Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-06-29
DOCUMENT THAT
MADE A NATION
Text of the Immortal DeClara-
ton of independence With
Which All Americans Should
Be Familiar.

one people to dissolve the politi-
cal bands which have connected them
with another, and to assume, among
the powers of the earth, the separate
and equal station to which the laws
of nature and natures God entitle
them, a decent respect to the opinions
of mankind requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them
to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evi-
dent-that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Crea-
tor with certain inalienable rights;
that among these are life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. That to Sc
cure these rights, governments are in
stituted among men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the
governed; that whenever any form of
government becomes destructive of
these ends, 1t is the right of the peo-
pie to alter or to abolish it, and TO
institute a new government, laying its
foundation on such principles, and or
ganiZing it's power in such form as to
them shall seem most likely to effect
their safety and happiness. Provi-
dence, indeed, will dictate that gov
ernments long established should not
be changed for light and transient
causes; and. accordingly, all expert
ence hath shown, that mankind are
more disposed to suffer, while evils
are siderable, than to right them
selves by abolishing the forms to
which they are accustomed. But when
long train of abuses and usurpations,
pursuing invariably the same object,
evinces design to reduce them I'M
der absolute despotism, Vt 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 sufferance OF
these colonies, and such is now the
necessity which constrains them to
alter their former systems of govern
ment. The history Of the present king
of Great Britain is history of repeat
ed injuries and usurpations, all hav-
ing, in direct object, the establish
ment of an absolute tyranny over
these states. To prove this, let facts
be submitted to a candid world:
He has refused his assent to laws
the most wholesome and necessary
for the public good.
He has forbidden his governors to
pass laws of immediate and pressing
importance, unless suspended in their
operation till his assent should be OBJ
tanned; and, when so suspended, he
has utterly neglected to attend to
them
He has refused to pass other laws
for the accommodation of large dis
tricts OF people, unless these people
would relinquish the right Of repre-
sentation in the Legislature; right
inestimable to them, and formidable
to tyranny only.
He has called together legislative
bodies at places unusual, uncom-
Portable and distant from the depos-
itory 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 firnness his invasions on the
rights Of the people.
He has refused, for 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 meantime, exposed to all the dan
ger of invasion from without and con-
vulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the
population of these states; for that
purpose obstructing the laws for the
naturalization of foreigners; refusing
to pass others to encourage their mi
grafton hither, and raising the condi-
ton of new appropriations of land.
He has INSTRUCTED the administra-
ton of justice by refusing his assent
to laws for establishing judiciary pow
ers.
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 multitude of new
offices, and sent hither swarms of Of
ficers to harass our people and eat out
their substance.
He has kept among us, in time of
peace, starding armies, without the
consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the mill
tary independent of, and superior to
the civil power.
He has combined, with others, to
subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to
our constitution, and unacknowledged