GEORGE WASHINGTON STATED

Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty teeth.



First Inaugural Address of George Washington...April 30, 1789

The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.

The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Abraham Lincoln said:

"In this age, and in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it nothing can suceed. Whoever molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions."

James Madison Declared

The adversaries of the Constitution seem to have lost sight of the PEOPLE altogether in their reasonings on this subject; and to have viewed these different establishments not only as mutual rivals and enemies, but as uncontrolled by any common superior in their efforts to usurp the authorities of each other. These gentlemen must be reminded of their error. They must be told that the ULTIMATE AUTHORITY, wherever the derivative may be found, RESIDES IN THE PEOPLE ALONE. (Federalist Papers, No. 46, p.294; emphasis added.)

Thursday, January 29, 2009

William LeFew's letter to the Editor

Mr. LeFew got most of what he said in his Letter to the Editor dated January 29, 09 to the Northwest Herald correct. The peaceful transference of power noted on Inauguration Day is to be commended.

However if one reads the papers and records of the Founding Fathers their idea of who would have the right and privilege to vote for their representatives in the envisioned new republican form of government was not what we today enjoy and take for granted. Not everyone was included in this group of "voters"; they the Founding Fathers feared a take over by what was called then the uneducated rabble or at times referred to as the "mob". To them the voter would be a stakeholder in this new country; someone who was a land owner, business owner, educated to some degree so he could read and understand issues and not on the receiving end of government money. They feared that if all were to be allowed to be voters that they would vote for the candidate that would would promise them more and more until the government would find itself bankrupt and unable to fulfill its promises. In other words they felt that voters should be males who had something to loose if they voted unwisely and not individuals who only had something to gain....sound familiar? Women were not even considered in the argument at that time.

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