The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-07-25
DECLARATION or INDEs
pAaDENcE, JULY 1th, 1873.


rosise themselves from M apathetic
Indifference TO .heir own interests
which has become llabilual--to assume
among tbeir.ielloy.cltiaens that equal
station, aud demand from the govern
ment They support those equal rights
10 which the laws Of nature and ma.
ture's God entities lhem--a decent re.
spect for the opinions of mankind re.
qtires that they should declare the
eatlse that inpeis them 10 course SO
necessary TO their own protection.
We hold these truths TO be self
evident, that all men are created
equal that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable
rights; that among these are lie, lib.
erty, and the pursuit of happiness
That TO secure these rights govern
ments are instituted among men, de-
irving their just powers from the con.
sent Of The governed that whenever
the powers Of government become
destructive Of these, either through
the injustice or efficiency Of It's laws,
or through the corruption Of ITS al.
ministrators, il IL the right OF the peo-
pie 10 abolish such laws, and supsti.
iute such reforms as 10 them shall
seem most likely to effect their safety
and happiness. Prudence indeed will
dictate that laws long established
shall not be changed for Light and
trifing causes. aud, accordingly, al
experiences bath shown that mankind
are more disposed 10 suffer while evils
are sutfefabie. than 10 right them.
selves by abolishing the laws to which
they arc accustomed But when q
long train Of abuses and usurpaiious,
pursuing invariably the same object,
eVinces desire TO reduce a people
ander tbs absolute despotism oil com
binaiions, that. under the fostering
care OF government, aud with wealth
wrung from The people, have grown to
such gigantic proportions as 10 over
shadow all the hand, aud Nield ln aI.
most irresistible influence for their
OWN selfish purposes in all It's balls of
| legislation, II is thcir right. it is their
duty 10 throw off such iyranny. aud
provide new guards for their future
security.
Such has been the patient sufIerance
OF the producing classes OF these
/ States, aud such is now the necessity
which compels them 10 declare that
they will use every means save 4 re-
sort 10 arms TO overthrow this des-
/ potism of monopoly, aud To reduce
oil men claiming the protection OF
| American laws 10 an equality before
those laws, making the owner OF n
railroad rs amenadie thereto rs the
''veriest beggar that walks the streets.
the sun aud mir his sole inheritance
The history OF the present railway
monopoly is a history OF repeated in
juries aud oppression, all having IN
direct object the establishment OF an
absolate tyranny over the people OF
these States uneqaIlcd in any mon
arehy of the Old World, and having
its only parellel in history OF the Ne.
dieval ages, when the strong hand
was the only law aud the highways OF
commerce were taxed by the Fenlal
ISarons, who from their. .slrongholds,
surrounded by their armies OF vassaIs.
could levy such tribute upon the irav-
eler rs their own wills alone should
dictate. To prove this. let facts be
submitted TO candid world:
They have influenced our executive
officers TO refuse their assent 10 laws
the most wholesome and necessary
for the public good, and when such
laws haye been passed they have Ut
tsrly refused TO obey them.
They haye procured the passage OF
other laws for their own benefit alone,
10y which they have put untold mil
lions into their own Golfers, 10 the
injury of the entire commercial aud
industrial interests OF the country.
They have influenced legislation to
snit themselves, hy bribing venal leg.
isiators TO hetray the true interests OF
their constituents, while others have
been kept quiet by the compliment OF
free passes.
They have repeatedly prevented the
reelection of representatives, for OPP
posing with manly firmness their in
vasion of the peoples rights.
They have by false representations
and sabterfnge induced the people to
subscribe funds TO build roads, whose
rates when built, are 20 exhorhilant
that in many instances transportation
by private conveyance is less burden
some. 8 9 Afs
They have procured charters by
which they condemn and appropriate
our lands without adequate compen-
sation therefor, and arroganlly claim
that by virtue Of these charters they
are absolutely above the control OF
legal enactments.
They have. procured a law Of Con.
gress by which they have dispossesed
1 hundreds of farmers of the homes that
by years OF toll they have built up; L
have induced Others TO mortgage their
farms for roads peyer 10 be built, and
after squandsiing the money thus oh
tained, have left their victilns TO the
mercy ofcourts over Which they held
absolute sway
They have obstruete9 the admins.
tration Of justice by injpnctions pro-
cured from. venal judges, by legal
/ qnibbles and appeals IRON court To
court, with intent TO wear out or ruin
tho prosecutor, openly avowing their
determination TO make it SO terrible
for the public to prosecute them that
they will not dare undertake il.
They have virtually made judges
dependent on their will alone. and
have procured their appointment for
the, express purpose OF reversing de.
cision of the highest court of the ma
| La, IL, u.hi1h rnilliona Nrara srained