What is an Author? Declaring Independence
(by Randy Schiff)
MWF 11:00-11:50 l Girvetz 1004 l
office hours: M 11-12, W 2-3l office:
South Hall 2503 l 893-3349
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ecook@english.ucsb.edu
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TAs: Billy Hall
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Paxton Hehmeyer l
Alex McKee l
Laura Miller
“ We...the representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled […] do in the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare…”
“Jefferson knew that.
Secretary and editor, he represents the ‘representatives,’ who are the representatives of the people, in the name of whom they speak, the people themselves…” --Jacques Derrida, Déclaracions d’Indépendance
“I. That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. II. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people” George Mason, Virginia Declaration of Rights
“Whereas the late King James the Second, by the assistance of divers evil counselors, judges, and ministers employed by him, did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the protestant religion, and the laws and liberties of this kingdom.
1) By assuming and exercising a power of dispensing with and suspending of laws, and the execution of laws, without consent of parliament.
2) By committing and prosecuting divers worthy prelates, for humbly petitioning to be excused concurring to the said assumed power […]” Bill of Rights 02/12 1689
"Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Congress, John Hancock, President. Attest. Charles Thomson, Secretary." –appended to the text of the July 5 Dunlap print of the Declaration of Independence
“[I wish] “the manuscript had not been mangled as it is.” –Richard Henry Lee (1776)
“During the debate, I was sitting by Dr. Franklin and he observed that I was writhing a little under the acrimonious criticisms" of Congress.” –Thomas Jefferson (1823)