There is almost no greater sentence than that of the preamble to our constitution: “WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Prosperity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” It is important to realize that this was the first time in history where it wasn’t rich individuals forming and constituting the rulership of the country, but common people who were unified through an intense love of liberty. And this love of freedom is what for so long kept this country a secure union. For the people knew that the Founders had left them with the tools needed to stay knitted together as one unified nation. For united we stand, divided we fall. One may ask what these tools were. They were Justice, Liberty, Equality, Virtue, Religion, Wisdom etc. But through using these tools, its citizens created a peaceful country full of concord. But what is so special about the Constitution being centered around “We the People”? Adams and Reagan tell us why.
“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.”
”Almost all the world’s constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. Our Constitution is a document in which ‘We the People’ tell the government what it is allowed to do. ‘We the People’ are free.”
If we study the Founders’, Lincoln’s, and other people’s writings, we shall see that there is a heavy emphasis on “the people” and “the unity of fellow countrymen.” One way you can form a country of virtuous, wise citizens is by promoting a deep sense of unity. This is exactly what the Founding Fathers did. They did the will of the people, because they were part of the people. They were not above them, or more special than them; they were the ones who the people chose to lead them. They were there for the people, so that meant that they must respect and heed the wishes of the people. For that is what the government is there for.
“Every society, all government, and every kind of civil compact therefore, is or ought to be, calculated for the general good and safety of the community.” George Mason: remarks on Annual Elections for the Fairfax Independent Company, April 1775
We have much to thank the Founders for. First off, the way they formed this country for the freedom and peace of the people. They justly built a great government that was there to serve and protect the people. And they left us with their principles, which, if we follow them, will lead us to liberty and peace.
It is vital to intensely study the importance of “We the People” and to know that it all begins with the Declaration of Independence. For Jefferson is writing this for the people, because he was a one of them. We see this when in the opening sentence he says the following: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among them the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” He was clearly declaring the freedom of one united people. And the reason this is so important is that this meant liberty to the people. And he goes on then to state the principles of this newly united people, tells them the role of their government, and then says: “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or 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.” He clearly states that it is up to us, the people, to protect such a government, or even to change if necessary. In order for this to happen we must be united as one people.
We also see that the Constitution heavily stresses the people. “WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Prosperity, to ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” It is the people who wanted this Constitution, who supported this Constitution, and who followed the Constitution. And throughout the rest of the Constitution the people whole-heartedly accept this new government that was for the people and by the people. The Constitution’s whole goal was to frame a government that would not rule the people, but a government that would be ruled by the people. But the greatest achievement of the Constitution was the firm establishment of the rights of the people.
The constant theme of “the people” is not just limited to the Declaration and Constitution. If we examine the Federalist Papers we will see that they too were written for the people. For they were intended to allay the fears that certain individuals had with the Constitution. For Hamilton clearly saw that in a constitutional republic, power rests with the people. As Hamilton said: “The fabric of American Empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure original fountain of all legitimate authority.” So we can clearly see that the government was established for the people. The Federalist papers clearly show this truth. Madison in another place of the Federalist Papers says: “The people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived.”
We will now foucise on who the ‘people’ are and what there role is. When we refer to the people we mean the virtuous citizens which form this republic. So we can clearly see that when the people are referenced it is not the general population, but those citizens who hold fast to the Founders’ principles. This is why we should take special care to always hold on to the truth. If you would like to read more on what it means to be a citizen, click on the following link. https://shaftsofjustice.com/2022/02/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-citizen-of-the-united-states-2/
These citizens consist of the ‘people’. As we saw Hamilton and Madison both referred to the people as the fountain of true power. This is why it is sometimes a heavy burden to be a citizen of America. For we should at all times be observing our government and making sure that tyranny is not stealthily sneaking in. For we must at all times be on the watch that our government is not corrupted from without or within. Madison said: “[I]t is the reason alone of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government.” One way we should check the government is by staying informed of what is truly happening in the government. This is why we have freedom of press, so that through all the different sources we can piece the truth together. As Thomas Jefferson said: “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe deposit for these but with the people themselves; nor can they be safe with them without information. Where the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe. Another way that we can check the government is through preserving our individual rights. As Madison said: “Government is instituted to protect property of every sort; as well that which lies in the various rights of individuals, as that which the term particularly expresses. This being the end of government, that alone is a just government which impartially secures to every man whatever is his own.” For the Bill of Rights was put in place so that the American government could not take away the rights of the individual. For instance, we all have the right to worship as we see fit, as long as it does not contradict the Founding principles. We can buy, sell, or house guns without the consent of the government. The main reason this law was created was so that the people had the means to resist tyrannical government. We have the right to secure property. For no government official our anyone else for that manner may trespass on our land without our explicit permission. But we ought to be aware that we will still surrender a certain amount of liberty to the government. This inevitable, for whenever a country is created it is there to keep peace. And in order to safeguard peace and justice we must give up a very small portion of our liberty. For there are many people that if there were no laws would destroy our society. Let me be clear that all people, citizens or not, must obey the laws of our country. We only resist if they go against the rights and principles that were given to us by the Founders. Madison said: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.” So yes, we are to be governed, but we are still meant to be free, just citizens. We do not want the government to interfere with our everyday lives, we want them to protect our everyday rights. That was the problem with the COVID19 pandemic. The USA government did not allow individual citizens to take their own perceptions. That was an example when People should have stood up to the government.
“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
The main way that we can make a difference in the government is through elections. For in this way we can appoint the people that will best serve the needs of the people. The first question we should ask when we go to vote is: Is this person on the ballot of the ‘people’? Why is this important? Because, if they are merely some rich celebrity, they will in no way understand the people. For it is almost impossible that this person will do what is best for the people. Another thing that can help to show whether they are of the ‘people’ is their accessibility to communicate with them. Now of course almost no one can get in touch with the president and other political elites. But it is a good sign if you can email your congressmen, governor and local politicians. When you go to vote you should closely examine that person’s life so that you can see more of what he is like, often if we intensely study someone’s life we can know what they stand for, what they have stood for, and through this observation can better judge them. So when we go to elect people who are to be our models, our leaders, and most importantly our representatives, let us use wisdom to discern the good from the bad, the justice from the injustice, so that we may forever preserve our republic’s government pure and untainted.
Finally, how do “We the people” stay united as one People? The Founders believed that anyone could become part of the people as long as they swore allegiance to the declaration and constitution, promised to uphold the principlesl which formed this country, and were here in America to make it a better place. But to stay united, it starts with the individuals. If the individuals start violating the Declaration and Constitution, openly disregard the Founders’ principles, then we cannot be united. So we should look at ourselves and make sure that we are not through our actions destroying the unity of our country. For unity is what are country is, the United States of America! It is where individual citizens who honor the Declaration of Independence, respect the constitution, and fulfill the principles on which this country was founded, come together as one people to form a government, a country, a society. Where liberty justice and peace reign, this is what “We the People” means.
“In giving a definition of the simple kinds of government known throughout the world, I have occasion to describe what I meant by a democracy; and I think I termed it, that government in which the people retain the supreme power, and exercise it either collectively or by representation. This constitution declares this principle, in its terms and in its consequences, which is evident from the manner in which it is announced. “We, the People of the United States.” –James Wilson: Pennsylvania Ratification Convention, November 26, 1787
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