THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF TILE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES or AMERICA.
When, in the course of human events, it be comes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinion, of man kind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident—that all men arc created equal; that they are en dowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights: that among these are life, liberty. and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of govern ment becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government. laying its founda tion on such principles. 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 estab lished should not be changed for light and tran sient causes; and, accordingly. all experience bath shown, that mankind are more disposed to -ufl'er, while evil, are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right. it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to pro vide 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 a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having, in direct object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove this, let fact; be submitted to
a candid world: He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
Ile has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance. unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained: and. when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the ac commodation of large districts of people. unless those people would relinquish the right of repre sentation in the Legislature: a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative re peatedly for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused. for a long time after such dissolutions. to cause others to be elected ; where by the legislative power-. incapable of annihila tion. have returned to the people at large for their exercise: the State remaining, in the mean tune, exposed to all the danger of invasion from without and convulsion; within.
lie has endeavored to prevent the population of these States: tor that purpose obstructing the for the naturalization of foreigners; icfusing to pass others to encourage their mi gration hillier, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed the administration of jus tice by refusing his assent to laws for establish ing, judiciary powers.
Ile 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 a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us. in times of peace, stand armies, without the consent of our legisla tures.