“When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils, but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles.”
-Montesquieu
These United States of America were built on strong first principles - many of which were included in the Declaration of Independence. The foundation of all the rest? Thomas Jefferson was clear: Rights don’t come from governments - or documents.
“That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Today, we’re commemorating the Tenth Amendment Center’s 20 year anniversary. It’s hard to believe that we’ve been laser-focused on following that timeless wisdom from Montesquieu for so long - since before we even knew it existed!
For these two decades, we’ve worked hard every single day to reach and teach more people about the principles that built American Independence - and the Constitutions that followed.
As Thomas Jefferson put it, the “foundation of the Constitution” is the Tenth Amendment.
It asserts key principles from the American Revolution - the people are the source of all power, and government is just the hired help authorized to exercise only those powers delegated to it.
That’s just how first Chief Justice John Jay described things as well.
“The Constitution only serves to point out that part of the people's business, which they think proper by it to refer to the management of the persons therein designated—those persons are to receive that business to manage, not for themselves and as their own, but as agents and overseers for the people to whom they are constantly responsible.”
But removing the corruption that has led to the largest government in history and restoring these lost principles - is no easy task, especially with government-run “education” ignoring or distorting all of them.
Benjamin Rush understood what we’re up against. People cannot claim their inalienable rights - and then defend them against all enemies foreign or domestic - if they don’t understand them, or even know they exist.
“Freedom can exist only in the society of knowledge. Without learning, men are incapable of knowing their rights.”
So the odds are certainly stacked against us. But duty is ours …
When I first registered the tenthamendmentcenter.com domain back in June 2006, I felt I had to do something. My goal at the time was simple - reach just a single person, or a handful of people - and get them to think about how things should be, rather than how they currently are.
And that includes all the so-called “solutions” we’re given, which really boil down to some version of “support these oath breakers, because these other oath breakers are going to be worse.”
But that’s not how free people should act - not even close.
And Montesquieu knew this as well. Anything other than a return to our lost principles? He issued a stark and timeless warning:
“Every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”
Samuel Adams summed up the American Revolution’s “correction” better than almost anyone: A complete intolerance for arbitrary power, and the moral duty to defend against it.
“The people hold the Invasion of their Rights & Liberties the most horrid rebellion and a Neglect to defend them against any Power whatsoever the highest Treason.”
Truth is - going from the largest government in history to a real “land of the free” isn’t going to be quick - or easy. Jefferson understood the forces of human nature and government - and reminded us that our work for freedom must be forever.
“The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches … we must be contented to secure what we can get from time to time, and eternally press forward for what is yet to get.”
Ultimately, that means “we the people” need to learn how to exercise our rights, whether the government happens to like it, or not.
(they definitely do not)
“A free people CLAIM their rights, as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate.”
-Thomas Jefferson
Please allow me this moment - on behalf of the entire TAC Team - past, present and future - to express our gratitude for you being a part of this journey with us.
THANK YOU!
If you’d like to help us kick off the next 20 - please consider joining us as a member or making a one time gift today.
JOIN TAC HERE: https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/members/
DONATE HERE: https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/donate/
You can also mail a check to:
Tenth Amendment Center
4000 Barranca Parkway, Suite 250
PMB 705
Irvine, CA 92604
Brick-by-brick. Person-by-person. Working to restore our lost principles.
We couldn’t be more grateful for your support!
📖 Read and share this in your browser → HERE
Concordia res parvae crescunt
(small things grow great by concord)
Michael Boldin, TAC
No comments:
Post a Comment