The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies
The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies
In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
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 men 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, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, 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 Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils 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 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 Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] 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 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 obtained; and when so 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 relinquish the right of Representation 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 Houses repeatedly, 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; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary 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 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, Standing Armies without the consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military 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 by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
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. 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 attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, 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 political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. 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.
The signers of the Declaration represented the new states as follows:
New Hampshire
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
Declaration of Independence: Addendum
November 6th, 2008
I, being of sound mind and body (contrary to the beliefs and statements of some), do henceforth declare myself unrestrained, unaccountable, and ungoverned in every sense of the word by the mockery of justice now in power in the United States of America at all levels of government. The following list of reasons is by no means exhaustive, but name reasons abundantly sufficient for me to declare myself ungoverned.
Considering that George W Bush, current President of the United States of America, has never legitimately been elected to the office he has held since being sworn in for the first time in January of 2001, and that the Congress and Senate are perfectly aware of this fact and have not acted accordingly to impeach him I declare myself independent from the federal government in its entirety.
For the involvement in the attacks on America (directly by individual acts or indirectly by complicity in failing to tell the truth and to seek justice against the perpetrators), which occurred on September 11, 2001 on the part of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government, I hold you each and every one guilty of Conspiracy, High Treason, and War Crimes against America and those falsely accused of the attacks of that day and every day since.
For obstructing justice by ignoring Congressional Subpoenas, and by allowing such Subpoenas to be ignored without punishment to the fullest extent of the law I deem you unfit to govern, and defy any authority you may claim.
For numerous and abundant abuses of Executive power contrary to the limited role of said branch as defined by the United States Constitution, and lack of action on behalf of the Legislative to end such practices as is its duty under the Constitution I hold you unfit to govern.
For attempts to divorce the citizens of their unalienable rights with which they were born, being human, and being legally guaranteed protection of said rights being an American citizen, I declare you unfit to govern. Though not exhaustive by any means, all branches of government have conspired to assault and destroy, rather than to protect and defend the Constitution in the following ways:
By passing the Patriot Act and subsequent pieces of legislation that assault the liberties of America in every way imaginable.
Amendment I:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Attempts to prevent the right of the people peaceably to assemble in order to exercise the above guarded freedom of speech, and to petition the government for redress of grievances. We saw this recently in New York, as officers of the law trampled members of an organized protest, including our own Veterans, under the feet of horses. Egregious breaches of such nature were also committed recently during the Republican National Conventions and the Democrat National Conventions. Such has become commonplace in recent years, and I hold all members of the federal government accountable. In these ways you have violated the first amendment.
For giving federal money to “faith based initiatives”, which is respecting an establishment of religion and far overreaching the role of government I declare you guilty of violating the first amendment.
Amendment II:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
For every existing gun law anywhere in the fifty states I hold you in violation of this amendment. You presume much to attempt to limit the ability of man to the most basic right of self defense in any manner.
Amendment IV:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
For every search of an American citizen, their property or possessions, without a court ordered warrant, and for every search or seizure exceeding or deviating from the legal limitations described in a court ordered warrant I hold you legally accountable. For warrantless surveillance, surveillance with warrants not supported by oaths or affirmations, and for those without specific detailed statements of purpose for, and nature of information or items to be gathered, I hold you in violation of the fourth amendment.
Amendment V:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
For all detained without due process, and denied the right to habeas corpus protection contained within the body of the Constitution itself, I hold you guilty of violating the fifth amendment.
Amendment VI:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
For all who have been held in contravention of the manner detailed in amendment six, such as those at Guantanamo Bay, just to name a few, I hold you in violation of the sixth amendment.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
For all tortured in the name of the law, including, but certainly not limited to, the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, I hold you in violation of the eighth amendment.
Amendment X:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
For an ever expanding, ever usurping, federal government which long ago far exceeded its role under the Constitution of the United States I hold you in violation of the tenth amendment. For exceeding its role and authority no less than 90 percent I hold the federal government in violation of the tenth amendment.
I could fill a thousand pages with the crimes of despots in government past, present, and that of those recently elected to carry on in executive and legislative roles in the future such as President Elect, the Senator from Illinois, Barrack Obama, but have listed reasons abundant to declare myself independent of the government of the United States of America.
I have numerous times petitioned the Leadership of the House of Representatives, appropriate House Committes, and each individual Representative, including my own, Congressman Nathan Deal. I have done the Same with the Leadership of the Senate, each individual Senator, Senate Committees, as well as my own Senators Chambliss and Isakson. I have for each piece of correspondence received no reaction at all, an insufficient reply, and on many occasions outright insults.
I have corresponded countless times with the President and Vice President, George W Bush, and Dick Cheney to no avail.
I will be bound by, nor will I abide by any authority, written or assumed, by any member of government or those employed to enforce the will of any level of government in any part of the fifty states from this day forward. Now being independent while dwelling in the land of my fathers I will use every power at my disposal to walk and move unhindered among you until I draw my dying breath whether by force of man or nature.
Mark Lance Earhart,
Ringgold, GA
11/6/08
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