Sons of Liberty
No 20
September 6, 1995
IF IT WAS POSSIBLE for men who exercise their reason to believe that the Divine Author of our existence intended a part of the human race to hold an absolute property in and an unbounded power over others, marked out by His infinite goodness and wisdom, as the objects of a legal domination never rightfully resistible, however severe and oppressive, the inhabitants of these colonies might at least require from the [US government] some evidence that this dreadful authority over them has been granted to that body. But a reverence for our great Creator, principles of humanity, and the dictates of common sense must convince all those who reflect upon the subject that government was instituted to promote the welfare of mankind and ought to be administered for the attainment of that end. ***
Our forefathers, inhabitants of the island of Great Britain, left their native land to seek on these shores a residence for civil and religious freedom. At the expense of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes, ...
...By one statute it is declared that [government] can "of right make laws to bind us in all cases whatsoever." What is to defend us against so enormous, so unlimited a power? ...We saw the misery to which such despotism would reduce us. We for ten years incessantly and ineffectually besieged the [government] as supplicants; we reasoned, we remonstrated with Parliament, in the most mild and decent language.
...We are reduced to the alternative of choosing an unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated [bureaucrats], or resistance by force.
The latter is our choice. We have counted the cost of this contest and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery. Honor, justice, and humanity forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them. if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon them. ***
In our own native land, in defense of the freedom that is our birthright and which we ever enjoyed till the late violation of it, for the protection of our property acquired solely by the honest industry of our forefathers and ourselves, against violence actually offered, we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors and all danger of their being renewed shall be removed, and not before. ***
A Declaration . . . Setting Forth the Causes and Necessity of Their Taking Up Arms
Second Continental Congress, July 6, 1775
Each of us must act in accord with his own thoughts and beliefs to determine when, and where, he will join the battle to restore the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and to recognize the intent of government as envisioned by the Founding Fathers.
- For Anna May Aquash, Joe Stunts and Leonard Peltier it began when the FBI created conflict and division on the Ogallala Sioux reservation in 1975.
- For Gordon and Yorie Kahl it began when the US Marshals set up a roadblock in 1983.
- For Donald Scott it began in 1992 when the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department decided that it was ‘legal’ to manufacture evidence in the hopes of obtaining Scott’s property.
- For Kevin Harris and the Randy Weaver family it began in 1992 as the government mounted an enormous and expensive surveillance over misdemeanor charges.
- For David Koresh and the Davidians it began in 1993 when the BATF, outside of their jurisdiction, sought to serve a search warrant, and collect a tax -- at the point of a gun.
- For Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols it began just a few months ago when they took the first offensive action of the Second American Revolution.
When will it begin for you?
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