The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-07-06
b. Woskmen

voted by the Continental Con-
gresS.
The vote was on a resolution
submitted by Richard Henry Lee
in behalf Of the Virginia delega-
ton. That resolution, approved
on July 2, 1776. asserted that
These United Colonies are, and
Of right ought to be. free and
independent States. that they are
absolved from all allegiance to
the British Crown. and that all
polite connection between
them and the State of Great
Britain is. and ought to be, to-
tally dissolved"
What followed two days later
was not so much a declaration
of independence" as a statement
of justification. As the late his
torian. Carl l.. Becker. put it:
1.-The primary purpose of the
Declaration was not to declare
independence, but to proclaim to
the world the reasons for declar-
ing independence"
These reasons were set forth
in considerable detail, with a full
bill of particulars against the op-
pressive acts of the British mon
arch. They were the specifics of
the case against the Crown-but,
being specifics. they have not
had the lasting impact Of those
other portions Of the Declaration
which dealt with principles.
What the world does remem-
Der is the immortal language
with which Thomas. Jefferson
gave voice not only to his own
sentiments. but also to the ideas
and ideals which m~otivated his
fellow colonists.
These, then, are the Jeffer-
sonian words which have become
a part not only of Americas his
tory, but of the worlds:
when in the course of human
events, it becomes necessary for
one people to dissolve the politi-
cal bands which have connected
them with another. and to as
sumo among the powers of the
earth, the separate and equal
station to which the Laws of Ma
ture and of 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.
I'VE hold these truths to be
sef-evident, that all men are
created equal; that they are en-
dowed by their Creator with Ger
tain unalienable R tights S: that
among these, are Life, Liberty,
and the pursuit Of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Gov
ernments are instituted among
men, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the govern
ed. That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive
Of these ends, it is the Right of
the People TO alter or to abolish
1t. and to institute new Govern
ment. laying its foundation on
such principles and organizing
its powers in such form, as to
them shall seem most likely to
effect their Safety and Happi-
ness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate
that Government long establish
ed, 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 siderable. than to right
themselves by abolishing the
forms to which they are accus-
toned. But when a long train Of
abuses and usurpations, pursuing
invariably the same o j e c t.,
evinces a design to reduce them
under absolute Despotism, it 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 SUI
ferance of these Colonies, and
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 a history of
repeated injuries and usur.
pations, all having, in direct OBJ
ject, the establishment of an
absolute Tyranny over these
States ;"
cat this point comes the listing
OF grievances. Then y
In every stage of these
Expressions, we have Petitions
for Redress. in the most humble
terms. Our repeated Petitions
have been answered only by re-
peated injury. A Prince, whose
character is thus marked by
every act which may define a
Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler
Of a free people. Nor have We
been wanting in attention to our
British brethren. We have warn
ed them. from time to time, Of
attempts made by their leglsla-