This Fourth of July – 2016

July 3, 2016 | Civil Liberties, Constitution, Founders, Jury

by Nicholas Testaccio

Richard Henry Lee, one of Virginia’s representatives to the Continental Congress having made the long journey to Philadelphia presented a resolution on June 7^th, 1776 that proposed the separation of the Thirteen Colonies from the state of Britain.

The Lee Resolution declared, “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; that measures should be immediately taken for procuring the assistance of foreign powers, and a Confederation be formed to bind the colonies more closely together.”

However, there were states that were not ready to take the steps necessary to break the bonds with England. On July 1^st, the Congress selected Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert R. Livingston of New York to draft “A Declaration”.

John Adams convinces Thomas Jefferson to write the first draft and in just three days the man from Virginia writes what will become one of the most poignant doctrine of history, proclaiming not only the reasons for “dissolv[ing] the political bands” of one people to another, but also detailing what was to become the most unique governmental enterprise known to man … A government “deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”, and subject to the popular sovereignty of the People.

After a long and arduous fight the “bands” were broken and a new nation was formed. The struggle was not over as the men from Virginia stood their ground to guarantee “certain unalienable Rights”. Once again the political genius that helped form this nation instituted a Bill of Rights.

Sadly, this Fourth of July we lament the end to the Bill of Rights for despite the admonition that “Congress shall make no law” every branch of this government, its bureaucrats, and unconstitutional agencies treat the document as if it were a blank sheet of paper that may be interpreted away by fiat, and tyrannical acts. Unalienable rights will eventually become irrelevant while being replaced with pretend rights that aid in the destruction of family, safety, honor, and integrity.

Today we live in a world where common sense is overwritten by political correctness. Our rights are no longer “endowed”, but rather privileges granted by the state.

1. Hordes of immigrants are granted favor for their religion, free speech is that which is consigned to zones and does not offend select groups, and this government of the People has declared it has no obligation to redress a grievance.
2. The body of the People most “necessary to the security of a free state” is gone through deceit and outright lies, and without our knowledgeable consent.
3. We quarter thousands of our friends, neighbors, and family as those who stand ready to write tickets, arrest for pretend offenses while allowing invaders to rape and destroy our traditions and laws.
4. We are subject to forfeiture of property, invasions of our home by teams of armed men, sometimes holding defective warrants, sometimes holding silent warrants, and always held by those without the recognized authority “to execute the Laws of the Union”.
5. We are subject to the ignorance, corruption, and ambivalence of a grand jury no longer under the control of the People, but rather subject to the machinations of often vicious and ambitious prosecutors.
6. We are held for criminal prosecutions derived from unconstitutional acts, and often deprived of knowing the nature and cause of the accusation, and unable to confront those in the state who make such fictitious claims.
7. We are subject to the whims and fears of an uneducated jury improperly, and erroneously instructed by a black robed administrator of the state.
8. We are fined or jailed for protecting our property, speaking out, resisting unlawful arrests, and attempts to reclaim our sovereignty.
9. Rights that are clearly defined are attacked and eroded ongoing, while those activities most repugnant to the sanctity of a free republic are lauded as something to be honored.
10. We are cowed to a federal oligarchy that imposes its will through schemes, or artful design that erodes, confuses, and confounds liberty while the state stays silent as its People are laid bare to tyranny.
    

This Fourth of July, we may drink our beer, eat our hot dogs, and celebrate the acts of some celebrity, or sports figure as the nation falls into decay, and the forces of evil encroach on every aspect of our lives.