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Praetorium Honoris

Thursday, July 4, 2024

When in the Course of human events ...

Declaration of Independence
John Trumbull
Source
I will probably (heavy emphasis on that word) not write another chapter in our fictional foray into national chaos and looming global war over the coming (for me) five day weekend. That could change, I am a fickle beast and I write as the mood strikes me. Anything can happen between now and next Tuesday, but for now I shall rest on my laurels and perhaps entertain you with little posts about inconsequential things until then. That being said ...

Enjoy your celebration of our Nation's independence from Great Britain and let us pray for a bright future for this country of ours. In real terms, we are the last best hope of civilization. Barbarism lies beyond the walls and is threatening to break through and extinguish all the things that we, as a species, hold dear.

Be well, my friends.


In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, 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 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.

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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to 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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 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, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, 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; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.





32 comments:

  1. And "John Hancock" had written that he wrote his signature "Large Enough' so that the King could read it with out his "Spectical's!!!!! on!!! I like that!!!!!!
    Audentes, Fortuna, Iuvat!!!!!,
    skybill

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    Replies
    1. USS John Hancock (DD-981) had that signature across her stern, as opposed to the more normal Navy practice of a simple font.

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  2. This is the day for this post Sarge, to quote Bill & Ted........ "Excellent!" More of my fellow citizens need to read this post.

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  3. Amen.

    Amazing how the State of California fits that description.

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  4. Thanks for the story and this post Sarge, I also approve of taking it slow over the Holiday,
    (though the wife says if I take it any slower I'll slip into a coma).
    And while I can appreciate such leisure times in the midst of the Blessing of Chinese saying times,
    I would caution you in your stated pursuits.
    As one who was required to give Uncountable numbers of Safety briefs, I feel I must remind you to ALWAYS insure your laurels have been properly maintained and lubricated. Failure from improper PMCS has ruined countless Safety Dept. Heads carefree weekends as they spend their time investigating, documenting and micro-managing the tragic outcomes.

    So remember, if you are going to have Fun, make sure it is Epic enough to ruin the Holiday time of at least three Dept. Heads and you will become the whispered Legend in the Halls of Enlisted for all Eternity.

    MSG Grumpy

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  5. For a moment I envisioned FJB instead of the King.

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    Replies
    1. I did as well, though for much longer than a moment.

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  6. "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed"... I would seriously love to see the great Conservative political minds of our day take this concept on in the application of the modern American government structure.

    Happy Independence Day, Sarge and all the Chanters!

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    1. ... pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

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    2. And history shows that they did indeed pledge (often Redeemed) their lives,family fortunes

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    3. And their sacred honor in their rebellion against the British.

      Many lost much, none got off Scott free" to defy the Kings government.

      I asked someone what of the offenses of King George was not in play today. Seems that was offensive to ask the question.

      So Sarge what inalienable right isn't subject to lawfare?

      Franklin said "A Republic if you can keep it "

      Michael

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    4. Any Mouse @ 4:09 PM - yes, they did.

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    5. Michael - Under the Progressives there are no rights. They must be stopped.

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  7. Quite a list of usurpations, and cogent explanation for the reasons of the governed's displeasure at continued consent.

    History does not repeat, but it rhymes, and far too many items on That List have similar events today.

    That is not good.

    After declaring our Independence, we eventually created and agreed to a Constitution to govern ourselves. A most excellent Constitution which protected our freedoms and hard won Independence, in the form of a republic. As Dr. Franklin noted, "If we can keep it."

    John Adams said, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Morality and virtue are the foundation of our republic and necessary for a society to be free.

    Morality and virtue are diminished when government actions reward and encourage immorality and iniquity, while harassing and punishing moral and virtuous citizens and behavior.

    I hope we can keep it.
    John Blackshoe

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    Replies
    1. Morality and virtue ...

      Aye! Those are the cornerstones.

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  8. Yep. All over a measly 5% tax...

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    Replies
    1. Um no, there was a lot more to it than that. But that's one of the things.

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    2. Taxation with out representation.

      Like the stealth tax Inflation, and soon I expect Hyperinflation.

      Michael

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    3. Again, that was part of it, but not all of it.

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  9. I alternately refer to the actions on this date by the Continental Congress as "Bugger Off King George III Day". Y'all have a blessed and enjoyable day.

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    1. Let's hope we can celebrate November 5th this year as "Bugger Off Brandon Day."

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    2. Hear hear! That list of facts, stating the King's intrusions of liberty can easily be found current events here in the US. Water the tree of liberty indeed.

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  10. IMHO, that's the most perfect, most important document written by human beings. I wish some of the folks who believe they're in charge, most of whom have a "D" after their name would read it and see themselves described therein. Take heed, while I pray it doesn't, it very well could happen again.
    juvat

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    Replies
    1. Oh! and Happy Independence Day to all y'all out there.
      juvat

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    2. juvat #1 - Doubt they ever will.

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    3. juvat #2 - Right back at ya!

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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