The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-04

A Declaration by the Representatives
of the United States of America, in
Congress Assembled.
When, in the course Of human events, it be-
comes necessary for one people to dissolve the
another, and to assume; among the powers of the
earth the separate and equal station to which
them, decent respect to the opinions of man
kind requires that they should declare the causes
which impel hem t. the separation.
all men are ere tied equal ti!at they are endowed
by their Creator with certain inalienabls rights;
that among these are life. liberty. and the pur
suit OF happiness. hat, to secure these rights
governments are instituted among men. deriving
their just powers from the consent Of the gov
becomes destructive of these eEds. it 10 tie right
OF the people to alter OF abolish it, and to inuti-
tnte % new government, laying lts foundations
such form, to them shall seem most likely to
effect their, safety and happiness. Prudence,
taGlished should not b, changed for light and
transient causes; and. accordingly, all expert
ence hath shown that mankind are more d is
posed TO suffer, while evils suffer able, than
to rig MT themselves by ahollshing the forms to
which hey are accustomed. But when long
variably the same object. evinces a design to
reGuce them under absolute despotism, it 10
their right, 1t il heir duty, to throw off such
their future security. such has been the patient
suiferance Of these colonies, and such is now the
necessity f Which cgnstrans them to-. to alter the.
the present king of Great britain is a history of
repeated in .uIies and uspr pAions, all having in
tyranny over those States. To prove this, let
facts M be submitted to. candid world.
He has refused his assent to iays the most
2. He has forbidden his governors to pass
laws of immediate and pressing importance.
unless suspended in their operations till his as
sent should be obtained; and when suspend
ed he has utterly neg 1scted to attend to them,
unless those people would relinquish the right
of representa- ion in the leglsature- right in
estimsble to them. and formidable to tyrants
L.. He has called together Legislative bodies
ut places unusual. uncomfortahln. and distant
from the repository OF their public records, for
the sole purpose Of fatiguing Them into compli-
ance with his measures
s. He has dissolved representative houses re-
ppatedly, for opposing, with manly frnness,
his lnvasions on the rights of the psople.
g. 6e has refused, for a long time after such
whereby tho Legislative powers, incapable Of an
utilization, have returned to the people at large
for their exerese the state remaining in the
sions from without, and commissions within.
!. ~ Tie has endenvored to prevent the popula-
ton of those statas for that purpose obstructing
The laws for the naturalization OF foreigners re-
fnsing to pass others. to encourage their misra-
on nthei nd IT FasnaE the conditions of new
s. he has ohstrueted tho administration of
justice. by refusing his assent to laws for estab-
9. He has made judges dependent on his will
alone for the tenure OF their offices, and the
amount and payment Of their salaries.
10. He erected Il multitude of new Offices. and
sent hlther swarms Of officers to harass our
people and and cat out their substance.
Al. ne mas kept among us IN times Of peace,
standing armies. without the Df ODr 1au,
l.. lie has affected to render the military in
49,. He has com blned with others to subject us
toa jursdict ion foreign to our constitutions, and
unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent
to their acts of pretended legislation;
IA. For quarteriDg large bodies of armed
troops among us:
IS. For protecting them by mock trial, from
punishment from any murders which they should
commit on the inhabitants OF these states;
!. ID. For outing off our trade with all parts Of
II. For imposing taxes on us without our con-
sent;
benefits of a trial by jury,
10. For TRANSPORTING MS beyond seas. to be tried
20. For abolishing the free system OF English
laws in neighboring province, establishing
therein an arbitrary government and enlargtng
its boundaries, SO to render it at once an OK
ample and fit instrument for introducing the
same absolute rule into these colonies
Il. For taking away our charters, abolishng
!
mentally, the forms of our governments;
y, FOR snspendins our own legs lures, and
to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever
%; He has abdlcated government here by de- |
caring us out of his protection, and waging war |
"a. He has plundered our seas, ravaged r
coasts, burned our towns, aud destroyed tho
lives OF our Eeople.
26. He is at this time transporting large armies
Of forei ign mercenaries to complete the works of
death, desola'ion and tyrany. aiready begun with
paral eled in the most bnrbarou, ases. and |
totally unworthy the head of civilized nation |
~ He has constrained our fellow-citizens,
asalnst M M their country to become the executioner
selves by their hands.
u. lie has excited domestic nsurrection
among Us. and has cnveaporod to bring Oh the |
inhabitants OF our frontiers the merciless Indian
suVages, Whose known rule of warfare is an ul- |
distlnenished destruction of all ages. sex and
cYnditions.
In every stage of those, expressions we have
pettioned for redress in the most humble terms: |
our repeated petitions have beAn answered only |
by repeated injury. prince whose character Is |
thus marked by every act which may define A |
tyrant. is unfit to be tho ruler of free PEOPLE,
N"r nav. we eyer been wanting in our attention
from time to tine of attempts by their legisla- |
ture 70 extend an unwarantnble jurisdiction over |
US We have reminded them of the circum-
We hayo appealed to their native justice and |
magnanimity, ma and we have conjugtd them by |
the ties OF common kindred to disavow these |
nsurpations. which would inevitably interrupt
our connections and correspondence. They, too,
have been deaf to tho voice of justice and of
consanguiniiy. We must, therefore acquiesce in !
the necessity which denounces our separation,
and hold them as we hold the rest of mankind
enemies I, in war; n peace, friends.
We. therefore. the representatives of the United
States of America. in general in congress
assembled, appealing TO tho Supreme
Judge OF tho world for tho rectitudo
OF our Intentions do in the name and
by the authority OF the good people of these colo
mes. solemly publish and declare that these
united colonies are. and Of right onght to 5e.
free and independent states: that they are alb
solved from all alleeicnce to the British crown,
AMI that all political connection between them
and tho state of Great britain is. and ought to be-
totally dissolved, and that rs free and inde pend.
snt states thoy have full power to levy war, con
olnde peace, contract alliances. establish com
merce. and do all other acts and things which
independent states may of right do. And for the
support of this declaration. with firm reliance
on the protection of Divine Providence wa
mutually pledge to each our lives, our fortunes.
and sacred honor