THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. NEW-YORK: R. SPALDING. 1864. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 1776. W HEN, in the course of human events, it becomes neceffary for one people to diffolve the political bands. which have connected them with another, and to affume, among the powers of the earth, the feparate 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 feparation. We hold these truths to be felf-evident --- that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to fecure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their juft powers from the confent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to inftitute a new government, laying its foundations on fuch principles, and organizing its powers in fuch form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their fafety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and tranfient caufes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are more difpofed to fuffer, while evils are fufferable, than to right |