Shafts of Justice

 “Fellow citizens” (I greet you with the words of our heroic president, Abraham Lincoln), think about how Lincoln addressed a whole crowd as his equals. One might be tempted to think, “How could Lincoln address a throng of people as his equals when his intellectual power soared far above that of the common listener?” Surely a man of such political stature could not deign to think of himself as equal to this social group? But the amazing thing is – he did! The fact that this attitude, and approach to leadership, was valued is what makes America such a wonderful, unique nation. That does not mean that all have equal roles or that the precise same treatment is due to all. It implies that all are equally God’s creatures and, so, that all should therefore be accorded the same rights in the eyes of the people. Just as is proclaimed in our Declaration,  “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.” Equality in America means that “we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights and among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” This was great news for a colony of independent, freedom-loving settlers. And we – as American Citizens – are truly fortunate to have had the Founders of our country declare this marvelous news. It is therefore fundamental to understand how the Founders viewed these inalienable rights.

Patrick Henry wrote  to Edmund Randolph, in 1788: “We have [a maxim], Sir, That all men are by nature free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into society, they cannot by an compact deprive or divest their prosperity. We have a set of maxims of the same spirit, which must be beloved by every friend of liberty, to virtue, to mankind. Our Bill of Rights contains those admirable maxims.”  

George Mason, in his first draft of the  Virginia Declaration of Rights, in 1776,  wrote:”All men are created equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity: among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing the obtaining happiness and safety.”

No person can justly speak of liberty without falling utterly short; perhaps no person can  fully comprehend liberty without first experiencing the pain of captivity. Do we all truly earn for liberty? Is liberty close enough to our hearts so that we would die to protect it? Let us all try to cultivate a love of liberty and pass that on to our fellow citizens. For the single greatest gift the Founding Fathers bestowed on us was LIBERTY. Let us not take this freedom for granted; let us fight to keep liberty a living breathing reality. As Abraham Lincoln beautifully said: “There is something back of these [the Constitution and the Union] entwining itself more closely about the human heart. That something is the principle of ‘Liberty to all’ – the principal that clears the path for all gives hope to all – and, by consequence, enterprise, and industry to all.”           

 The Founders believed that a citizen was a person who respected the Declaration of Independence, revered the Constitution and honored what the flag stood for. They emphasized the importance of virtue and morality, whether you were religious or not. The Founders believed that if you wanted to be a citizen, you had to be morally upstanding and pursue virtue. But when it came to religion, you could be a Christian, Jewish, atheist, etc., as long as your religion would not be a danger to America. The Founders held that all citizens of America should have freedom to worship however they see fit. All who have a spiritual thirst should be allowed to quench it in whatever manner suits them best. Since the Founders separated the church from state, we are no longer subject to worship as our superiors see fit.      

        

“Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks-no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea, if there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them.”

-James Madison: speech at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 20, 1788

“Human nature itself is evermore an advocate for liberty. There is also in human nature a resentment of injury, and indignation against wrong. A love of truth and a veneration of virtue. These amiable passions, are the “latent spark”… If the people are capable of understanding, seeing and feeling the differences between true and false, right and wrong, virtue and vice, to what better principle can the friends of mankind apply than to the sense of this difference?”

-John Adams: the Novanglus, 1775

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens… Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for live, in the sense of religious obligations desert and oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education … reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

-George Washington: Unknown

A citizen’s job is to protect his rights and the rights of his fellow citizens. This is what a citizen does. If we do not protect the rights and liberty of our fellow citizens, then who will help defend us from tyranny? If we are not willing to lay down our lives in the defense of the rights of our fellow citizens, we are not worthy to be called citizens. It’s essential to cultivate a sense of sacrifice for our fellow citizens. Citizens of America must also be willing to stand up and fight against tyranny. Citizens are called to be brave, patriotic heroes for their country. We must not be afraid to heroically rise up and save our republic from certain danger. But we cannot expect to be able to lay down our lives for our fellow citizens unless we aspire to become citizens worthy of the Founders’ expectation. Citizens should know the laws and practice them. We should stand for the National Anthem, and fly the flag, vote for people of wisdom and integrity, and be people of wisdom and integrity.        

 “The only principles of public conduct … are to sacrifice estate, ease health and applause, and even life to the sacred calls of his country. These manly sentiments, in private life, make the good citizen of public life, the patriot and the hero.”

-James Otis: Statement in court opposing Writs of Assistance – 1761

“Each individual of the society has a right to be protected by it in the enjoyment of his life, liberty, and property, according to standing laws. He is obliged, consequently, to contribute his share to the expense of this protection; and to give his personal service, or an equivalent, when necessary.”

-John Adams

” There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.”

-Alexander Hamilton: The Farmer Refuted, February 23, 1775

“Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it.”

-James Madison: Federalist No. 41, January 1788

“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”

-George Washington: First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789

“It behoves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others; or their case may, be changed of circumstances, become his own.”

-Thomas Jefferson

Regardless of what direction our government and country go in, we must remain true American citizens.  Many good so-called citizens nowadays would not even have been allowed to reside in America. The government was established to protect the lives and rights of her citizens. As soon as they start to threaten our rights we do not listen to them for a second longer. When we are afraid of our government we should know something is wrong. So we must through free election protect our country by voting for wise, virtuous, honest men of integrity. If these men lead us, then we do not need to fear the government. If these people make up the government, we do not need to rise up and destroy tyranny. If these people lead us, then we will prosper. To be a great citizen does not mean to listen to everything that our government says. The government is there to protect us, not to command us.

“The end of government being the good of mankind, points out its great duties: It is above all things to provide for the security, the quiet, and happy enjoyment of life, liberty and property. There is not an act which a government can have a right to make, that does not tent to the advancement of the security, tranquility and prosperity of the people.”

 -James Otis

“And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.”

-Richard Henry Lee: the Federal Farmer 1788

“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

-Thomas Jefferson: Unknown

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.”

-Thomas Jefferson: letter to William Stephens Smith, November 13, 1787

“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel.”

-Patrick Henry: Unknown

“There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to danger the public liberty.”

-John Adams: annual town meeting in Braintree, March 2, 1772

So let us all aspire to  live as citizens of true America – people of virtue, hard work, honesty, wisdom and integrity; let us all study the Founders and heed their wisdom.