Tag: Declaration of Independence

A Transcription from the national archives.



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 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.

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 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.

I think for once, the threat of a packed and organized Grand Traverse County commission chamber is a reality.  This time its not about a failed septage system, bicycle paths, or a grant to the money pit of the day.

It is about a simple resolution.

Its about a statement, a reiteration, and a declaration, that there are some people who still have a sense of why so many fought for their independence(and ours as well). That reminder that we have not lost the will to abide by the rule of law. Law established to protect us from the overreaches often brought about "for our own good" and the desires for power over our fellow man.

It is a resolution I am presenting in support of Freedom To Work for the state of Michigan.  

It is a transparent and open leverage of opinion that has no binding end, yet sufficiently threatens those who would hold the leash to our state's work force. The resolution is opinion only, yet its call to put away the whip speaks loudly enough to have them organize an opposition "Rally." This memo sent out to the local Democrat party faithful:

"This is totally unacceptable and we have to make our voices heard.  Please help us pack the room with strong union supporters. We need to send them the message that we will not tolerate this type of activity in Grand Traverse County."

How appropriate it is, that this would be an issue on a weekend where so many of us celebrate the independence declared by our nation's founders, as a resolution. One that is opposed by those forces who prefer to have no accountability, no real representation to the people they claim to serve. Those who would prefer to not allow a declaration of choice.  Those who want no limit to their role in attempts to control what we do for a living, what we make, who we work for, and would insist that the wage we make, (their persistent argument) could not be sufficient solely created by our own efforts.

John Adams, our second president & major contributor and signer of The Declaration of Independence, said, "Our Constitution is wholly inadequate to the government of any other then a moral and religious people."

This warning says at it's heart that if the people of our country or it's legislators do not have high moral standards the Constitution does not have the regulations in it to guard against immoral corruption.  The founders so believed in "We The People" they wrote the Constitution so they would have the true power in this great nation.  They also "Banked" in that just and moral heart that the people had at that time.