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.
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 benefit 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 & 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 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.
Friday, July 4, 2014
The Big Speech: The Declaration of Independance
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
The Big Speech: Ft. Bridger Treaty of 1863.
1863 Chief Waskakie singed the Ft. Bridger Treaty of 1863, which provided:
Articles of Agreement made at Fort Bridger, in Utah Territory, this second day of July, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, by and between the United States of America, represented by its Commissioners, and the Shoshone nation of Indians, represented by its Chiefs and Principal Men And Warriors of the Eastern Bands, as follows:ARTICLE 1.
Friendly and amically relations are hereby re-established between the bands of the Shoshonee nation, parties hereto, and the United States; and it is declared that a firm and perpetual peace shall be henceforth maintained between the Shoshonee nation and the United States.ARTICLE 2.
The several routes of travel through the Shoshonee country, now or hereafter used by white men, shall be and remain forever free and safe for the use of the government of the United States, and of all emigrants and travellers under its authority and Protection, without molestation or injury from any of the people of the said nation. And if depredations should at any time be committed by bad men of their nation, the offenders shall be immediately seized and delivered up to the proper officers of the United States, to be punished as their offences shall deserve; and the safety of all travellers passing peaceably over said routes is hereby guaranteed by said nation. Military agricultural settlements and military posts may be established by the President of the United States along said routes; ferries may be maintained over the rivers wherever they may be required; and houses erected and settlements formed at such points as may be necessary for the comfort and convenience of travellers.ARTICLE 3.
The telegraph and overland stage lines having been established and operated through a part of the Shoshonee country, it is expressly agreed that the same may be continued without hindrance, molestation, or injury from the people of said nation; and that their property, and the lives of passengers in the stages, and of the employes of the respective companies, shall be protected by them.
And further, it being understood that provision has been made by the Government of the United States for the construction of a railway from the plains west to the Pacific ocean, it is stipulated by said nation that said railway, or its branches, may be located, constructed, and operated, without molestation from them, through any portion of the country claimed by them.ARTICLE 4.
It is understood the boundaries of the Shoshonee country, as defined and described by said nation, is as follows: On the north, by the mountains on the north side of the valley of Shoshonee or Snake River; on the east, by the Wind River mountains, Peenahpah river, the north fork of Platte or Koo-chin-agah, and the north Park or Buffalo House; and on the south, by Yampah river and the Uintah mountains. The western boundary is left undefined, there being no Shoshonees from that district of country present; but the bands now present claim that their own country is bounded on the west by Salt Lake.ARTICLE 5.
The United States being aware of the inconvenience resulting to the Indians in consequence of the driving away and destruction of game along the routes travelled by whites, and by the formation of agricultural and mining settlements, are willing to fairly compensate them for the same; therefore, and in consideration of the preceding stipulations, the United States promise and agree to pay to the bands of the Shoshonee nation, parties hereto, annually for the term of twenty years, the sum of ten thousand dollars, in such articles as the President of the United States may deem suitable to their wants and condition, either as hunters or herdsmen. And the said bands of the Shoshonee nation hereby acknowledge the reception of the said stipulated annuities, as a full compensation and equivalent for the loss of game, and the rights and privileges hereby conceded.ARTICLE 6.
The said bands hereby acknowledge that they have received from said Commissioners provisions and clothing amounting to six thousand dollars, as presents, at the conclusion of this treaty.ARTICLE 7.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed or taken to admit any other or greater title or interest in the lands embraced within the territories described in said Treaty with said tribes or bands of Indians than existed in them upon the acquisition of said territories from Mexico by the laws thereof.Done at Fort Bridger the day and year above written.James Duane Doty,Luther Mann, jr.,Commissioners.Washakee, his x mark.Wanapitz, his x mark.Toopsa+owet, his x mark.Pantoshiga, his x mark.Ninabitzee, his x mark.Narkawk, his x mark.Taboonshea, his x mark.Weerango, his x mark.Tootsahp, his x mark.Weeahyukee, his x mark.Bazile, his x mark.In the presence of—Jack Robertson, interpreter.Samuel Dean.
Wyoming Fact and Fiction: What, Automobiles in Yellowstone!
Wyoming Fact and Fiction: What, Automobiles in Yellowstone!
Interesting entry on this topic. We've blogged about the amazing change in rural transportation in the early 20th Century ourselves, but not in this context..I suspect that many people can't imagine the real differences in early auto transportation as compared to the current era, and the extent to which that made things which can seem fairly easy and routine now, extraordinary and difficult.
Interesting entry on this topic. We've blogged about the amazing change in rural transportation in the early 20th Century ourselves, but not in this context..I suspect that many people can't imagine the real differences in early auto transportation as compared to the current era, and the extent to which that made things which can seem fairly easy and routine now, extraordinary and difficult.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Monday, June 30, 2014
Making it personal: Lex Anteinternet: Es ist nichts, Es ist nichts...
Lex Anteinternet: Es ist nichts, Es ist nichts...: Society of the Military Horse • View topic - Today in the history of mounted warfare And so it began. Tuberculitic Gavrilo Princip, ...
June 28, 1914, was a Sunday.
So, putting a personal spin on this, if you subtracted whole to the year 1914, and lived in that century, how would this news have realistically impacted you? That is, if your life played out in a reasonably predictable manner, with hindsight. That's not always an easy thing to do, as things have changed very much.
But, if you lived a century ago, would this have amounted to much more than sad news to you? When would you have even learned of it? I'm posting this on June 30, and I'd guess I would have known by Monday June 29, 1914, but I certainly wouldn't have thought the world on the verge of one of the great wars of human history, on that following Tuesday.
Tragedy of all types carried on, the August 1, 1914 killing of French Canadian Reservist Antoine Nottar by a Sergeant of the 5th Highlanders.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Es ist nichts, Es ist nichts...
Society of the Military Horse • View topic - Today in the history of mounted warfare
And so it began.
Tuberculitic Gavrilo Princip, on this day, assassinated Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife lighting the fire that would kill millions in the next four years.
And so it began.
Tuberculitic Gavrilo Princip, on this day, assassinated Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife lighting the fire that would kill millions in the next four years.
Friday, June 27, 2014
The Construction Crew
Yesterday morning when I went to work, a construction crew from the city was moving a heavy planter and doing work with front end loader where a car had recently crashed into an old planter (how on earth that happened I had not a crew). They were doing a quick efficient job, early in the morning before traffic could crowd the street or parking lot.
When I cross the street something occurred to me, remarkable in this era only in that I noted it. Every single member of the construction crew was a young woman. Probably none of them were over 30 years of age, and not one man was on the crew.
This isn't really remarkable, except that it wasn't all that long ago when women construction workers were a real rarity. Heavy construction with heavy equipment, such as this, was certainly almost all male, not all that long ago. Indeed, a couple of years ago some heavy construction crews downtown were both all male, and all Hispanic, reflecting a traditional situation in which these jobs often went to immigrant men.
Well, not this crew. An interesting sign of how times have changed.
When I cross the street something occurred to me, remarkable in this era only in that I noted it. Every single member of the construction crew was a young woman. Probably none of them were over 30 years of age, and not one man was on the crew.
This isn't really remarkable, except that it wasn't all that long ago when women construction workers were a real rarity. Heavy construction with heavy equipment, such as this, was certainly almost all male, not all that long ago. Indeed, a couple of years ago some heavy construction crews downtown were both all male, and all Hispanic, reflecting a traditional situation in which these jobs often went to immigrant men.
Well, not this crew. An interesting sign of how times have changed.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Monday, June 23, 2014
Instant Communications and the Erosion of Leisure?
Recently I worked on a Saturday, like most Saturdays. I think I left work that day about 3:00.
I don't "push" my email to my cell phone, like a lot of other people do. I don't do this intentionally, as I don't have the discipline not to check it. The only time that I do that is when I'm on the road.
The prior day, a client had called me with an emergency. I called the opposing attorney, who was not there, and left a message and followed up with an email. All I could do, under the circumstances, late on a Friday.
After I left work on Saturday, my client emailed me twice. Once to inform me that the problem still existed, and then to inquire why I hadn't yet solved it. Only 24 hours had gone by, most of it in a weekend.
The following day, the opposing attorney emailed me, which I didn't realize as I don't check my work emails while I'm in town, and not in my office, as a rule. But he apparently does.
I'm sure this isn't unique to the law, but its bad all the way around. Twenty four hour a day communications has risen to the level of a 24 hour work expectation. This means that, at some level, peoples lives now are more their work than ever, and they are what their professions are, with no other life that cannot be invaded. As trends go, people like to cite to instant communications as an advancement, but I doubt it really is. Time for the personal life is gone.
We see now where over half of all Americans are disenchanted with their employment and in high stress occupations this is particularly so. I can't help but thing people leaving their Iphones on all the time contribute to that. Well, don't do it. It'll wait till Monday.
I don't "push" my email to my cell phone, like a lot of other people do. I don't do this intentionally, as I don't have the discipline not to check it. The only time that I do that is when I'm on the road.
The prior day, a client had called me with an emergency. I called the opposing attorney, who was not there, and left a message and followed up with an email. All I could do, under the circumstances, late on a Friday.
After I left work on Saturday, my client emailed me twice. Once to inform me that the problem still existed, and then to inquire why I hadn't yet solved it. Only 24 hours had gone by, most of it in a weekend.
The following day, the opposing attorney emailed me, which I didn't realize as I don't check my work emails while I'm in town, and not in my office, as a rule. But he apparently does.
I'm sure this isn't unique to the law, but its bad all the way around. Twenty four hour a day communications has risen to the level of a 24 hour work expectation. This means that, at some level, peoples lives now are more their work than ever, and they are what their professions are, with no other life that cannot be invaded. As trends go, people like to cite to instant communications as an advancement, but I doubt it really is. Time for the personal life is gone.
We see now where over half of all Americans are disenchanted with their employment and in high stress occupations this is particularly so. I can't help but thing people leaving their Iphones on all the time contribute to that. Well, don't do it. It'll wait till Monday.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Some Gave All: In 'The Agony of War,' a life of trouble, a moment...
Some Gave All: In 'The Agony of War,' a life of trouble, a moment...: In 'The Agony of War,' a life of trouble, a moment of immortality | NOLA.com
Saturday, June 21, 2014
It’s Official: The Boomerang Kids Won’t Leave - NYTimes.com
It’s Official: The Boomerang Kids Won’t Leave - NYTimes.com
Or so says The New York Times.
But is that really an unprecedented trend, or a return to the historical norm?
We're used to the idea that children grow up, "move out of the nest", and go on to lives of their own. And any right thinking parent wants a child to have his or her own life as an adult, to be sure. And it's always been the case that the young tended to move on to that life. As Genesis tells us regarding marriage; "For this reason, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he
shall cling to his wife; and the two shall be as one flesh."
But is the phenomenon of a person being at home into their adult years, if unmarried, really all that odd and distressing. Not really.
We've addressed it here, but men and women leaving home before their married, while certainly not uncommon, wasn't all that usual if they stayed in one location. In eras with thinner resources, which is most of human history, young men and young women tended to stay at home with their parents until they were married, unless they moved away for work or for some other reason. That was pretty much the norm.
There were a variety of reasons for that, a lot which had to do with resources or ready resources. Prior to the post World War Two era, it just wasn't that easy to live independently on your own. Cooking meals, washing clothes, etc. took a lot more effort in prior eras, and attempting it on your own often wasn't easily possible. The same technological revolutions that made it possible for women to have jobs outside the home, made it possible for men and women to live singly on their own easily.
Up until now, that is, apparently.
What we're seeing is probably due to a contraction of resources, even though we live in the richest era in human history. Just as with our story on homesteading of the other day, the cost of living on your own has increased for the young. It's increasingly difficult for them to find work, and housing costs continue to be prohibitively high for many, maybe most.
And, of course, there's an aspect of this story that has to do with family, and perhaps that's a good thing. At some point in the 1950s or 1960s people became accustomed to "youth rebellion", but that isn't the historical norm either. We're seeing, it would seem, a return to an era when children strongly identified, even as adults, with their families. Social commentators who can recall only back to 1960 or so might lament that, but I don't know that they really should.
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