Our Founding Fathers thought of everything. The Federalist Papers were written to assure the people of the colonies that forming a Republic would not infringe upon individual or states rights. James Madison one of the authors of the Federalist Papers and of course one of our Founding Fathers most assuredly is vomiting in his own grave...
"In the third place, those ties which bind the representative to his constituents are strengthened by motives of a more selfish nature. His pride and vanity attach him to a form of government which favors his pretensions and gives him a share in its honors and distinctions. Whatever hopes or projects might be entertained by a few aspiring characters, it must generally happen that a great proportion of the men deriving their advancement from their influence with the people, would have more to hope from a preservation of the favor, than from innovations in the government subversive of the authority of the people."
"I will add, as a fifth circumstance in the situation of the House of Representatives, restraining them from oppressive measures, that they can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of the society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It creates between them that communion of interests and sympathy of sentiments, of which few governments have furnished examples; but without which every government degenerates into tyranny. If it be asked, what is to restrain the House of Representatives from making legal discriminations in favor of themselves and a particular class of the society? I answer: the genius of the whole system; the nature of just and constitutional laws; and above all, the vigilant and manly spirit which actuates the people of America, a spirit which nourishes freedom, and in return is nourished by it."
Sunny - Hi 112 Lo 87 for Baghdad, Iraq Sunny - Hi 110 Lo 75 for Qandahar, Afghanistan Sunny - Hi 91 Lo 72 for Northern KY, USA
Song of the week: Ain't That A Shame, Cheap Trick
Too Funny... One of my first albums I ever purchased was Cheap Trick at Budokan. Rick Nielsen- lead guitar, Robin Zander- vocals and rhythm, Tom Petersson- bass and Mister Bun E. Carlos on the drums! I always had a crush on Tom... Dream Police album cover--- oh yeah. I was convinced at one point that Bun E. Carlos was actually Mr. Cassidy, my sixth grade math teacher. Watch the video and then look at the picture below and tell me they aren't one in the same... Why did I select this song to go with today's ramble? It has to do with the connection to tobacco... Bun E. always had a butt hanging out of his mouth...
Ramble:
This is long-- but this is really compelling history... and I think you will find the similarities to our struggles today... uncanny.
The painting that is now the front page of Sunday Morning Coffee is titled, Patrick Henry Arguing the Parson's Cause at the Hanover County Courthouse by George Cooke, 1834.
“Tobacco was the issue in the Parson’s Cause, which no doubt accounted for the historian’s remarks that ‘a true history of tobacco would be the history of English and American Liberty’. It was the high value of tobacco that first brought settlers to Virginia. Columbus first made mention of the weed in his diary of November 20, 1492. Some years after that, the cultivation of tobacco was commenced in Spain, and by 1525 the Spaniards were operating tobacco plantations in Mexico and the West Indies. From Spain, tobacco was shipped to England and became the cause of much controversy. Tobacco was later carried into France by a Portuguese ambassador, Jean Nicot, whence derives the word nicotine. Tobacco cultivation was first started by the English settlers in Virginia in 1612. Its increase was rapid, and by the year 1619, 20,000 pounds were shipped to England. Thirty years later the cultivation of tobacco increased to fifty million pounds. Tobacco in gold-leaf became the standard of value, as the colonies had not yet been permitted to coin money. Tobacco became accepted as legal tender. Tobacco was money. In 1621, 120 pounds of best leaf tobacco was ordered as payment for a maiden brought to Virginia to become the wife of a bachelor of the colony. In 1620, every planter and tradesman sixteen years and older was ordered to pay ten pounds of tobacco and one bushel of corn to the Rev. Francis Bolton for his services, the first rector from the Church of England on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
The enforcement of navigation laws was the cause of widespread distress and discontent, however the colonists remained loyal to the old country. The first navigation act was passed in 1651. It forbade the bringing of goods into England except in English ships or in ships built by the owners of the goods. To the American colonists this meant they could only trade with England and could only use English ships. In 1664 the tobacco crop of Virginia was worth less than three pounds and fifteen shillings to each person. In 1667 the price of tobacco fell to one halfpenny per pound. In 1696, the salaries of the clergy of the Established Church were fixed by statute of 16,000 pounds of tobacco annually to be levied to the vestries on the parishes. In 1755 a long drought made a shortage in the tobacco crop. The House of Burgesses, observing that it would be impossible for planters to pay their debts, passed an act which for ten months made it lawful for debtors to pay all tobacco debts in money, at the rate of sixteen shillings and eight pence for every hundred pounds of tobacco. Because of the two pence per pound rate, the act became known as the ‘two penny act’. In 1758, bad weather again cut the production of tobacco, which caused the Assembly to pass an act similar to that of 1755 to be continued in force for one year. The Governor had given his nod, but without permission from the King. The Burgesses had asked permission of his Majesty to act on their own initiative in certain emergencies, but their requests were disallowed.
The clergy of the Anglican (Episcopal) Church, whose salaries had been paid in tobacco fumed over the new act. The clergy held a convention, petitions were signed and sent to the Bishop of London. Rev. John Camm led the attack on the Virginia Assembly for its actions and was elected to go to London with a petition and have the act vetoed. He succeeded. Shortly after, several clergymen brought suit in the country courts to recover the difference due them in the value of tobacco."
By the time Patrick Henry was twenty he had been a storekeeper and a farmer. Thomas Jefferson met Patrick Henry and wrote the following, "My acquaintance with Mr. Henry commenced in the winter of 1759-1760. On my way to the college I passed the Christmas holidays at Colonel Dandridge's to whom Mr. Henry was a near neighbor. During the festivity of the season I met him in society every day, and we became well acquainted, although I was much his junior, being then in my seventeenth year and he a married man. His manners had something of coarseness in them; his passion was music, dancing, and pleasantry. He excelled in the last, and it attracted every one to him."
At seventeen, Thomas Jefferson recognized the natural gift Patrick Henry had. At the age of twenty-three, Patrick Henry decided he would practice law. Different accounts of history show Henry to be a failure at owning a shop and being a farmer, but there was also a drought and he extended credit to folks in his community that were less fortunate which subsequently ended his days in business. Yes... global warming... err uh...climate change and bad business decisions even in the eighteenth century. Where was Henry's bailout? So, Patrick Henry studied law and quickly became a lawyer. It is well documented that he was a good attorney. He had a ledger filled with clients and his fee was fair.
On December 1, 1763 the case of Maury (clergy) against Johnson (collector) took place. Mr. Henry represented the defense. The trial drew an enormous crowd, the room was packed, people were peering in all the windows and doors (That's what happens when you don't have cable tv). The plaintiff and King's attorney, Peter Lyons, argued the clergy only received a third of the amount owed them based on market price of tobacco. It was then time for Patrick Henry to stand and provide an argument for the defense.
"Initially, he appeared awkward and his words came slowly. Finally, the words came to him and he became lofty and challenging and his faced lighted up. In 'a voice and emphasis peculiarly charming' he discussed the mutual relationship and the reciprocal duties of the King and his subjects, declaring that government was an arbitrary agreement composed of mutual and dependent covenants, whereby the King is sworn to protect and the people to support and obey. He reminded the jury that in Colonial Virginia, the Burgesses was House of Commons; the Council the House of Lords; the Governor the King. That the King had given province of Virginia the right to make its own laws of taxation, therefore the Act of 1758, which provided for the necessities of the people, having the approval of the Burgesses, the Council and the Governor, was a good law- a valid law; and if disallowed by the King, it proved misrule and neglect, and even a King had no right to declare void a law made by the people...In so doing, he was no longer worthy to rule them.
Patrick Henry cried, "When a King degenerates into a tyrant, he forfeits all right to obedience!"
Immediately the King's attorney accused Patrick Henry. "Treason! Treason!" But my guy, Patrick kept on going. He discussed all the struggles incurred by the hardworking people...drought ruined not only tobacco crops, but grain as well and this was compounded by high taxation caused by the French War. The average citizen could only afford bare necessities. Henry discussed the purpose of the Established Church and clergy in society was to enforce obedience to civil sanctions and the observance of those duties of imperfect obligations; that when a clergy cease to answer these ends, the Community have no further need of the ministry and may justly strip them of the appointments.
Henry said, "We have heard a great deal about the benevolence and holy zeal of our reverend clergy, but how is this manifested? Do they manifest their zeal in the cause of religion and humanity by practicing the mild and benevolent precepts of the Gospel of Jesus? Do they feed the hungry and clothe the naked? Oh no, gentlemen! Instead of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked these rapacious harpies would were their powers equal to the will, snatch from the hearth of their honest parishioner his last hoe-cake, from the widow and her orphan children their last milch cow! the last bed, nay, the last blanket from lying-in woman!"
The room was captivated...he spoke for another hour. He told the jury that they must find for the plaintiff, since it was the ruling of the court, but only one farthing... one farthing would be sufficient. In less than five minutes the jury returned with a verdict siding with the plaintiff and awarded one penny.
Patrick Henry was the first to denounce tyranny of church and state. There would be others...the spark of revolution had been struck and the desire for liberty and freedom had been established.
A decade later Patrick Henry would say these very famous words,
"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace! The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
Patrick Henry is one of my heroes. I hope you heard the passion and conviction of this Founding Father. He was only 27 when he argued the Parson's Cause. He was 39 when he gave his Liberty or Death speech.
There is a new tyranny and a new religion... it is one that takes from you and imposes their beliefs on you. I ask you, who will be our Patrick Henry?
Sunny - Hi 110 Lo 88 for Baghdad, Iraq Sunny - Hi 107 Lo 77 for Qandahar, Afghanistan Partly Cloudy - Hi 81 Lo 65 for Northern KY, USA
Song of the week: Can't Find My Way Home, (Blind Faith) - Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton - 2007
I have always liked this song... it's a rolling down the road kind of song... it's lonely... searching...
Ramble:
Michael and I spent Saturday driving about 3 1/2 hours 1 way down to Franklin, Kentucky to visit Octagon Hall.
Andrew Jackson Caldwell laid out the foundation for his new family home. With a desire for distinction, his home would not be a simple structure like so many others, but an eight-sided edifice unique to the region. Octagon Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was used during the Civil War by Confederate and also Federal troops, it served as a Civil War hospital. Built prior to the Civil War, it is now site of the Octagon Hall Museeum & Kentucky Confederate Studies Archive. There is a rather extensive library, and a display of Civil War artifacts, Native American artifacts, and genealogical and historical research material. There is a slave cemetery, and historic gardens in season.
The house is incredible-- started in 1847 and completed in 1859-- the uniqueness of the place... the size of the foundation stones are enormous-- we were wondering how in the heck they got the stone to the house...The work that had to be completed to build this home.
The home is in various levels of disrepair. The interior shows serious signs of water damage, some bozo put in drop ceilings on the upper level. The current owners, are doing their best... but some things cost money... However, I think a little Spic-n'Span would make a world of difference as well as ripping out all the tacky window treatments... and getting rid of those gawd awful mannequins...
Caldwell was a Confederate sympathizer... during the Civil War Caldwell opened his home to injured soldiers..., it is recorded that on the eve of the Battle of Shiloh- 12,000 to 18,000 men camped on the grounds of Octagon Hall.
I must tell you... I did not like the place. I felt unsettled... There are some beautiful trees on the property... a dogwood-- at least 150 years old... magnolia, cypress... Michael and I walked out to the slave cemetary... sad... horrible... the cemetary is in an oval of old cypress trees-- forgotten... I was creeped out by the photo of Caldwell and his wife... Michael made a comment after we were home that he and his wife looked like they could have been fraternal twins... I couldn't find any history on them specifically... but I can tell you... I didn't like this man.. this woman... that cemetary.. unmarked graves... the life the slaves led... even if he was kind to them... they were not free... they didn't have liberty...
Thank God for Abraham Lincoln. I must wonder what he would think about our current state of affairs...
* click on each photo for a larger view *
After we left Octagon Hall we drove into Franklin for a late lunch. Franklin is the county seat for Simpson County. One of the locals was not intimidated by us outsiders... He was unusually large for a squirrel...
We saw this flea market driving down... and I had to get a pic of it heading back home... We are definitely going back... I mean someone claims this is the most awesome flea market in the world... well... you just have to check it out for yourself... ya know?
I'll post more of the pictures on my Facebook page-- just as soon as I figure it out...
Sunny - Hi 112 Lo 87 for Baghdad, Iraq Sunny - Hi 108 Lo 74 for Qandahar, Afghanistan Isolated Thunderstorms - Hi 85 Lo 64 for Northern KY, USA
Song of the week: Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman), Richard Wagner
The Flying Dutchman by Richard Wagner is a romantic opera. Wagner's earliest opera was based on the legend of the Dutch captain who defied Satan to prevent him rounding the Cape in a storm. He was condemned to sail the seas until Judgment Day, unless redeemed by a woman's love. Read more here.
Young Americas Foundation Chicago talk show host Sandy Rios reveals the horror stories of life in socialist countries. This speech took place at Young America’s Foundation’s Midwest Conference. Running Time: 00:43:09
Ramble:
Scooter Trash Husband and I have been hitting the history books of late. We've been watching lots of documentaries all the while trying to keep up with the rapid pace of all that is occurring today. Americans have been witness to extraordinary times. My grandparents stand in disbelief as events unfold. I can not imagine their point of perspective on this.. For God's sake... they fought this form of tyranny 60 years ago. We have forgotten already? There is no doubt we are marching towards Socialism. There is an apathy and indifference that has taken hold of the people. Who can forget the young woman during the elections that believed when then President-elect Obama would get into office, she need not worry about paying for gas for her car or her mortgage? In observing young people today... those that have just entered the work force do not go beyond what is absolutely required to perform their job duties. And even younger people (those in high school)do not see anything wrong with spreading the wealth... Yes... yes indeed.. timing is everything.
In looking at Socialism and Communism throughout history, there is this slow ooze of change... if ever so slight... for a very long time... little things really.. nothing of any consequence or real substance but then all of a sudden and virtually overnight with a fury of lightning speed major changes occur and for the common working soul it is overwhelming and there are so many things happening simultaneously, it is hard to keep up with all of it.
What are the "slow oozes of change"? Well, seatbelt laws and smoking bans would have been unheard of in the 1950's. Sure sure.... we can say we didn't know the safety and health risks... ok... what about baggy pants laws? If some dopey goofy kid wants to walk around with his pants hanging down to his hips and his parents are too stupid and pathetic and apathetic to say no... who am I to dictate what is fashion? I can always say no--- no shirt, no shoes, no baggy pants in my establishment... Why does this have to be mandated by government? What about Zero tolerance laws? Are you kidding me? Yah... the 16 year old girl with Midol gets expelled from school... unreal... What about neighborhood association rules? You know the ones I'm talking about... You as a HOMEOWNER can not paint your house purple with pink polka dots... or You as a HOMEOWNER have to have a particular type of mailbox or have to store your trash cans in a particular area... or You as a HOMEOWNER can not have 150 pink tacky plastic flamingos in your front yard (we have 2 in our front yard so that's different... thanks Rob and Jo) or You as a HOMEOWNER can not put your 4 beater cars up on cinder blocks in your front yard... Sure... these are all to keep the neighborhood free of looking like Hillbilly Heaven... but what about You as the HOMEOWNER not being permitted to place a flag pole in your front yard? What? You can't fly Old Glory? No common sense in anything anymore... Has anyone checked the Constitution on this? Does anyone realize these are all UNCONSTITUTIONAL? But because, we are more interested in aesthetics... well... we'll just let that slide...
So while the masses are entertained by Panem and Circuses such as the Paris Hilton's and Perez Hilton's and Michael Jackson's (or err uh... ex-Michael Jackson's) we have handed our banks over to the Federal Government... We have handed over 2 car manufacturers to the Federal Government... The House of Representatives has passed cap and tax.... Honestly... on Global Warming? We are on the verge of having nationalized health care. How many Executive Orders has President Obama issued? How many Czars has President Obama appointed because there were not enough seats at his Cabinet table? What exactly does a "Special Master of Compensation (Pay Czar)" do? All the while the undertow of becoming a Godless nation continues. The bias of mainstream media is blatant... I'm not writing about Democrats vs. Republicans... Like a growing number of conservatives I have little use for any politicians. I'm writing about conservative vs. liberal, right vs. wrong, good vs. evil, real science vs. junk science, religion vs. new age.... I'm talking about common sense. I'm talking about the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. AHHHH!!! I'm so frustrated!!
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana
An interesting timeline of the rise of Nationalsozialismus (Nationalized Socialism) can be found at Shoah Education.
Podcast of the week: Kate Obenshain: America—The Greatest Nation on Earth Young America's Foundation - running time 31:58. "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." An excellent reminder of why this country has been blessed
Ramble:
Friday night my niece spent the night with us. Man-- she is one really cool kid. Sweet, painfully shy, but incredibly observant of the world around her, she is the future of this country and I feel horrible a million... uh billion.... no.. a trillion different ways. She and her Dad and her Obasan went to the Cincinnati Zoo. Terry reconnected with an old friend and had a "behind the scenes" tour of the zoo. I wish I could have taken the day off from work to go, but alas... staying employed is kind of critical these days. In any event, here are a couple of photos Kamae took. The polar bear pic-- which is my favorite was taken by my niece. The other is a picture of Kamae standing in front of a baby Okapi. She also had the opportunity to feed and pet a manatee, rhinoceros and got to hang out with penguins... now that is a good day.
A bad day is when I read that my Representative Jeff Davis voted to impose an additional tax on certain TARP recipients.... (AIG) ok... first don't even go there with TARP--- but no taxes... means no taxes... I love the indignation of the likes of Charles Rangle.... Who does he think he is fooling? Good Grief! A bill like this can (and will) be a slippery slope to tax others...I like that... "We the Government do not like this bonus you are receiving... therefore we will tax it by 90... 95... 99... ok ok 100%!! Sucks to be you... Have a nice day you moronic little piece of dung idiot citizen who keeps getting up and going to work."
A nice little email will be going out today.
Jean Schmidt, Representative for Ohio also voted in favor... She really ticked me off-- she was at the Cincinnati Tea Party last Sunday... GRRRRRRR....
If you want to see how your representative voted, go a here... Also, here is a link to GPO Access. Here you can find Bills that the 111th Congress has in front of them..
Please listen to the podcast... it is real important that we find strength in the Classics... you know the Bible, The Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, The Gettysburg Address... Please take a few minutes to read them... We are in a weird place... But it is not yet the darkest of times.
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more.
Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't just fight the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Most of us take these liberties so much for granted...We shouldn't.
Brief Biographies of the 56 Signers can be found here.
"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government — lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." - Patrick Henry
Bit by bit, piece by piece, little by little our unalienable Rights are being stolen...
Contact your Senators... tell them to do the right thing. Tell them to stand up against this so called Stimulus Package.... Tell them to stop the spending...
Find your Senators and drop them a note... Me? I have already contacted Sentator Bunning and Senator McConnell. I'm now working my way through the rest of the senate...
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
I am an independent, patriotic, conservative with a passion for fine art.
I'm devoted to my husband and all the things we find important- our time together, our family, our country.
I'm forever a pessimist, but doing my best to change that.
Our Founding Fathers thought of everything. The Federalist Papers were written to assure the people of the colonies that forming a Republic would not infringe upon individual or states rights. James Madison one of the authors of the Federalist Papers and of course one of our Founding Fathers most assuredly is vomiting in his own grave...
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