WHIG.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
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DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.


In Congress, Philadelphia, July 4. l776


When, in the course of human events, it be-
comes necessary for one people to dissolve the
political 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 of natures God entitle them,
decent respect to the opinions of mankind re-
quires that they should declare the causes which
impsl them to the separation.


We hold these truths to be self-eyident: That all
men are created equal; that they are endowed BY
their Creator with certain unalienablc rights that
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit OF
happiness. That to secure these rights, govern
msnts are instituted among men, deriving their
just powers from the consent Of the governed;
that whenever any form of government becomes
destructive of those ends it is the right Of the peo
pie to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new
government, laying its foundation on such princi-
pies, and organizing its powers in such form as to
them shall seem most likely to effect their safety
and happiness Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that
governments long established should not be chang
ed 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 accustomed. But when long
train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing inyari-
ably the same object eyinces design to reduce
them under absolute despotism it is their right, it
is their duty to throw of such government, and to
provide new guards for their future security. Such
has been the patient sufferance of these colonies Y;
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 history Of repeated injuries and usurpations,
all having in direct object the establishment of an
absolute tyranny these States. To prove this,
let facts be submitted to candid world
Hehas refused his ASSENT to laws the most whole
some and necessary for the public good.


He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of |
immediate and pressing importance, unless sus-
pended in their operation till his assent should be
obtained; and when 50 suspended, he has utterly
neglected to attend to them. He has refused to
pass other laws for the accommodation of large
districts Of people, unless those people would re-
linquish the right of representation in the egisla
ture-a right inestimable to them, and formidable
to tyrants only.


He ascaled together legislative bodies at places
unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the re.
postory of their public records for the sole pur-
pose of fatiguing them into compliance with his
measures. sFf


He has dissolved representative houses repeat
edly, for opposing with manly frmness, his inva-
sions on the rights Of the people.
He has refused, for long time after such dis
solutions, to cause others to be elected whereby
the legislative powers, incapable of humiliation,
have returned to the people at large for their
ercise, the State remaining, in the mean time, ex
posed 10 all the dangers of invasion from without,
and convulsions within.


He has endeavored 10 prevent the population Of
these States for that purpose obstructing the laws
for naturalization of foreigners refusing to pass
others to encourage their migration hither, and
raising the conditions Of new appropriations of
lands.


He has obstructed the administration Of justice
by refusing his assent 10 laws for establishing u-
dietary powers.


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 officers, to harass our peo-
pie, and eat out their substance.


He has kept among US, in times of peace, stand
ing armies, without the consent of legislatures


He has effected to render the military indepen-
dent of and superior to the civil power.


He has combined with others to subject us to a
jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unac-
knowledged BY our laws giving his assent to their
acts of pretended legislation:


For quartering large bodies of armed troop:
among US:


For protecting them, by a mock trial, from pun
ishment for any murders which they should com
NIT on the inhabitants of these States:


For cutting off our trade with all parts of tn,
world:


For imposing taxes on US without our consent


For depriving US, in many cases, of the benefit
of trial by jury.


For transporting US beyond seas, to be tried TO
pretended offences:


For abolishing the free system Of English law
in neighboring province, establishing therein a,
arbitrary government, and enlarging its bounda
res, so as to render it at once an example and Fl
instrument for introducing the same absolute rul,
into these colonies:


For taking away our charters, abolishing ou
most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally th,
forms of our Governments