Presenting these papers on this site is NOT to imply they are party to the dirty government OUR government has become, but to show you the intent of the founders for us to always be led by Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
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Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood.” — John Adams, 1765
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“In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?” ( Benjamin Franklin July 28th, 1787)
Just imagine for a moment, that the same argument that plagues our nation today plagued it in 1787. Today it is often said that the Constitution can’t possibly be relevant because it’s nearly 250 years old. That is tantamount to those in the Founders’ day rejecting the ideas the Founders included because they were “700 years old.”
Liberty wasn’t invented in the generation of the Founders. Nor was it invented in the days of William I in 1066 or Charles I in 1628, for mankind does not “invent” liberty. Our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are bestowed upon us by our Creator, not a king; not a president. Liberty does, however, require that mankind constantly guard it from such evil and oppressive leadership. As Thomas Jefferson once said, “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”
Liberty wasn’t invented in the generation of the Founders. Nor was it invented in the days of William I in 1066 or Charles I in 1628, for mankind does not “invent” liberty. Our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are bestowed upon us by our Creator, not a king; not a president. Liberty does, however, require that mankind constantly guard it from such evil and oppressive leadership. As Thomas Jefferson once said, “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”
Consider the history of events that led up to our founding documents.
- The 1100 Charter of Liberties: In 1100, the people of England came together to force King Henry to sign the 1100 Charter of Liberties promising (among other things), that: 1) Kings would no longer be evil and oppressive, 2) That men who make the laws cannot hold themselves above the law and 3) inheritance could not be taxed.
- The Magna Carta of 1215: In 1215 the people of England got fed up with King John and came together to create the Magna Carta, providing instructions to the government about how to live up to the 1100 Charter of Liberties and adding enforcement mechanisms.
- Petition of Rights of 1628: Tyrants can be big spenders and in 1621, King Charles 1. had a penchant for excessive taxation, foreign wars and recklessly spending the peoples money. The people got fed up and drafted the “Petition of Rights” listing grievances and declaring in the preamble; “Liberty is the inherent possession of men and not the gift of government”.
- Grand Remonstrance of 1641: The people, awake to the value of liberty, took a giant step forward, declaring in the Grand Remonstrance of 1641 that, “The root of all this mischief we find to be a malignant and pernicious design of subverting the fundamental laws and principles of government upon which the religion and justice of this kingdom are firmly established”.
- The Original Bill of Rights of 1689: King James II married a woman from Rome who had questionable allegiances; he imposed oppressive taxation, corrupted the court system, sought to enforce foreign law on the people and filled the churches with his men. Five ministers petitioned the king pleading him not to force foreign law on the English, but King James arrested them, charged them with a crime for disagreeing with the King in which “The Truth” was no defense. These men we’re imprisoned and the Glorious Revolution of 1688 began, resulting in the English Bill of Rights of 1689 – the document our founders carried with them when they came to America.
