"...and, the Year of Our Independence, two hundred twenty one"

…and the Year of Our Independence, two hundred and twenty one

Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
Independence Day, 1997

As recently as 1931, this phrase concluded official documents. The recognition of the progression of self-government was manifest in Herbert Hoover's refusal to institute a national welfare program. Since that time, America has been in a steady decline — away from that concept envisioned by the Founding Fathers.
What did the Founding Fathers have in mind, two hundred and twenty-one years ago? Prior to the War for Independence, the colonists were content with being British citizens, with all of the rights inherent to that status. Of course, all of those rights were, for all intents and purposes, a grant from the Crown, even though fought for and won by a series of revolutions over the years.
There had been, for centuries, an acknowledgment that a senior authority existed which could, and should, deal with the administration of government, and of the people. With few exceptions, even historical efforts at self-government maintained an allegiance to a senior authority.
From April 19, 1775 through July 4, 1776, the majority of the people hoped for and were willing to fight, and die for reconciliation with the Crown, and restoration of those rights granted thereby. Slowly, however, a concept, never attempted prior to that time, began to grow in the hearts of those who had come to the realization that reconciliation would always bear a subjugation, and probably worse, for the errant child's resistance to the maternal authority of the Crown.
The principle premises of that concept were embodied in the first few words of a document, approved by the Congress on July 2, and made public on the Fourth day of July, and the Year of Our Independence, one. "… to assume the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitles them,…" and "that [we] are endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Sovereign has always been the recognized authority of the state. Supreme, or in line to God was the source of this power. Recognition, however, that this power flows through all men was the natural evolution of the process that allowed men to revolt against absolute subjugation, as the British people had so many times. This new understanding was that all men were sovereign, by right of birth. This being the case, surely it was not necessary to be a member of the privileged class to conduct the duties of government. What made any man better than you, or me, to conduct the affairs of Our government?
After centuries, man had achieved his own manifest destiny. No longer would he be subject to the arbitrary authority of one who claimed to be a descendent of God. Each and every man could make that claim — each and every man would, from this day forward, be recognized by his birthright, sovereign in his own right.
The beauty of the concept is its simplicity, the demise of the concept has come from obfuscation into complexity. Through years of public (government) education, government indoctrination and simplification by the press, we have lost sight of what was intended by this brave experiment.
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." This phrase, although presented as a forgone conclusion, was the foundation of a concept yet untried. For the first time, the sovereign was the citizen of the country, not an individual, a family or a specific group or class of people. This, too, is the very heart and soul of the system. The WE are the source of all lawful authority in this country.
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its power in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." This, although prefaced upon the concept of self-government, was the justification for taking action. Never before, in English history, or any history of the world, was such a premise presented. The ultimate authority is hereby declared for posterity to forever understand — without benefit of an attorney or a congressman.
Subsequently, from 1787 to 1791, a document preserving those ideals and its first addendum, were created and ratified as the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Although, as the Ninth and Tenth Amendments so clearly state, all rights are not enumerated, those that were of concern were addressed in the original document. They were of concern because they had been demonstrated to be the tools of tyranny, the very tyranny that forced the repositioning of Englishmen as free thinkers and capable of self-government.
Some of these significant provisions, and current contradictions:
Constitution - Article I, Section 1 — All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
Today - Administrative agencies, all existing under the authority of the Executive Branch of government, continually promulgate "rules" allegedly consistent with the intentions of the Congress, but not specifically legislated by them. The Executive issues Executive Orders, which cannot be supported, in any way, by legislative enactments of the Congress. These two means deny the People, through their representatives, control of their government, and pass it on to bureaucrats, and their cronies. Bureaucrats are not answerable to the People, thereby removing from us the concept of self-government and replace it with rule by committee which is endowed with civil service protection of their right to continue in office under almost any circumstance.
Constitution - Article I, Section 8, clause 12 - "To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriations of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;"
Today - Six year contracts for military service (against the two year provision) is not the point of this violation. Under British Rule, the Governor (civil authority) had constables and the military to enforce law. The military could only act at the direction of the Governor. This separation of military and civil authority was significant, and very important to the maintenance of the concept of self-government. Tax collectors (BATF) and Investigators (FBI and DEA) have become "armies" by their very nature. They have also crossed the line in presuming to be military and civil authority at the same time. The consequence, in violation of the concept of self-government, is that they seek their own authority to commit military acts of force, and then, when questioned on those acts, are subject to their own investigators to report on these misdeeds. The consequence is that our self-government is subject to impositions of force, NOT by the representatives of the People.
Constitution - Article I, Section 8, clause 17 - To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District [Washington, D.C.]… "and to exercise like Authority over all …Forts, Magazines, Arsenals and other needful Buildings;"
Today — Congress, and the administrative agencies, extent their tentacles of control over nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Under the guise of their authority under the Commerce provision, they attempt to control not the commerce, rather the objects of commerce that are the Property that we acquire through our efforts. They extend their control by stealing from us our resources (taxes) and then coercing our state and local elected officials into submission to federal authority and imposition of improper and unjust rules and laws, using that tax money as the means of coercion.
Constitution - Article I, Section 9, clause 6 - No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
Today - The Internal Revenue Service collects, under the guise of public funds, billions of dollars every year. There has not been an accounting of those funds in many generations. The heart and soul of a government is its Treasury. Our heart and soul is unknown to us and our representatives.
Constitution - Article I, Section 9, clause 7 - No Titles of Nobility shall be granted by the United States… & Article I, Section 10, clause 1 - "No State … grant any Title of Nobility."
Today - Have you tried calling a judge, "Mr. so & so", lately? Contempt of court may be the result, because you have not recognized his Title of Nobility (and honor), bestowed by either the state or federal government. Attorneys cannot be recognized by the state or federal government. Instead, they are recognized by the bar association, and the state and federal governments (courts) recognize the bar association as an authority in determining who may have the Title of Honor that allows them to practice before the court, regardless of the desire of the person being represented. The establishment of laws which place one man's life above that of another. Generally, the people that are placed above others are the gun-wielders of government placed above the citizenry (sovereigns) of this nation. The public servants are more important than who they are supposed to serve. All Titles of Nobility or Honor conflict, directly, with the concept of self-government.
Constitution - Article II, Section 4 - The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Today - How many cases may constitute a violation of this section? How many have been brought before the Senate for impeachment (a charge) of these crimes? Is the Senate unwilling to enforce the Constitution, as our representatives in this self-governed nation?
Constitution - Article III, Section 2, clause 3 - The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crime shall have been committed;…
Today - Whether there is merit to the location of the trial, or not, it is the supreme law of the land, but it is ignored over and over, by the government, especially in current militia related trials.
Constitution - Article IV, Section 1 - Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.
Today - Unless federal judges determine to the contrary, as has occurred, frequently. Initiative measures have been overruled by federal judges in California, Arizona and other states within the past few years.
Constitution - Article IV, Section 3, clause 1 - New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
Today - Except West Virginia, which was created to establish a quorum, out of the State of Virginia, which Legislature never gave its consent.
Constitution - Article V - The Congress… shall propose Amendments to this Constitution,… which… shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States …
Today - Congress as allowed the acceptance as ratified, certain Amendments of which there is no proof of ratification, and has allowed an Amendment which was ratified, and recognized as such, for three generations, to be removed as the law of the land.
Article II in Amendment to the 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.
Today - Infringed is a very powerful word. It would appear that the impose "excise" (privilege) taxes would, definitely, be considered an "infringement" of this right. Yet, government not only taxes the right to keep certain arms and a national registry of ownership, but it has imprisoned, and even killed people for possession of untaxed Arms. To cover its misbehavior, it has coined the term "illegal weapons" to include those untaxed weapons, in hopes that the general public will believe that the government has the right to regulate and control that which is an absolute necessity to the maintenance of a free state of self-governed people.
Article IV in Amendment to the Constitution - The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Today - Search warrants, especially federal search warrants have become as common as Writs of Assistance were under King George III. The oath attached to these warrants is generally based upon hearsay evidence and is not specific as to what (all records…?) is to be seized. The lack of specificity, the night-time service, without notice (no-knock), the broadness of the search and the service by heavily armed, quasi-military service teams flies in the face of the abuses by King George that warranted this Amendment.
Article V in Amendment to the Constitution - No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
Today - The provision "unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury," is significant in terms of self-government. Never was the government given the authority to arrest (held to answer) anyone, without the consent of the people. No statutory law can change the Constitution, yet the usurpers in Washington have allowed not elected representatives, but administrative agency peons to determine to make an arrest, costing time, money, property, jobs and even lives, in absolute denial of the authority of the people.
This principle is reiterated in the provision, "nor be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law." The due process of law is the entire process, yet the deprivation of life (time), Liberty (freedom to work, play and enjoy your life) and property (money, land or objects) is denied by administrative process, and, should you be found innocent, the return of the property is without apology or compensation for loss, and there is no effort to replace that which cannot be replaced, life and liberty. Due process must be the entire process, especially that portion based upon participation by the people. Otherwise, the administrative agencies can make life miserable, and, perhaps, not worth living, solely on their whim.
What is "an offense"? Is it each part of an act, or is the act as a whole? The tendency for the government to blast a shot-gun of charges for a single crime is astounding. Surely, the Founders felt that you should answer, if charged, but the current system allows the accumulation of charges to a point that the jury is confounded and befuddled over the multiplicity of charges. They feel that they have little choice but the find the defendant guilty of at least one of the charges. This allows the government to circumvent the will of the people, by divisive means, and violate the concepts of justice envisioned by the Founders.
Article VI in Amendment to the Constitution - In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial,…, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Today - There is no doubt that there is, today, a speedy and public trial. That trial is held in the press, for all to observe, and is predicated upon leaked information, presented by the press as fact, but which usually never becomes a part of the case against the accused.
Defendants are, for the most part, denied his counsel of choice. He is allowed to pick an attorney from the list of those who have given up their citizenship (see Titles of Nobility, above), but denied lawful Attorney in Fact relationships.
Article IX in Amendment to the Constitution - The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article X in Amendment to the Constitution - The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
This two, very significant, Amendments are the final proof of what the true nature of government was intended to be.
To those who have set in their minds to celebrate this Fourth of July, our Independence Day, perhaps it my be more prudent to contemplate what went wrong, and how to restore this great experiment to its original purpose.
Self-government is viable—
but only if the diligence of the people is maintained.

Return to Outpost of Freedom - Today