風蕭蕭_Frank
以文會友
獨立宣言
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript#:~:text=
注：以下文字是羊皮紙《獨立宣言》石刻的轉錄（該文件陳列在國家檔案館的圓形大廳中）。拚寫和標點符號反映了原文。
1776 年 7 月 4 日在國會
美利堅合眾國十三個國家的一致宣言，當在人類事件的過程中，一個民族有必要解散將他們與另一個民族聯係在一起的政治束縛，並在地球的力量中承擔獨立和獨立的責任時， 自然法則和自然之神賦予他們同等的地位，對人類意見的體麵尊重要求他們必須宣布促使他們分離的原因。
我們認為這些真理是不言而喻的，即人人生而平等，造物主賦予他們某些不可剝奪的權利，其中包括生命權、自由權和追求幸福的權利。為了確保這些權利， 政府是在人類之間建立的，其正當權力源自被統治者的同意，——每當任何形式的政府破壞這些目標時，人民都有權改變或廢除它，並建立新的政府 ，以這樣的原則為基礎並以這樣的形式組織其權力，使他們看起來最有可能實現他們的安全和幸福。 事實上，出於謹慎考慮，長期建立的政府不應因為輕微和短暫的原因而改變； 因此，所有的經驗都表明，當邪惡是可以忍受的時候，人類更願意遭受痛苦，而不是通過廢除他們所習慣的形式來糾正自己。 但是，當一長串的濫用職權和篡奪行為，總是追求同一個目標，顯示出一種在絕對專製主義下減少這些行為的設計時，他們的權利，他們的責任，就是推翻這樣的政府，並為他們未來的安全提供新的警衛 ……這就是這些殖民地的耐心忍受； 現在，這就是迫使他們改變以前的政府製度的必要性。 現任大不列顛國王的曆史是一部屢屢傷害和篡奪的曆史，所有這些的直接目標都是在這些國家上建立絕對的暴政。 為了證明這一點，讓事實擺在一個坦誠的世界麵前。
他拒絕批準對公共利益來說最有益、最必要的法律。
他禁止州長通過具有直接和緊迫重要性的法律，除非在獲得他的同意之前暫停這些法律的實施； 當他處於這種狀態時，他就完全忽視了他們。
他拒絕通過其他為大片地區人民提供便利的法律，除非這些人放棄在立法機關中的代表權，這種權利對他們來說是不可估量的，隻有暴君才害怕。
他在不尋常、不舒服且遠離公共記錄存放地的地方召集立法機構，其唯一目的是讓他們厭倦遵守他的措施。
他多次解散眾議院，以男子氣概的堅定立場反對他侵犯人民權利的行為。
在此類解散之後，他很長一段時間拒絕促使其他人當選。 由此，無法消滅的立法權已歸還給廣大人民以供行使； 與此同時，國家仍然麵臨著來自外部入侵和內部動亂的所有危險。
他努力阻止這些州的人口增加； 為此目的妨礙外國人入籍法； 拒絕通過其他鼓勵他們移民到這裏的法案，並提高新的土地撥款條件。
他拒絕同意建立司法權力的法律，從而阻礙了司法行政。
他讓法官的任期、薪金數額和支付僅依賴於他的遺囑。
他設立了許多新的辦公室，並派出大批官員到這裏騷擾我們的人民，並吃掉他們的財產。
在和平時期，他未經我們立法機關的同意就在我們中間保留了常備軍。
他努力使軍隊獨立於文職權力並淩駕於文職權力之上。
他與其他人聯合起來，將我們置於與我們的憲法無關、且未被我們的法律承認的管轄權之下； 同意他們假裝的立法行為：
在我們中間安置大批武裝部隊：
通過模擬審判保護他們免受對這些州居民犯下的任何謀殺的懲罰：
為了切斷我們與世界各地的貿易：
未經我們同意而向我們征稅：
在許多情況下剝奪了我們陪審團審判的好處：
將我們運送到海外接受假裝犯罪的審判
廢除鄰近省份的英國法律自由體係，在其中建立一個專斷政府，並擴大其邊界，以便立即使其成為在這些殖民地引入同樣絕對規則的典範和合適工具：
廢除我們的憲章，廢除我們最有價值的法律，並從根本上改變我們政府的形式：
他們暫停了我們自己的立法機構，並宣布自己擁有在任何情況下為我們立法的權力。
他宣布我們脫離他的保護並向我們發動戰爭，從而放棄了這裏的政府。
他掠奪了我們的海洋，蹂躪了我們的海岸，燒毀了我們的城鎮，摧毀了我們人民的生活。
此時，他正在運送大量外國雇傭軍來完成死亡、荒涼和暴政的工作，這些工作已經開始，其殘酷和背信棄義的情況在最野蠻的時代幾乎沒有可比性，完全不配作為一個文明國家的元首。
他強迫我們在公海上被俘虜的同胞拿起武器反對他們的國家，成為他們朋友和弟兄的劊子手，或者死於他們的手中。
他在我們中間煽動國內叛亂，並竭力招致我們邊境的居民，即無情的印度野蠻人，他們眾所周知的戰爭規則是對所有年齡、性別和條件的無差別破壞。
在這些壓迫的每一個階段，我們都以最謙卑的方式請求賠償：我們一再的請願隻能得到一再的傷害的回應。 一個王子的品格如此，其每一個行為都可能定義為暴君，他不適合成為自由人民的統治者。
我們也不缺乏對我們的英國弟兄的關注。 我們不時警告他們，他們的立法機關試圖對我們施加無理的管轄權。 我們已經提醒他們我們移民定居的情況。 我們呼籲他們天生的正義和寬宏大量，我們通過我們共同的親屬關係召喚他們否認這些篡奪行為，這將不可避免地中斷我們的聯係和通信。 他們也對正義和血緣的聲音充耳不聞。 因此，我們必須默許這種必然性，這會譴責我們的分離，並像對待其他人類一樣對待他們，戰爭中是敵人，和平中是朋友。
因此，我們，美利堅合眾國的代表，在全體國會中，呼籲世界最高法官公正地表達我們的意圖，以這些殖民地善良人民的名義和權威，這樣做 ，莊嚴地公布並聲明，這些聯合殖民地是而且理應是自由和獨立的國家； 他們被免除對英國王室的所有效忠，他們與大不列顛國家之間的所有政治聯係都應該並且應該被完全解除； 作為自由和獨立的國家，他們有充分的權力發動戰爭，締結和平，締結聯盟，建立商業，以及采取獨立國家有權采取的所有其他行動和事情。 為了支持本宣言，並堅定地依靠神聖天意的保護，我們相互保證我們的生命、我們的財富和我們神聖的榮譽。
Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflects the original.
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.
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 harrass 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 & 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 Brittish 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.
