Liberia ^ 



We recognise in all men certain inalienable rights ; among these 

 are life, liberty, and the right to acquire, possess, enjoy, and defend 

 property. By the practice and consent of men in all ages, some 

 system or form of government is proven to be necessary to exercise, 

 enjoy, and secure these rights, and every people has a right to 

 institute a government, and to choose and adopt that system, or 

 form of it, which in their opinion will most effectually accomplish 

 these objects, and secure their happiness, which does not inter- 

 fere with the just rights of others. The right, therefore, to institute 

 government and powers necessary to conduct it is an inalienable 

 right and cannot be resisted without the grossest injustice. 



We, the people of the Republic of Liberia, were originally 

 inhabitants of the United States of North America. 



In some parts of that country we were debarred by law from 

 all rights and privileges of man — in other parts, public sentiment, 

 more powerful than law, frowned us down. 



We were everywhere shut out from all civil office. 



We were excluded from all participation in the Government. 



We were taxed without our consent. 



We were compelled to contribute to the resources of a country 

 which gave us no protection. 



We were made a separate and distinct class, and against us 

 every avenue of improvement was effectually closed. Strangers 

 from other lands, of a colour different from ours, were preferred 

 before us. 



We uttered our complaints, but they were unattended to, or 

 only met by alleging the peculiar institutions of the country. 



All hope of a favourable change in our country was thus 

 wholly extinguished in our bosoms, and we looked with anxiety 

 for some asylum from the deep degradation. 



The western coast of Africa was the place selected by 

 American benevolence and philanthropy for our future home. 

 Removed beyond those influences which oppressed us in our native 

 land, it was hoped we would be enabled to enjoy those rights and 

 privileges and exercise and improve those faculties which the God 

 of nature has given us in common with the rest of mankind. 



Under the auspices of the American Colonisation Society, we 

 established ourselves here, on land acquired by purchase from the 

 lords of the soil. 



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