Why
is it that the Founders encouraged Americans to celebrate the signing
of the Declaration of Independence “with bon fires and fireworks,”
instead of the date upon which the United States Constitution was
ratified? I believe it is because they understood that America’s true
foundational document is not the US Constitution, but rather the
Declaration of Independence that was signed on July 4, 1776. The
Constitution is the highest law of the land, but the principles upon
which it was constructed have their origin in the Declaration of
Independence.
In
truth, King George III had himself dissolved the bond between England
and the Colonies when he chose to violate the Magna Carta that was
signed at Runnymede in 1215 by King John. The Magna Carta limited the
King’s power and made the rule of law superior to the whims and wishes
of a King. The Magna Carta formed the basis of rights for English
citizens. When King George III, through an act of the Parliament,
imposed taxation on the Colonists without them having a say in the
matter, he violated their rights as English citizens under the Magna
Carta and in effect the Colonists lost their English citizenship.
The
Declaration is a marvelous and timeless document. It establishes
without equivocation the foundational principles of a free society.
Included in these principles is the acknowledgement that rights come not
from government, but from God.
“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.”
It
was, in fact, this bold statement “that all men are created equal” that
gave hope to and ultimately secured freedom for those who were enslaved
at the time of the signing of the Declaration. Clearly, the framers
knew that all men (and women) are not equal in terms of God-given
talents, abilities, intelligence, skills, and aspirations, but rather
that each has an equal standing under God and under God’s law. Further,
that each man and woman has the right to equal justice under the law
and to go as far in life as they can, in whatever direction they choose.
It
is important to note that while the Signers affirmed the equal standing
of all citizens under the law and their right to liberty (freedom),
they also affirmed every American’s right to pursue happiness. The
Signers, most of whom were devout Christians, were well-grounded men.
They understood the shortcomings of human nature and thus they knew that
government can only protect and defend the “pursuit of happiness,” not
guarantee it.
Jefferson’s
original draft included “censures on the English people” that included
in part blaming England for the introduction of slavery into America.
Whether Jefferson was right or wrong, this admonition was deleted in
order to get the Declaration passed, but it was not forgotten. It seems
inconsistent and hypocritical for slave owners to be signing a document
declaring independence, personal freedom, and equal justice under the
law. But in fact, by setting forth this declaration, these slaveholders
and the others who signed the Declaration established the principles
under which all Americans achieved freedom. Theirs was a personal
failing, but not the greater failing of someone who misunderstands human
nature and who rejects God and the laws of God.
Unfortunately,
this failing carried over to the creating of the United States
Constitution itself. However, it is worth noting that there were many
prominent abolitionists among the signers of the Declaration of
Independence and those who attended the Constitutional Convention in
1787. The most prominent of these was Ben Franklin, who as President of
the Philadelphia Abolition Society, announced his intention to
introduce a resolution calling for the condemnation of slavery in the
Constitution. Franklin reluctantly refrained from introducing the
resolution in order to hold the shaky union of former colonies together.
It
was left for other Americans, more than a century later, to fight for
and secure the blessings of liberty for all Americans and to end what
Jefferson is reputed to have described as “the fatal flaw of the
Constitution,” the enslavement of African Americans. It was left to
Abraham Lincoln to lead the United States out of slavery.
But
back to the Declaration of Independence itself, the ending words laid
the foundation of the great and good United States of America we are
blessed to live in today:
“We,
therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in
General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world
for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the
Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and
declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free
and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to
the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and
the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and
that as Free and Independent States, they have the full Power to levy
War, conclude peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do
all other Acts and Things which Independent States may or right do.—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.”
And what happened to the men who signed this historic and unprecedented statement of “unalienable rights” given to them by God?
Five
signers were captured by the British, tortured, and executed as
traitors. Twelve had their homes burned to the ground. Two lost sons
in the war. Nine of the 56 signers died of wounds or hardships suffered
during the war.
Carter
Braxton, a wealthy planter and trader, lost everything and died a
pauper. Thomas McKeam too suffered the loss of all his possessions and
ended life in poverty.
How
great was their dedication to the cause of freedom? At the Battle of
Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., seeing that the British General Cornwallis
was using the Nelson home for his headquarters, quietly urged General
Washington to open fire. Washington did so and the home was destroyed.
Thomas Nelson died bankrupt.
These
farsighted men signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well
that the penalty would be death if captured or if the Americans lost
the war. Theirs was a very high risk gambit. England was the most
powerful nation in the world with the largest navy and army. The
American chance for success was very slim, yet these courageous men
willingly signed and pledged “their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor” to secure freedom for you and me and for all Americans
that came after them.
Our
Founders put their faith in God and their trust in the good judgment of
their fellow citizens. Amazingly for their time, 50 to 75 percent of
the white, male citizens had the right to vote.
The
Founders well understood that the greatest threat to individual freedom
comes from the concentration of power into the hands of a few all
powerful men. They knew history was full of examples of dictators and
kings who sought power over others and abused such power for their own
gain. They understood that there is no person or groups of persons who
are benevolent and kind and would not use power to limit the freedom of
others. They understood that all men, including themselves, were
corrupt sinners prone to take advantage of others. That’s why they
wanted to limit the power of those in government.
While
our generation suffers from generational arrogance, believing without
any empirical evidence, that somehow we are better or smarter or wiser
or kinder or more generous than previous generations, the Founders
understood the terrifying nature of all powerful, centralized
government. They sought to disperse and limit power in order to
maximize individual freedom. And most important of all, they feared and
trusted God as the ultimate ruler of the universe. In fact, James
Madison said, “Belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so
essential to the moral order of the World and the happiness of man, that
arguments to enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources.” And
speaking of the Constitutional Convention, Madison said, “It is
impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in [the
convention] a finger of that Almighty hand.”
Since
the time of the American Revolution, our freedom and the founding
principles have been tested and challenged time after time. Blood was
shed in 1812 as America once again fought the British. Finally in the
ugliest and nastiest inter family fight of all, the American Civil War,
slavery was abolished once and for all. There have been numerous wars
and skirmishes, including all out battles for survival in World War I
and II, and still today in the War on Terrorism Americans are shedding
their blood and giving their lives for your freedom and mine.
As
we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence this year,
may we be resolved to fight for and preserve America’s founding
principles whether the challenge comes from without or within. How can
we do any less than to pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred
honor to preserving freedom in our land. God bless America! Happy
Independence Day!
No comments:
Post a Comment