institute new
government, laying its foundation on
such principles, and organizing its pow
ers 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 events are suterable,
/ than to right themselves by abolishing
the forms to which they are accustomed.
But when long train of abuses and
usurpations; pursuing invariably the
same object, cvinccs design to reduce
them under absolute despotsm, 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 suferings of these
colonies and such is now tie necessity
which constrains them to alter their for
mer systems Of government. The his
tory of the present king of Great Britain
is history of repeated injuries and u
surpatons, all having in direct object
the establishment of an absolute tyranny
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.
lie has forbidden his government to
pass laws of immediate and pressing i'm
portancc, unless suspended in their OPP
erations till his assent should be obtain,
cd and when 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 these people would relin-
quish the right of representation in the
legislaturc--a right iacstmatle to them,
and formidable to tyrants only.
lie has called together Legislative bod
les at places, unusual, uncomfortable,
aud distant from tho depository Of their
public records, for the sole purpose of
fatiguing them into compliance with his
measures. @
lie has dissolved representatives hous-
es repeatedly, for opposing with manly
irmness, his invasions on the rights of
the people. ., .-aa.--
He has refused, Tor a long time after
such dissolutions, to cause others to be
elected whereby the legislative powers,
incapable of humiliation, have returned
to the people at large, for their exercise;
the State remaining in the mean time,
exposed to the dangers of invasion from
without and commissions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the
population of these States /; for that pur-
pose obstructing the laws for the natu.
raization of foreigners refusing to pass
others to encourage their emigration
hither, aud raising the conditions of new
appropriations of land.
He has Distracted the administration
Of Justice, by refusing his assent to the
laws for 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. % ."a ra'
lie has erected a multitude Of new Offices
and sent hithcr swarms Of officers, to harass
our people, and eat ont their substance.
He has kept among us in times Of peace
standing armies without the consent of our
Legislatures.
liz has affected to render the military indo
pendent Of, and superior to, the civi! power
He has combined with others to suhect N
to jurisdiction foreign to our constitution
and urack nowledged by our laws; giving
his assent to their acts of pretended leGisia
ton. EE-
For quartering large bodies of armed
troops among us: ....
! For protecting them by mock trial
from punishment of any murders which
they should commit on the inha bitant:
of these : aes
For cutting off our trade with al
parts of the world.
For imposing taxes on rs without ou
consent
For depriving US in many cases,
the benefit of trial by jury:
For transporting US beyond seas, t,
be tried for pretended offences
For abolshing the free system Of En-
glsh laws in neighboring province
establishing therein an arbitatry govern
ment, and enlarging its. boundaries, 81
Y rs to render it at once an example anC
fit instrument Cor introducing the eamt
. ahehl,,t a rnIa into those lolonips .L..