I now call attention to the sentence: "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."
I have placed in brackets what has been interpolated by Jefferson. I conclude this from the following reasons:
1. It breaks the measure.
2. It destroys the harmony of the period, and the sentence is complete and harmonious without it.
3. "Begun at a distinguished period," is indefinite.
4. It refers to time, and is mixed up with other subject matter, and is therefore in the wrong place.
5. It is tautology, for two sentences further on it is all expressed in its proper place, in referring to the history of the king.
In all of these particulars it is not like Mr. Paine, for he is never guilty of such a breach of rhetoric. But in all of the above particulars it is just like Mr. Jefferson.
The above two paragraphs comprise the Introduction and the Bill of Rights, and are the foundation of the Declaration. It is a basis fit and substantial, because one of universal principles, so that whatever special right may be enunciated, it will rest firmly on this foundation; or whatever special denunciation of wrongs, it will have its authority therein.
I now pass to consider the indictment under its three divisions—Usurpation, Abdication, and War.