According to Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence" was intended to be an expression of the American mind." The American mind, however, was influenced by a variety of traditions, classical, Christian, and modern. Hence Jefferson could say that the "authority [of the Declaration]rests . . . on the harmonizing sentiments of the day, whether expressed in conversation, in letters, printed in essays, or in the elementary books of public right, as Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Sydney, etc." (Edward Dumbauld, 1955).
In other words, the Declaration is a political synthesis of diverse principles, ancient and modern. Such a synthesis is unique.
main and forceful reason for the Declaration of Independence was to abolish Admiralty Law and Admiralty jurisdiction from the Domestic Law of the colonies. The function of government is to care for rights, not to violate them. After all, the complete motive for the Declaration of Independence was the British government had ceased to accomplish its legal function to protect rights, although rather stood the rationale of government on its head, defying rights somewhat than protecting them.
The courage of the Declaration identifying the American origin with the cause of mankind, provoking, by the universalism of its principles, the concept of America's historic purpose.
May it [the Declaration of Independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some part sooner, to others later, but finally to all), and the signal of arousing men to burst the chains . . . [of] ignorance and superstition . . . and to assume the blessings . . . self-government. . . All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. (Edward Dumbauld, 1955)
The Declaration affirms the power of reason to apprehend universal moral standards in terms of which men may criticize the acts of government as well as the "opinions of mankind."............
