The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-06-29
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4TH, ire.
A Decaaratios 5y the Reprssenfatives Of tie Uni-
ted ,Ssates, N Congress Assembled.

them Win announcer, anu 10 assume among
the powers of the earth the separate and
equal station to which the laws of nature
and of natures God entitle them, decent
respectfo 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 evident
that all men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their creator with certain una
lienable rights; that among these relife,
liberty, and che pursuit of happiness That
to secure these rights, governments are in
stituted among men, deriving their Just
powers from the consent Of the governed;
that whenever any form of government be-
comes destructive of these ends, il is the
right of the people to alter or to abolish It,
and to institute new government, laying
its foundation on such principles, and or.
ganizing its powers in such form, as TO them
shall seem most likely TO effect their safety
and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will die.
tate 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 safferable, than to
right themselves by abolishing the forms to
which they are accustomed. But when a
long train of abuses and usurpations, pur-
suing invariably the same object, evinces q
design to reduce them under absolute des-
potism, 1t is their right, it is their duty TO
| throw off such government aud to provide
new guards for their future security. Such
has been the patient sufferance Of these col
onies; aud such is now the necessity which
constrains them to alter their former systems
of government. The history of the present
king of Great Britain is q history of re-
peated injuries and usurpations, all having
in direct object the esta bIshment of an alb
solute 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. ,s >s
He has forbidden his governors to pass
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 legislatures
right inestimable to them and formidable to
tyrants only. He has called together legis-
lative bodies at places unusual, uncomfor.
table, and distant from the depository of
their public records, 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 invasions on the rights of the PEG.
pie.
He has refused for 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 remain
ing IN the meantime exposed 20 all the dan
ger Of invasion from without and eonvul-
sions within.
He has endesvored to prevent the popu
lation of these states; for that purpose OBJ
structing the laws for the naturalization of
foreigners; refusing to pass others to encour-
age their migration hither, and raising the
conditions of new appropriations of lands.
He has DISTRACTED the administration of
Justice by refusing his assent 10 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 Offices,
and sent hither swarms of officers to harrass
our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among US, in times of peace,
Iar;aIo+nra
10 hos ofrac.ea ~ ra,aar tho r,;r,.
aanardsn+ Of md .nnar;or r. ~ 80,
,,n,,or - ~
He has eomb;nad with others ~ srh;oc,
M IN a ipr;sd;ctian fn,e;gn ~ onr oons;,t,.
t;on and nnacknowlado ed nv o,,r jswa -
mo HIS assent 10 their acts of nr.,andsd lac.
isletion. - -.
For ouarteripg large bodies of armed
t-oops among us:
Fer protecting them. bv a mock trial. from
punishment for anv murders which thew
should commit ON the Inhabitants of these
states:
For cutting off our trade with all narts 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
laws in a neighborinp province. establishinp
therein an arbitrary government, and en-,
la rging it's boundaries, so as to render it at
once an example and fit instrument for in.
PRODUCING the same absolute rule into these
colonies:
For taking away our charters. aholishinr
our most valuable laws. and altering funda,
mentally the powers of our governments
For suspending our own legislatures. and
declaring themselves invested with mower to
fa- NO IN oil oaaas ,,,ha.s,arar