Senator Kaine of Virginia,
I suppose King George III found these words, authored by Thomas Jefferson (maybe you’ve heard of him… He was a very famous farmer and statesman living in Virginia at time), disturbing:
"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."
Notice, senator, that NOT ONLY do our rights indeed come from our creator, but it is the purpose of government to secure these rights. Also notice that the power of government comes from the consent of the governed.
IN ADDITION: when government becomes destructive of theses ends (i.e. not fulfilling its role to secure the creator-derived rights) it is the RIGHT of the people to ALTER the government… and yes, even to abolish it.
Tread very carefully here, Senator
