Before the passage of the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679 in England, any person of royalty or high official standing in the government could falsely accuse another person of crime and cause that innocent person to languish in prison for years, or even for life, because he could not get before a court of justice to establish his innocence.
In many European countries the peasants were burdened with taxes to support kings and courts without the slightest representation in the tax levying authority. In France, just preceding the French Revolution, the peasants were obliged to purchase a certain number of barrels of salt each year, without having the slightest use for the salt, because the crown lands produced salt and the revenues went to the king.
In many European countries a state church was established and the people obliged to support it by taxes levied against their property, regardless of whether it represented their religious beliefs.
94 A comparison of the provisions of the Declaration of Independence with those of the Constitution will show the wrongs of the English king righted by the Constitution.
Declaration of Independence.--"He has refused assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary for the public good."
Constitution of the United States.--A bill if vetoed by the President may be repassed by two-thirds of the senate and house of representatives.
Declaration of Independence.--"He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance."
Constitution of the United States.--Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, etc. (See Const. Art. I, §. 8.)
Declaration of Independence.--"He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights of the people."
Constitution of the United States.--Congress shall meet at the seat of government--once each year.
Declaration of Independence.--"He has refused, for a long time after dissolution, to cause others to be elected."
Constitution of the United States.--The time, place and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the legislature thereof.
Declaration of Independence.--"He has obstructed the administration of justice."