Posts Tagged ‘founding fathers’
Debunking The Myth of Santorum’s “Big Government Conservatism”
CAMPAIGN TRAIL, CHRISTOPHER G. ADAMO The most often quoted passage from the Declaration of Independence is its proclamation of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as self-evident and unalienable rights. Sadly, in modern day America, only a comparative few have any knowledge whatsoever of the sentence immediately following: “That [...]
Franklin—The Price of Corn
Democratic Thinker, American Thought While in England prior to the Revolution, Benjamin Franklin, writing under to pseudonym Arator, favors farmers being abused by the newspapers and mobbed by the public. His economic principles mirror those observed some years later by Adam Smith in the Wealth of Nations. In my youth I travelled much; and I [...]
Samuel Adams—September 27, 1722
Democratic Thinker, Samuel Adams Samuel Adams. September 27, 1722—October 2, 1803. His nature is too noble for the world: He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, Or Jove for his power to thunder.— —Shakespeare, Coriolanus, III, i. ————— SAMUEL ADAMS was the counterpart of his distinguished associate in [...]
Freedom of Speech—Samuel Adams Shouted Down
Democratic Thinker, American Debate On the evening of October 26, 1791, Samuel Adams rose to speak against repealing the prohibition of theaters in Boston. Those of the town meeting wishing the repeal refused to allow him the courtesy. Long may Americans revere the Saviours of their country, and on the records let the occasion be noted with [...]
John Adams: Defense of the British Soldiers—II
Democratic Thinker, American Papers Following the Boston Massacre in 1770, John Adams joins in the defense of the British soldiers charged in the deaths. Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence; nor is the law less stable [...]
John Adams: Defense of the British Soldiers—I
Democratic Thinker, American Papers Following the Boston Massacre in 1770, John Adams joins in the defense of the British soldiers charged in the deaths. The rules of the common law, therefore, which authorize a man to preserve his own life at the expense of another’s, are not contradicted by any divine or moral law. We talk of liberty and [...]
Franklin—To George Whitefield (June 6, 1753)
Democratic Thinker, American Correspondence During the Great Awakening of the Eighteenth Century, Benjamin Franklin writes to his friend, George Whitefield—religious reformer and Methodist evangelist,—on matters of faith and works. By heaven we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree, and eternal in duration: I can do nothing [...]
Franklin: Plain Truth
Democratic Thinker, American Thought In 1747—during the troubles with France and Spain,— Benjamin Franklin publishes a tract reminding citizens of the imprudence exhibited by those accustomed to peace who do not take their security seriously. But the more insensible we generally are of public danger and indifferent when warned [...]
Samuel Adams—To Richard Henry Lee (January 15, 1781)
American Correspondence, Samuel Adams In 1781, while the war was still uncertain, Samuel Adams writes to his good friend and fellow patriot encouraging him to help inattentive citizens return to the first principles of liberty. It would be indeed alarming, if the United States should ever entrust the Ship in which our all is at Stake, with [...]
Samuel Adams—To James Warren (October 24, 1780)
Democratic Thinker, American Correspondence Despite the political shenanigans following the adoption of 1780 Massachusetts constitution, Samuel Adams advises his fellow patriot, James Warren, to not abandon public life. If ever the Time should come, when vain & aspiring Men shall possess the highest Seats in Government, our [...]
To Bigotry No Sanction, To Persecution No Assistance
Democratic Thinker, Freedom of Religion George Washington replys to Moses Seisas, Warden of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, who has welcomed him in part: “we now … behold a government erected by the Majesty Of The People,—a government which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance, but generously [...]
Our Enemies Have Mistaken Our Peace For Cowardice
Democratic Thinker, Background of the American Revolution Thomas Paine, just prior to the Revolution, publishes an anonymous editorial in which he argues that peace without the will to defend it, is not peace but slavery. He also equates religious freedom with political freedom. I am thus far a Quaker, that I would gladly agree with all the [...]
Democratic Thinker: Novanglus Essays No. 6: John Adams
The American Revolution—The Novanglus Essays John Adams, under the signature of Novanglus, published a series of essays in Boston just prior to the start of the armed conflict in America. An answer to the Massachusettensis essays, Adams laid out the American position on the natural rights of individual Americans and the rights enjoyed by all [...]
Democratic Thinker–John Adams: The Political Influence of Women
American Correspondence In the year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams discusses with James Warren his views on women in politics and the necessity for him to return to private life. She must certainly have misinterpreted Some Passage in my Letter, Since I never thought either Politicks or War, or any other [...]
Nil Desperandum
By Steve Farrell Liberty Letters, Samuel Adams, 1772 Human nature being what it is, patriotic fervor tends to come and go. In 1772, when it seemed to be more going than coming, James Warren reported to Samuel Adams from Plymouth about the towns he had been canvassing: "They are dead," he lamented, "and the dead can't be raised without a [...]
Celebrating America’s Birthday — Phyllis Schlafly
By Phyllis Schlafly I'm so glad that the Tea Parties are bringing a new appreciation of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution to grassroots America. Federal law now requires public schools to teach something about the Constitution on Constitution Day, September 17, but there is no such law about the Declaration [...]
Redistributing Taxpayers’ Money to Non-Taxpayers
by Phyllis Schlafly President Obama says he wants to "fundamentally transform" the American nation by spreading the wealth around. He has already co-opted the executive and legislative branches of government to do his bidding. Now he wants to use the judiciary, too. On January 18, 2001 on Public Radio WBEZ-FM, Chicago, Obama complained [...]
Who Are The Real Rebels? — Steve Farrell
By Steve Farrell Aldolf Hitler taught: "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it" Maybe you've heard this big one repeated a few times: The Founding Fathers were parochial, self-serving rebels against the existing order -- not unlike today's Progressives, Communists, and Globalists, who, nevertheless, [...]
The Shame of America or is that Sham? — T.F. Stern
By T. F. Stern, Our founders must be spinning in their graves watching what’s going on in Washington. The efforts of men like Adams, Jefferson and Hamilton are being slashed to pieces in order to force unpopular legislation through. The safeguards built into the legislative process are being sidestepped in the name of expediency. You [...]
Virginia Declaration of Rights — George Mason
Liberty Letters, June 1776, George Mason (Principal Author) A declaration of rights made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free convention; which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government. SECTION I. That all men are by nature equally free and independent [...]
Virginia Resolves on the Stamp Act — Patrick Henry
Liberty Letters, May 30, 1765, Patrick Henry In 1765 the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which placed a tax on newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets and broadsides, all kinds of legal documents, insurance policies, ship's papers, licenses, dice and playing cards. This led to widespread protest in the American colonies, and to the slogan, "No [...]
Letter On The Female Sex — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, August 1775, Thomas Paine O Woman! lovely Woman! Nature made thee to temper man, We had been Brutes without you. OTWAY. IF we take a survey of ages and of countries, we shall find the women, almost-without exception-at all times and in all places, adored and oppressed. Man, who has never neglected an opportunity of exerting his [...]
Hope or National Catastrophe? — Daniel Webster
American Minute with Bill Federer One of the five greatest Senators in U.S. history, the State of New Hampshire placed his statue in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall. His career spanned almost four decades, serving as Secretary of State for Presidents William Harrison, John Tyler and Millard Fillmore. His name was Daniel Webster, born JANUARY 18, [...]
Farewell Address — George Washington
Liberty Letters, 1796, George Washington Friends and Citizens: The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States being not far distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me [...]
The American Crisis 13b — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Sept. 9 1783, Thomas Paine A Supernumerary Crisis IN "Rivington's New York Gazette," of December 6th, is a publication, under the appearance of a letter from London, dated September 30th; and is on a subject which demands the attention of the United States. The public will remember that a treaty of commerce between the United [...]
The American Crisis 13 — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, April 19, 1783, Thomas Paine Thoughts on the Peace, and the probable Advantages thereof "THE times that tried men's souls," are over — and the greatest and completest revolution the world ever knew, gloriously and happily accomplished. But to pass from the extremes of danger to safety — from the tumult of war to the [...]
The American Crisis 12 — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Oct. 29, 1782, Thomas Paine To the Earl of Shelburne MY LORD, — A speech, which has been printed in several of the British and New York newspapers, as coming from your lordship, in answer to one from the Duke of Richmond, of the 10th of July last, contains expressions and opinions so new and singular, and so enveloped in [...]
The American Crisis 11b — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, May 31, 1782, Thomas Paine A Supernumerary Crisis. To Sir Guy Carleton IT is the nature of compassion to associate with misfortune; and I address this to you in behalf even of an enemy, a captain in the British service, now on his way to the headquarters of the American army, and unfortunately doomed to death for a crime not his [...]
The American Crisis 11 — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, May 22, 1782, Thomas Paine On the present State of News SINCE the arrival of two, if not three packets in quick succession, at New York, from England, a variety of unconnected news has circulated through the country, and afforded as great a variety of speculation. That something is the matter in the cabinet and councils of our [...]
The American Crisis 10b — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, March 5, 1782, Thomas Paine To the People of America -- On the expenses, arrangements and disbursements for carrying on the war, and finishing it with honor and advantage. WHEN any necessity or occasion has pointed out the convenience of addressing the public, I have never made it a consideration whether the subject was popular [...]
The American Crisis No. 10 — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Thomas Paine On the King of England's Speech OF all the innocent passions which actuate the human mind there is none more universally prevalent than curiosity. It reaches all mankind, and in matters which concern us, or concern us not, it alike provokes in us a desire to know them. Although the situation of America, superior to [...]
Firmest Props of the Duties of Men and Citizens — George Washington
Prophet Statesmen, George Washington 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 labour to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens.—The [...]
The American Crisis No. 9b — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, Oct. 4, 1780, Thomas Paine The Crisis Extraordinary. On the Subject of Taxation. IT IS impossible to sit down and think seriously on the affairs of America, but the original principles upon which she resisted, and the glow and ardor which they inspired, will occur like the undefaced remembrance of a lovely scene. To trace over [...]
The American Crisis No. 9 — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, June 9, 1790, Thomas Paine HAD America pursued her advantages with half the spirit that she resisted her misfortunes, she would, before now, have been a conquering and a peaceful people; but lulled in the lap of soft tranquillity, she rested on her hopes, and adversity only has convulsed her into action. Whether subtlety or [...]
The American Crisis VIII — Thomas Paine
Liberty Letters, March 1780, Thomas Paine Address to the People of England "TRUSTING (says the king of England in his speech of November last,) in the divine providence, and in the justice of my cause, I am firmly resolved to prosecute the war with vigor, and to make every exertion in order to compel our enemies to equitable terms of peace and [...]
Christian Education: Liberty's Friend — Benjamin Rush
American Minute with Bill Federer Called the "Father of American Medicine," he signed the Declaration of Independence, was Surgeon General of the Continental Army, and a staff member of the Pennsylvania Hospital, where he opened the first free medical clinic. His name was Benjamin Rush, and he was born JANUARY 4, 1745. He founded the [...]
The Federalist No. 8
The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States To the People of the State of New York: ASSUMING it therefore as an established truth that the several States, in case of disunion, or such combinations of them as might happen to be formed out of the wreck of the general Confederacy, would be subject to those vicissitudes of peace and war, of [...]
Thomas: First Things
By George Thomas (with a response from Steve Farrell) A review of Freedom for the Thought That We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment, by Anthony Lewis and Liberty of Conscience: In Defense of America’s Tradition of Religious Equality, by Martha Nussbaum The First Amendment was not, of course, "first" among the amendments put before the [...]
