Sacred Obligations

On several different occasions, I have talked about the three main characters behind the Constitution:  Hamilton, whom I refer to as the fire behind the Convention; Madison, aka the Father of the Constitution, who was the genius and architect behind the Constitution; and Washington, the Chairman of the Convention, who provided the essential legitimacy for the Convention to give it force and effect.

As such, I have been on a quest to bring their words to the forefront of all modern political debate and discussion.  The Federalist Papers are the essence of constitutional thought as delivered by Madison and Hamilton. Washington’s life, on the other hand, was the true embodiment of his political beliefs.  For example, during his Farewell Address of 1796 at the age of 66, Washington recounted that his feelings for his country were readily visible “after forty five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal.”  His personal service, which spanned his entire adult life, is without equal in American politics.

He was responsible for leading and winning the Revolutionary War; he chaired the Constitutional Convention and guided it through with his wisdom to the end; and he implemented the Constitution by becoming its first executive for two consecutive terms, all without remuneration for a life filled with sacrifice.  Consequently, no one else’s opinion on such things can even approach the weight and importance of Washington’s.

Of course, anything Washington might have said about the Constitution should be held in high regard.  Nonetheless, his Farewell Address of 1796, which was his last public speech, should be held in the highest esteem.  I would place this address on the same level of importance as the Federalist Papers when it comes to the Constitution.  I recommend it to every true patriot.  Washington leaves no room for error, when it comes to the Constitution.  We have a sacred obligation to keep it safe:

“Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I shall carry it with me to my grave, as a strong incitement to unceasing vows that heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of its beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the free Constitution, which is the work of your hands, may be sacredly maintained; . . . But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all.”

The definition of the word sacred is something “connected with God or a god or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration.”  Can there be any doubt about Washington’s meaning?  Did he really mean to bring religion into his public address as a retiring US President?  Yes he did, without question.  “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” 

With respect to the American way of life, Washington says that our American patriotic pride should be exalted above any other patriotism:  “The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.” 

Finally, Washington concludes on this subject that our national morality cannot exist without religion:  “Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.  It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.”

After laying the religious foundation of our Constitution and our American Patriotism, he then turns to exposing the greatest dangers to our Constitution.  Like Hamilton in Letter 84, Washington explains that the perils to the Constitution come from the usurpers:  “If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.”

Washington is making the point that all Second Amendment haters need to hear.  If the Constitution is wrong, then change it but change it “in the way which the Constitution designates” and that is through the amendment process as outlined under Article VI, §2.  Do not allow the usurpers of the Supreme Court to give legitimacy to Congressional legislation that expressly violates the Constitution.  Even though gun haters applaud their anti-Second Amendment efforts as something that is “good for our children”, they are nothing more than the puppets of the usurpers. 

It is ironic that the efforts of these dupes are not new or enlightened.  They are simply brandishing the “customary weapon” that corrupt politicians use to destroy free governments—legitimize the actions of the legislative body that ignore the express language of the Constitution just once and you can do it over and over again.  Americans allowed the Congress to violate the Second Amendment with unconstitutional gun control laws.  Now, the Constitution only means what the will of the judges and politicians say it means. 

We have seen this with respect to the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth amendments, wherein the explicit language of those amendments prohibits the government from curtailing speech, the right to worship as we choose, the right to assemble, the right to bear arms, the right to be secure in our persons, houses and effects, and the right to due process.

Yet, the NDAA eviscerates our right to due process by allowing the government to hold a citizen as long as they see fit without a court hearing.  The NSA has completely destroyed our right to be secure with their surveillance tactics.  The ACA has destroyed the right to practice our religion as we see fit by requiring religious employers to pay for contraceptives and abortions.  Gun control laws fly in the face of the right to bear arms. 

Yet, at the same time our express rights are done away with by legislative fiat, the usurpers have been handing out rights not even mentioned in the Constitution and enforcing those rights with the utmost ferocity.  Those unwritten rights, of course, are immoral and go against the religious principles of this country—the Christian religion.   Those rights include such things as abortion, the redistribution of wealth, and the right to so-called “gay” marriage. Even Madison referred to equal division of wealth as a “wicked project.”  Madison, The Federalist Papers Letter 10.

Washington even touches on our Country’s religious roots in his address: “With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles.”  The religion he was referring to, without question, was Christianity.  The Constitution is a “sacred” document and brings with it a “sacred obligation” to support, uphold and defend it.  This means that we have to stem the tide of these unconstitutional acts of Congress. 

I am convinced that the best way to do this is to kick the usurpers OUT OF OFFICE.  We need to impose term limits and return the power back to the states.  THE TIME HAS COME TO TAKE ACTION NOW!

©November 2013 Sacred Obligations, Madame Publius™