7470. REVOLUTION, Right of.—
Prudence,
indeed, will dictate that governments
long established should not be changed for light
and transient causes; and accordingly all experience
hath shown 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
[begun at a distinguished period and], 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
expunge [429]
their former systems of government.—
Declaration of Independence as Drawn by Jefferson.
