British Ships Head for New York

   Part 2 By Janie Cheaney

     "In June 1776, while the Continental Congress met, British ships were coming. Richard Lee of Virginia proposed a resolution that the colonies had a right to be free and independent. What was demanded was a formal statement of separation. 

     "As Jefferson said, the purpose of the Declaration was not to find new principles. The principles already existed in the writings of Aristotle and Cicero and modern thinkers like John Locke and Algernon Sydney. They appealed to 'nature's God,' a recognition of God's laws over nature made evident by way of man's reason.

     "The Declaration's endorsement of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' was the foundation of God-given individual rights. The list of grievances against King George shows how each right would later be addressed in the U.S. Constitution. 

     "A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since 1776, carrying Americans further away from their founding principles. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration is an ideal time to review our founding principles and be grateful for the men who articulated and fought for them." 

Democrats care about individual voting rights for foreigners.