Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-07-18
DECLARATION OF INOEPEND-
ENCE.
by THE FARMERS.

When. in the course OF human events, it
becomes necessary for u class Of people. suf-
fering from long-contlnued systems of op-
preston and abuse, TO rouse themselves from
an apathetic indifference TO their own inter-
ests, which has become habtual; to assume
among their fellow-citizens that equal station,
and demand from the government they sup
port, those equal rights to which the laws of
nature and of natures God entitle them; u
decent respect for the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the causes
that impel them to course so necessary to
their own protection.
We hold these truths TO be sclf-evident,
that all men are created eqnal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain in
alienable 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 tho governed; that when
ever the powers Of q government become de-
structve of these, either through the Injustice
OF inefticieucy of its laws, or through the
corruption Of its administrators, is the right
of the people to abolish such laws, and insti-
tute such reforms rs to them shall seem most
likely to effect their safety and happiness.
Prudence indeed will indicate that laws long
established shall not be changed for light and
trifing causes and accordingly, all expert
ence hath shown that mankind are more dis
posed TO suffer while evils are siderable,
than to right themselves by abolishing tho
laws to which they are accustomed. But
when n long train OF abuses and usurpations,
pursuing invariably the same object, ovinces
desire to reduce people under the abso-
lutte despotism Of combinations that, under
the fostering care of government, and with
wealth wrung from the people, have grown
TO such gigantic proportions rs to overshadow
all the land, and WELD an almost irresistible
influence for their own selfish purposes in
all its halls of legislation, 1t is their riSht-t
is their duty-to throw of such tyranny, and
provide new guards for their further securi-
ty.
Such has been the patient suflerance Of the
producing classes of these states, and such is
now the necessity which oompels them to
declare that they will use every means save
resort to arms TO overthrow this dcspotism
OF monopoly, and to reduce all men claiming
the protection of American laws TO an equal
ity before those laws, making the owner of n
railroad as amenable thereto rs the "veriest
beggar that walks the Streets the sun and air
his sole Inheritance
The history of the present railway monop-
oily is n history of repeated injuries and OPP
preston, all having in direct object the estab-
lishment Of an absolute tyranny over the
people Of these states unequaled in any mon
archy of the Old World, and having its only
parallel in the history OF the medieval ages,
when the strong hand was the only law, and
the highways of commerce were taxed by the
feudal barons, who, from their strongholds,
surrounded by their armies Of vassals, could
levy such tribute upon the traveller rs their
own wills alone should dictate. To prove
this let facts be submitted to candid world
They have influenced our executive Off
GERS, to refuse their assent TO the laws the
most wholesome and necessary for the public
good, and when such laws have been passed
they have utterly refused to obey them.
They have procured the passage of other
laws, for their own benefit alone, by which
they have put untold millions into their own
Golfers, to the injury OF the entire commercial
and industrial interest of the country.
They have influenced legislation to suit
themselves. by bribing venal legislators to
betray tho true interests Of their constituents,
while others have been kept quiet by tho
compliment of free passes.
They have repeatedly prevented the re-
election of Representatives, for opposing, with
manly iirmness, their invasion Of the peoples
rights.
They have by false representations and
subtorluge induced the people to subscribe
funds to build roads, whose rates, when built,
are so exorbitant, that in many instances
transportation by private conveyance Is less
burdensome.
They have procured charters by which they
condemn and approximate our lands without
adequate compensation therefor and AFRO
gantly claim that by virtue Of these charters