A few thoughts from Thomas Jefferson

Excerpts from Declaration of Independence author: Thomas Jefferson

July 4, 1776

“A long train of abuses … Despotism…The history of the King … repeated injuries… Tyranny …Facts be… He has refused his Assent to Laws…for… public good… has forbidden…Governors to pass Laws of…pressing importance…. till his Assent… be obtained...”

“(R)efused to pass… Laws for…large districts of people, unless those… would relinquish… right of Representation … formidable to tyrants only…has called… legislative bodies at places unusual… and distant.”

“(H)as dissolved Representative…for opposing… his invasions on…rights…people…obstructing… Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage…migrations… obstructed… Justice…refusing…Assent to Laws… establishing Judiciary powers… made Judges dependent on his Will… for… their offices…”

“(E)rected… New Offices… sent… Officers to harass …people… affected to render the Military independent… to…Civil power… has…subject(ed)… jurisdiction foreign to our constitution…Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us… protecting ... from punishment for… Murders which they…commit… cutting off…Trade with all parts of the world… transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences…has plundered…seas, ravaged…Coasts, burnt… towns…destroyed…lives… is…transporting large Armies… to complete…death, desolation and tyranny… with circumstances (threats) of Cruelty… scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages… has excited domestic insurrections… A… character is thus marked… Tyrant…unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

BETTY GARDNER

Priest River