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"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, 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."

By the very words of the Declaration of Independence, any change in government for the purpose of perpetuating and extending that ultimate denial of its basic principle, that "all men are created equal," chattel slavery, is not and cannot be legitimate. Any powers such a government might use could by definition not be "just powers."

LOL! You should know that the declaration was NOT talking about slaves. Also, did you know that the colony of Virginia wanted to stop the further importation of slaves from the slave trade in its borders? Britain would not let them.

Did you also know that when Britain tried to put some taxes and regulation on the New England rum industry, the New England states howled that it would ruin their economy. (Rum was used to trade for slaves in Africa) Did you also know that in the Declaration, one of the reasons the colonies gave for breaking with great Britain was that the King had encouraged domestic insurrections (slave revolts)? At that time there were slaves in EVERY colony. Did you also know that Britain offered freedom to all the slaves that joined them in their fight against the colonists?

If you take the words of the declaration to include slaves, then why didn't everyone free their slaves after it was issued? Why did the slave trade continued legally for twenty years after the constitution and illegally for many years after? The new England states fought Britain and it seems that one of their reasons was the protection of their slave trade and rum industry. Does that mean that their fight for government of the people, by the people, and for the people was not legitimate? And who are you to decide what just powers are? The importation of slaves and the slave trade continued for a while after the start of the union. Does that mean our government under Washington, Jefferson, Adams and etc. was not exercising just powers? It was not legitimate?

The Founders were not talking about slaves when they wrote the declaration. Trying to construe such is ridiculous. They considered slavery and the slave trade a legitimate practice and considered Britain's attempt to get the slaves to revolt against them to be despicable.

The point is, a people can separate themselves from an abusive government whether or not they have slaves. The founders didn't think having slaves was a problem when they declared themselves free from Britain. Your argument that having slaves disqualifies one from forming a new legitimate government is ridiculous.