The Declaration of Independence is the most remarkable legal and political document of all time. It reveals the genius of our founding fathers as well as the deep and abiding love, as well as , jealousy they had for freedom.
These men didn't want, or seek to be, radicals. rather their hand was forced by a king and government that had become unresponsive to the will of the people. the idea of some form of declaration was first put before the Continental Congress on June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.
The resolution that Lee put forward stated "That theses United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states". By June 10th congress appointed a committee to study this proposal, and on July 2, 1776 Congress began to debate a draft of the declaration. On July 4,1776 it was adopted in it's final form and read to the people on July 8 of that same year.
The preamble states the purpose and reasoning for adopting a declaration of Independence from Britain.
The men who founded this nation had finally had enough, and even as they convened, warfare had already broken out in the Colonies they wanted the world to know why they had been forced to separate from Britain and the throne.
The second major portion of this awesome document puts forth the rights these co-equal people were entitled to.
"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."
Notice they said that all men are created equal period. They didn't say all men were entitled to social justice, or equality of wealth, or that everybody ought to have equal anything other that all were equal. Equal in standing and stature before God, and entitled by the laws of nature to be treated as equals under the law. No class or station or office made one person more equal than another.
"That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
This is by far in my opinion the most striking as well as important statements in the Declaration.
That the power of the government flows from the PEOPLE to the government not the other way around. It seems to me that the present crowd in Washington would do well to read this again. especially when the rest of this paragraph say's...
"That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government"
This speaks for itself the founders saw it as the duty of men to throw off a government that was trampling on their freedoms. It further states...
"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"
I don't advocate any violent form of revolution, but if the founders were here today and took a look at what has happened lately, especially the cap and tax bill, they would probably advocate for revolution. Thankfully in the second great document of this country, the Constitution, they provided for a peaceful revolution through the ballot box.
These are great passages that hold great relevance for our times. but consider one more line from this beautiful creation.
"He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance"
take time to download and look through the text of Waxman -Markey. This abomination to -true American ideals and principles- is chock full of new agencies, programs, and government agents who will no doubt eat out the financial, economic and political freedoms of every person, company, and institution in this country! And take time to read the Declaration and share it with your children so they can know how to grow up and demand Freedom!
