Michael LeMieux -- If Jefferson Was Here

IF JEFFERSON WAS HERE

By Michael LeMieux
March 30, 2010
NewsWithViews.com

[The following is a modern adaptation to Thomas Jefferson and Colonel John Dickinson’s July 6, 1775 document entitled “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms.” After hearing a recommendation and small piece from Mike Church, (www.mikechurch.com) on his radio program, I was interested to read more and thought the readers here would appreciate a founder’s view of our current situation. This is only a fictional look at one writer’s view of how Thomas Jefferson may view our current environment and is not meant to be taken literally. But it is food for thought on what our forefathers endured and how it is as relevant today as then.]

A declaration by the representatives of the United States of North America, now met in Congress at Washington DC, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms.

As has been established since the dawn of this great nation the belief in the equality of all mankind and a belief that no part of the human race should hold absolute property or control by another, nor would our creator esteem that one group would have rightful dominion to oppress the inhabitants of the many states of this great nation and at a minimum would require the central government to provide evidence that the powers currently wielded by this government has been granted to that body.

But with the reverence for our creator, the principles of humanity, and the dictates of common sense espoused in our Declaration of Independence, with firm belief that governments are instituted to secure the rights of those they govern for the purposes of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness and ought to administer that government with a single eye toward that fulfillment. The legislature of the United States of America, however, plied on by the drunkenness and passion for unjustifiable power, which they know to be beyond the Constitutional limits granted to them, and where their intentions should have been grounded in truth, law, or right, have beyond measure, deserted those in their trust, have passed every more oppressive laws and taxations enforced by violence upon their own people, and have made it necessary for us to move them to reason before no other option but the reason or arms would dictate. Yet, however misguided that assembly may be, by their quest for unlimited domination over more facets of the American system, we find it necessary, out of respect for the remaining civilized world, to make know the justice of our cause.

Our forefathers, and generations of patriotic inhabitants of this land have fought many wars and suffered as many trials in the pursuit of and to maintain civil and religious freedom. At the expense of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes, giving freely of the foundation and treasure of their honor, by unceasing labor, and an unconquerable spirit, they have created the greatest nation the world has known, hewn from the inhospitable wilds of America. – Societies or governments, vested with perfect legislatures, were formed under Constitutional charter, and power balanced between federal, state, and the people. The mutual benefits of this union became in a short time so extraordinary, as to excite astonishment. It is universally acknowledged, that the amazing increase of the wealth, strength, and mobility of this great nation, arose from this source and the founders who laid the course of freedom. – As we moved further away from our founding principles, both in time and practice, we have noticed the change in direction. – From those fatal decisions, the affairs of the Federal government began to fall in to confusion and disarray, and gradually sliding from the pinnacle of glorious prosperity, which they had risen to upon the virtues and abilities of honorable men, are greatly distracted by the convulsions of power struggles, that now shake this government to its deepest foundations. – The new administration taking heart in the frenzy of campaign fervor, though now frequently defeated in their attempts, still persist, and have taken up the ill advised idea of granting federal solutions to all the nations ills, took up offerings of grand schemes to favor votes for hasty passage, and then throwing faithful friends under the passing hooves.

These states were judged to be in such a condition, as to present little obstacle to the advancement of federal plunder. – The relative peaceful existence of the states with one another and with the central government, even during times of trial and war, and so recently acknowledge by the President and Congress, could not ward off our current calamity. – Congress was pressured to push for and pass destructive programs, and assuming new powers over them and the people, given such decisive examples to the corruption of power, as to leave no doubt to the effects of those affected by that power. This government has undertaken to redistribute our money without our consent, though we have always maintained the exclusive right to dispose of our own property, statues have been passed extending the jurisdiction of the federal courts and legislature beyond their enumerated limits; for depriving us of our right of trial by jury, in cases affecting freedom and property in tax courts, for meddling in the affairs of sovereign states, for imposing unconstitutional laws on commerce to control vast sections of the economy and power over unconstitutional jurisdictions, for passing statutes for the oppression of free trade and giving advantage to foreign sources, and for ceasing state and local police power by contract based upon receiving federal funds making state and local police agents of the federal government. It has also been resolved in Congress that citizens charged with committing certain offences, may be held by military forces without trial, without right, and without counsel. But why should we list our injuries in detail? What is to defend the people against so enormous, so unlimited a power? But wherein have we been heard? How has this government changed from its destructive course? We have seen from our founding the destruction such despotism would reduce us too. We for decades incessantly and ineffectually besieged the government by petition, we reasoned, we have protested with Congress, in the most mild and decent language.

Our petitions were answered with silence and when plied for response was told they would answer with force. The indignation of the Americans was roused, it is true, but it was the indignation of a virtuous, loyal, and affectionate people. Representatives from every state of the Union assembled on July 4th, 2009, in the fashion of our original tea party. We resolved again to offer a humble and dutiful petition to the President and Congress. We have pursued every peaceful and respectful means to sway this government’s destructive course, but are steadfast in our attachment to Liberty and our resolve to place no government above it. – This, we flattered ourselves, was the ultimate step in controlling the beast of government but subsequent events have shown, how vain was our hope of finding moderation among those who only seek power.

Several disconcerting expressions against the basis of liberty and freedom were spoken in the President’s speeches concerning his desire to “fundamentally change” this nation. But what did we espouse as the fundamentals but that of freedom and liberty, the rights of mankind for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Since that time Congress and the Department of Homeland Security have said that many of our esteemed heroes and veterans of wars, fought in the defense of this great nation, should be watched and are deemed potential terrorists and possible enemies of the state; and therefore we responded to the President and Congress, that they would take the most effectual measures to enforce due constraint on such utterances and propaganda. – Soon after, the tumult of the economy of all the states, with foreign countries, and with each other, was found in ruin caused by the unconstitutional and criminal Federal Reserve, supported by Congress, and again more theft of American money at levels that would require generations to recoup.

Fruitless were all the petitions, arguments, letters, emails from the multitude of American Patriots, who nobly and strenuously asserted the justice of our cause, to be met with further scoffs and scorn of those in Congress. Even the high office of Speaker of the House chuckled at the thought of beholding to the Constitution from whence their authority rises. – Equally fruitless was the interference of the courts and legislature as the people further petitioned on the matter of taxation, asking only for clarity on which law the government esteemed to make the common worker liable for an income tax, and they were only met with further scoffs and threats of violence and prison for any who dare challenge.

Soon after the signing of the treaty at Appomattox in 1865 the machinations of government manipulation for power had taken possession of the seat of government. During the ensuing years more states were added to the Union only to have vast areas of lands seized from them. Millions upon millions of acres of state land is now held in “ownership” by the federal government outside the letter and intent of the Constitution. President Andrew Jackson, at his farewell address on March 4, 1837, stated: "It is well known that there have always been those among us who wish to enlarge the powers of the general government, and experience would seem to indicate that there is a tendency on the part of this government to overstep the boundaries marked out for it by the Constitution." It seems my esteemed colleague is correct and that this practice has not been abated these last one hundred and forty-five years.

It is now apparent that the federal government has passed, and enforces laws outside the scope of federal jurisdiction, federal schemes of socialistic public welfare are an affront to the Constitution and the personal liberties of all Americans, government has usurped the states’ authority over its citizens by creating a second class ‘Federal’ citizen that most every American has been forced into, presidents have passed laws outside of their Constitutional powers, and have usurped powers never intended for the executive branch, Supreme Court justices have acted illegally as legislature by passing judgments that created law and mandated legislature to Congress, financial power within the United States today is illegal and against the Constitution, Congress has unconstitutionally given away its responsibilities and powers to non-governmental organizations and is held sway by them, tax schemes enforced today are illegally enforced, and according to our founding fathers, immoral, Americans have lived in a constant state of emergency since the civil war, giving dictatorial powers to the executive branch usurping rightful powers from Congress, the states militia has been commandeered by the central government, usurping of the people’s right to keep and bear arms, aiding of illegal immigration, property rights stolen from all Americans, curtailment and loss of many of our Fourth Amendment rights, misapplication of emergency powers by the federal government, the fraud of the Sixteenth Amendment by all branches of government, all give evidence of this misappropriation and misuse of power. By this deceit American families through generations have been increasingly reduced to deplorable distress.

The current President, further emulating his ministerial masters, by continuous proclamations starting the first day in office to achieve what could not be done through legislative and proper channels. That within one year of ascending to the highest office, after venting the grossest falsehoods and calumnies against the good veterans of these states, proceeds to declare them all, either in fact or under suspicion, to be rebels and traitors, to supersede the course of the common law, and instead thereof to publish materials to be distributed to law enforcement within the states. -- His spies have increased surveillance on our countrymen, have wantonly gathered massive amounts of personal data on untold millions of citizens without warrant; our vehicles and property are seized without due process; many of our rights and liberties have be converted to privileges and immunities at the pleasure of the central government, and he is exerting his utmost power to spread destruction and devastation of our remaining rights.

We have received certain intelligence that President Obama is instigating the people of Acorn and other special interest groups of Marxist ilk to fall upon us; that schemes have been formed to excite domestic enemies against us. In brief, a part of these states now feel, and all of them are sure of feeling, as far as the vengeance of administration can inflict them, the complicated calamities of fire, sword and famine. We are reduced to the alternative of choosing an unconditional submission to the tyranny of further Marxist oppression, or resistance by force. -- The latter is our choice. -- We have counted the cost of this contest, and find nothing as 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.

Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are great, and, if necessary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable. -- We gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the Divine favor towards us, that his Providence would not permit us to be called into this severe controversy, until we were grown up to our present strength, had been previously exercised in warlike operation, and possessed of the means of defending ourselves. With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverance, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves.

Lest this declaration should disquiet the minds of our friends and fellow-subjects in any part of the Union, we assure them that we mean not to dissolve that union which has so long and so happily subsisted between us, and which we sincerely wish to see restored. -- Necessity has not yet driven us into that desperate measure, or induced us to excite any other nation to war against them. -- We have not raised armies with ambitious designs of separating from the United States. We fight not for glory or for conquest. We exhibit to mankind the remarkable spectacle of a people attacked upon our rights and our honor by those sworn to protect it. without any imputation or even suspicion of offence. They boast of their privileges and civilization, and yet proffer no milder conditions than servitude or death.

In our own native states, in defense of the freedom that is our birthright, and which we ever enjoyed till the violation of it -- for the protection of our property, acquired solely by the honest industry of our fore-fathers and ourselves, against violence actually offered, we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease, our rightful Constitution restored and all danger of hostility shall be removed, and not before.

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With an humble confidence in the mercies of the supreme and impartial Judge and Ruler of the Universe, we most devoutly implore his divine goodness to protect us happily through this great conflict, to dispose our adversaries to reconciliation on reasonable terms, and thereby to relieve the empire from the calamities of civil war.

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Michael LeMieux was born in Midwest City, Oklahoma in 1956 and graduated from Weber State University in Utah with a degree in Computer Science. He served in both the US Navy and US Army (Active duty and National Guard) and trained in multiple intelligence disciplines and was a qualified paratrooper. He served with the 19th Special Forces Group, while in the National Guard, as a Special Forces tactical intelligence team member. He served tours to Kuwait and Afghanistan where he received the Purple Heart for injuries received in combat.

Mr. LeMieux left military duty at the end of 2005 after being medically discharged with over 19 years of combined military experience. He currently works as an intelligence contractor to the US government.

Michael is a strict constitutionalist who believes in interpreting the constitution by the original intent of the founding fathers. His research has led him to the conclusion that the republic founded by the Constitution is no longer honored by our government. That those who rule America today are doing so with the interest of the federal government in mind and not the Citizens. Michael believes that all three branches of government have strayed far from the checks and balances built into the Constitution and they have failed the American people. A clear example is the Second Amendment, which the Supreme Court and the founders have all said was an individual right and could not be "infringed" upon, now has more than 20,000 state and federal laws regulating every aspect of the individuals right, a definite infringement. He has traveled around the world living in 14 States of the Union including Hawaii, and visited (for various lengths of time) in Spain, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Korea, Scotland, Pakistan, Mauritius, Somalia, Diego Garcia, Australia, Philippines, England, Italy, Germany, and Puerto Rico.

Michael now lives in Nebraska with his wife, two of his three children, Mother-in-Law and grandchild. His hobbies include shooting, wood-working, writing, amateur inventor and scuba diving when he can find the time.

Contact Michael through his Website: www.constitutiondenied.com

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