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Old October 5th, 2009 #1
Alex Linder
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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Default Constitution vs. Articles of Confederation

Founding Fathers of Our New Country

by Jim Quinn

“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” ~ George Washington

“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” ~ George Washington

“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.” ~ George Washington

The Great American Republic was shaped by individual events which are now part of American legend. The Battle of Bunker Hill, The Winter at Valley Forge, Washington Crossing the Delaware, the Constitutional Convention, and George Washington stepping aside after his 2nd term as President, evoke pride and honor in the hearts of many Americans, if their public schools still teach about these historic events. The politically correct “history” books today are more likely to concentrate on the impact of Marilyn Monroe on the culture of America. The Founding Fathers, including James Madison, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, risked their lives to create a republic. These revolutionaries declared their independence from an overbearing oppressive regime. The British Empire had been taxing the colonies to pay for their foreign adventures. The Founding Fathers were willing to risk being hung rather than live under tyranny, when they made the following declaration:

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.

After risking their lives and fighting an eight-year War for Independence against the most powerful military on earth, they came together and drafted the greatest governing document ever conceived. The U.S. Constitution and its Amendments struck the perfect balance, as it constrained the Federal government and allowed its citizens maximum freedom. It was designed to prevent the concentration of power by the Executive branch. Power was balanced between the three branches of government and jurisdiction was delegated to the States. Governance was placed in the hands of the people. This sublime document has served as our guide for over two centuries. Since the early 20th Century, America has gradually allowed this document to become tarnished and trivialized.

James Madison was the architect of this brilliant inspirational document in 1787. It is a remarkably concise document. The Constitution consisted of a preamble, seven original articles and the Bill of Rights. The beauty of this document is its clarity and brevity. An 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, whose health was rapidly failing but whose mind was as luminous as ever, on the last day of the Constitutional Convention urged passage of the Constitution with the following words of wisdom:

“In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution.

Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by Congress & confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts & endeavors to the means of having it well administered.

On the whole, Sir, I cannot help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it, would with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility, and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.”

Mr. Franklin in his plea to those attending the Convention also issued a warning which we have not heeded. A Constitution is only as good as the people who administer it. If the people become corrupted, the government will become corrupted, and the Constitution will become a worthless piece of paper. The wisdom and integrity of the governors of the Constitution are the strength that makes the document so powerful. The American people have failed to take note of Benjamin Franklin’s warning. We have allowed our desire for material goods, acceptance of easy wrong solutions to complicated problems, putting our selfish short-term desires ahead of the long-term needs of the country, and meddling in foreign lands, to corrupt our government and its leaders. Wisdom and integrity are rare traits in government officials today. They were plentiful during the American Revolution. These traits defined George Washington, the father of our country. These traits also define the U.S. Representative from Texas, Ron Paul.

A Noble Experiment – A Noble Leader

The ruling elite, backed by the powerful banking cartel, who control the political reins, the mainstream media, the military industrial complex, and the foreign policy of the United States, have trampled on the U.S. Constitution. They take every opportunity to denigrate its principles, call it an antiquated document meant for a simpler time, and scorn and ridicule those who risked their lives to write this noble governing document. The mainstream media attempts to protect its liberal agenda by disparaging the Boston Tea Party, Patriots, and the Founding Fathers. Millions of dazed and confused Americans know nothing about George Washington other than his face is on the dollars they use to buy Snuggies or fried Twinkies. They think his chief claim to fame is cutting down a cherry tree. The maligning of the Constitution and belittling of the men who created it, is part of the plan to retain and increase their power and control over the American people. If the broad swath of Americans decided to reinstitute the founding principles of the Constitution, the existing power structure would come crashing down in a heap of smoldering ashes. A Second American Revolution is brewing. The anger and rage of thinking Americans is palpable. The only question is whether this Second American Revolution will be peaceful or bloody. The Founding Fathers proved that an irate tireless minority can win.

George Washington is not a hollow, vacuous, meaningless symbol of a far simpler time. George Washington was a man of unquestioned integrity, tremendous leadership skills, true humbleness, and love of his country. He was truly the Father of our Nation. Henry Lee, in his eulogy of George Washington, captured the true spirit of the man:

“First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just, humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform, dignified, and commanding; his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting...Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues...Such was the man for whom our nation mourns.”

George Washington was born in 1732 in the British colony of Virginia to aristocratic parents. He could have lived a life of leisure on his plantation. Instead he chose a life of service to his country. He never involved himself in politics. He was a self-taught surveyor and soldier. He did his duty on behalf of the British monarchy during the French and Indian War. He was living an aristocratic lifestyle in Virginia during the 1760’s when the British Parliament began passing its series of unfair tax acts (Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Intolerable Acts). This imperious stomping on the rights and liberties of American colonists, led Washington to attend the 1st Continental Congress in 1774. After the opening shot was fired at Lexington & Concord, Washington arrived at the 2nd Continental Congress in military uniform. He was ready to risk his life and serve his country. The Continental Congress appointed him commander in chief of the Continental Army. He held this position for the next eight years of trial and tribulation.

A lesser man would have balked at such an overwhelming life-threatening task. Instead, he rode to Boston and assumed command of an undisciplined army of citizen farmers. He led this army through dark days and against insurmountable odds, outmaneuvering, outthinking, and ultimately defeating the vaunted British Regulars and the most powerful Navy on the face of the earth. Despite the lack of troops, lack of training, lack of ammunition, lack of food, lack of supplies and lack of support from the states, George Washington never lost his faith in his troops, his righteous cause of liberty or himself. The two events that embody all of the noble characteristics of Washington and the fledgling Republic were Washington crossing the Delaware to attack Trenton on Christmas night in 1776 and the winter at Valley Forge.

After losing a number of skirmishes with the British in New York and retreating into New Jersey, the morale of Washington’s army was at a low point. Soldiers were deserting and re-enlistments were declining. The weather was dreadful and even Washington feared the end of the revolution was at hand. The future of the fledgling country hung in the balance. On the night of December 25, 1776 General Washington and 2,400 troops set out on their rendezvous with destiny. General Washington’s password for the surprise attack on Trenton was Victory or Death. No words could have been truer. If Washington’s surprise attack failed, the war was lost. The boldness, audacity and brilliance of Washington’s plan was representative of the spirit and daring of the Patriots in there desperate struggle for independence. Crossing the ice clogged Delaware River in small wooden row boats in the middle of the night during an ice storm while two supporting groups failed to get across the river was a feat in itself. He then led his troops on a 9-mile march to Trenton. They attacked the Hessians and captured 1,000 out of the 1,500-man garrison. This victory over Regulars in the British Army rejuvenated the revolution. Washington followed this victory with another at Princeton. The Revolution had been in doubt only a week earlier, and the army was on the verge of collapse. With this bold victory, soldiers agreed to stay and new recruits came and joined the ranks.

One year later after losing battles at Brandywine and Germantown, Washington abandoned Philadelphia and retreated to Valley Forge in December 1777 with his weary, ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-equipped and ill-trained army of 12,000 citizen soldiers. Undernourished and lacking boots and uniforms, living in cramped, damp quarters, the army was devastated by illness and disease. Typhoid, jaundice, dysentery, and pneumonia were among the assassins that felled 2,000 men that winter. Washington voiced his despair in letter that winter:

"that unless some great and capital change suddenly takes place ... this Army must inevitably ... Starve, dissolve, or disperse, in order to obtain subsistence in the best manner they can."

Adequate clothing was scarce. Long marches had destroyed boots. Blankets were in short supply. Tattered uniforms were rarely replaced. At one point these deficiencies led 4,000 men to be listed as unfit for duty. A lesser man and citizen soldiers who cared more for their own farmsteads than their country, would have abandoned this seemingly forlorn cause. Instead, Washington and his dedicated patriot soldiers used the next six months to become a true army. Baron von Steuben, a onetime member of the staff of Frederick the Great in the Prussian Army, volunteered to help General Washington turn his men into an army. And this he did. From dawn to dusk his familiar voice was heard in camp above the sounds of marching men and shouted commands. Soon companies, regiments then brigades moved smartly from line to column, column to line and loaded muskets with precision. In June 1778 Washington’s Army departed Valley Forge as a cohesive unit ready for five more years of war. These men had forged a fresh spirit towards the birth of a new Republic. They had conquered the weather, doubt, and lack of training through sheer force of will, hard work, dedication and willingness to sacrifice, all for the good of a nation.

Read the rest of the article

October 5, 2009

Jim Quinn [send him mail] is Senior Director of Strategic Planning at an Ivy League university. This article reflects the personal views of Jim Quinn. It does not necessarily represent the views of his employer, and is not sponsored or endorsed by them.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/quinn/quinn15.1.html
 
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