当任何形式的政府对这些目标具破坏作用时,人民便有权力改变或废除它,以建立一个新的政府;其赖以奠基的原则,其组织权力的方式,务使人民认为唯有这样才最可能获得他们的安全和幸福。为了慎重起见,成立多年的政府,是不应当由于轻微和短暂的原因而予以变更的。过去的一切经验也都说明,任何苦难,只要是尚能忍受,人类都宁愿容忍,而无意为了本身的权益便废除他们久已习惯了的政府。但是,当追逐同一目标的一连串滥用职权和强取豪夺发生,证明政府企图把人民置于专制统治之下时,那么人民就有权利,也有义务推翻这个政府,并为他们未来的安全建立新的保障--
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.
这就是这些殖民地过去逆来顺受的情况,也是它们不得不改变政府制度的原因。大不列颠国在位国王的历史,是接连不断的伤天害理和强取豪夺的历史,这些暴行的唯一目标,就是想在这些州建立专制的暴政。为了证明所言属实,现把下列事实向公正的世界宣布--
he has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
他拒绝批准对公众利益最有益、最必要的法律。
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.
他禁止他的总督们批准迫切而极为必要的法律,要不就把这些法律搁置起来暂不生效,等待他的同意;而一旦这些法律被搁置起来,他对它们就完全置之不理。
he has refused to pass other Laws for the acmodation 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.
他拒绝批准便利广大地区人民的其它法律,除非那些人民情愿放弃自己在立法机关中的代表权;但这种权利对他们有无法估量的价值,而且只有暴君才畏惧这种权利。
he has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, unfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into pliance with his measures.
他把各州立法团体召集到异乎寻常的、极为不便的、远离它们档案库的地方去开会,唯一的目的是使他们疲于奔命,不得不顺从他的意旨。
he has dissolved Representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
他一再解散各州的议会,因为它们以无畏的坚毅态度反对他侵犯人民的权利。
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.
他在解散各州议会之后,又长期拒绝另选新议会;但立法权是无法取消的,因此这项权力仍由一般人民来行使。其实各州仍然处于危险的境地,既有外来侵略之患,又有发生内乱之忧。
he has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands .