By Matthew Hayward
When in the course of human events, it becomes 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 Nature's 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-evident, that all individuals are created equal, that they are endowed 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.
However, 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 provide new Guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these individuals; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present State is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these states.
The State has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and diminish their resources. It has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. It has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
It has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving its Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation. It has imposed Taxes on us without our Consent. It has deprived us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.
Moreover, it has infringed upon our right to privacy, conducting unwarranted surveillance and data collection on its own citizens, a revelation that shocked the nation and the world.
During times of public health crises, it has overstepped its bounds, suspending the fundamental rights of assembly, speech, and religion, causing outrage among those who value their freedoms above all else.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the free people, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these states, solemnly publish and declare, That these United States are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
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