"Congress Shall Make no Law Abridging the Freedom of Speech, or the Press..."

In 1798, as the president was on his way home, Luther Baldwin was sitting in a tavern having a few beers and getting a little “merry”. The departing entourage of the president was given a 16-shot cannon salute, wherein another “merry” drinker staggered into the tavern to report, “There goes the president, and they’re firing at his a**.” Whereupon, Luther Baldwin replied, “I don’t care if they’re shooting through his a**.” Luther was promptly arrested, went to trial, found guilty, fined and jailed. What was he convicted of? "Tending to defame the President and Government of the United States. "

How could a citizen of the United States be jailed for making a joke about the President? In 1798 the new United States was experiencing threats to its existence. On the verge of war with France, the country was in a precarious situation that could lead to the end of the nation. The Federalists party controlled both houses of Congress and the presidency. The Federalist in congress, never to let a good disaster go to waste, tried to capitalize on the real fear of war, and take more control of the government. They passed a series of acts called the Alien and Sedition Acts.

"…That if any person shall write, print, utter or publish…any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the Unites States, or either house of the Congress of the United States, or the President of the United States with the intent to defame… or bring them into contempt or disrepute; or excite against them…shall be punished…” -Sedition Act, passed July 14, 1798

Many Federalists had an extreme distrust of the common man, particularly Alexander Hamilton. His faction wanted control of the government and by taking away freedoms that had just so recently been won, they would be able to consolidate power within the federal government. Two of the greatest founding fathers we have were federalists – George Washington and John Adams. In fact, John Adams was the president who signed these heinous Acts into law. However, neither of them wanted to take away the rights of the people -- they just wanted to protect this fledgling nation during a difficult time.

Congress passed these acts without the president asking for them. However, he did not oppose them either – one of the greatest mistakes for this worthy patriot. Later in life, John Adams said that he looked at these acts as “war measures” meaning that they would have been temporary – still no excuse for limiting those freedoms fought so hard for. Though I believe John Adams was truly concerned about the security of this nation, most Federalists were using the fear of war to take the power away from the people they distrusted so much.

Three things happened to limit the harm of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798:

1. The people continued to voice their opposition to the laws even under threat of prison. If Luther Baldwin could be imprisoned for making a joke, how would others that truly were questioning the government fare?
   
2. The press refused to be silenced. They kept up the barrage questioning the government in all that they did, and many editors were imprisoned.
   
3. Two states, Kentucky and Virginia, declared these laws null and void. They exercised the rights contained in the 9th and 10th amendment and proclaimed that Congress did not have the authority to abrogate freedom. Virginia’s resolution condemned the Acts:

“…because it is leveled against that right of freely examining public characters and measures, and of free communication among the people thereon, which has ever been justly deemed, the only effectual guardian of every other right.”

Because of this, the Federalist lost power and were voted out of the majority and Thomas Jefferson became President. When Thomas Jefferson came into office, he repealed these Acts and freed everyone that was being punished under them.

Fear, throughout American history has led to rights and liberties being infringed upon. In World War II, we as a nation incarcerated American citizens in camps – just because they were of Japanese decent. During the Cold War we had an era of fear of communism that led to congressional “hearings” that ruined the lives of many innocents for exercising their constitutional right of expression. In this past decade, after the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City on September 11, 2001 some of our rights were limited and infringed upon for the purpose of keeping us safe. Financial fear, health fear, and environmental fear are being used today by our government to take away more of our rights – never letting a good disaster go to waste.

The current administration is attempting to silence anyone who disagrees with them. It started with an intimidation campaign against any one who questioned Obama – Joe the Plumber being a prime example. The president and democratically controlled congress marginalize and shut out those who are opposed to their plans, like the tea party groups being labeled as "angry white racists." Like the restraining order that was put on insurance companies for daring to inform their policy holders of the dangers of the government take over of healthcare. Now the White House is trying to silence the press. Most news organizations are already in the pocket of the President, but the one organization that truly scrutinizes the government is now under attack by the administration, being declared “not a news organization.”

As the Federalists of old tried to do but failed, the democrats of today are trying to consolidate their power over the rights of the common man. We must not let that happen. Just like the people of 1798, we must stand-up to this intimidation and the attempt to silence opposing views by this administration. Our rights, constitutionally protected, are not to be negotiated away just for a little security, or because we are afraid of some group, or we want a job, or even because we want a free appendectomy. Too much blood has been shed to let the government buy our submissiveness.

Our representatives need to remember that they work for us – the common man. They are never given a “mandate” or exalted above the citizens that they represent. Just as this country did in 1800, we need to kick the "Federalists" out of Washington, and send men and women there who will represent us and not rule over us. It is time to find more "Thomas Jeffersons."

The jest that Luther Baldwin made against the President in 1798 was not treasonous, seditious, or harmful. Neither are the current criticisms, jests, or yelling “you lie” at the current President. Without the right to examine the methods and doctrines of the party in power and criticize its acts, democracy and freedom become empty words.

We hold these truths to be self-evident...

July 4, 2009

It was on the Lexington Green in Massachusetts where the first battle of the American Revolution took place. The well equipped, well armed British army advanced, the Minute Men aligned themselves on the field with their Captain - John Parker. The Americans had no uniforms, they were not professional soldiers, but they were unified with the determination to gain their liberty and the liberty of their families.

As the British began their advance down the Green towards the Minute Men, Captain Parker spoke these now famous words, “Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.” Shots were fired, men died, and after many long hard years, a new nation, based on freedom, was born.

This was not the first war for freedom - We all fought together in a great war – and the casualties were a third of our brothers and sisters were cast out from the presence of our Father. This war in Heaven was also fought for freedom.

• Freedom to choose between right and wrong
• Freedom to grow and mature and be “proved”
• Freedom to become like our Father in Heaven

So we were sent to this earth where we knew it would not be easy, that this “agency” would bring many hardships. We knew that there would be famine, pestilence, crime that we would have to deal with. We knew that there would be wars and battles where we and our loved ones would be put at risk. And we knew that there would be senseless terrorist attacks on thousands of innocents and that a nation would mourn its loss.

But we were willing to go through all of this because we knew that freedom is worth it. That this unalienable right was and is God given. And without it there would be no Plan of Salvation – no progression. We knew that freedom is never given, it is purchased with blood.

A few thousand years before the birth of Christ, a group of people were led to our great land. In the Book of Ether it says:

“Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.”

After the crucifixion and resurrection of our Savior, the Church that Jesus organized fell into apostasy. The Lord needed a land that offered freedom enough to restore His Church. Men like: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Benjamin Franklin were raised up and inspired by the Holy Spirit to declare that this nation was free, and stated:

“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…”

And by the power of God and under the leadership of George Washington, a pitiful bunch of unorganized, badly outnumbered settlers fought the most powerful nation on the earth – and won.

Again under the leadership of George Washington as president of the Constitutional Convention, and under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, a sacred document was produced that begins with these words:

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

On September 11, 2001 this precious freedom of ours came under attack again and thousands of lives were taken in a cowardly act. We honor those people as we honor all those through out our history who have paid the ultimate price so that we can be free. Men like Crispus Attacks who, on March 5, 1770 was killed on the Boston Common along with four others and caused a people to unite together and begin the fight for freedom. Men like LJ Oborn, who along with millions of others went to a foreign land and paid the ultimate price in blood to maintain our freedom and secure the freedom of others.

The third verse of our national anthem is rarely sung, but the words have meaning today as they did when they were first written:

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Now after the countless lives given to maintain that hard won freedom, we as a nation are giving up our liberty and rights for a little security. During the last century our elected representatives – congressman, senators and presidents – began taking our freedoms away by offering to take care of us. Starting with Franklin D Roosevelt who instituted the most devastating policies including the New Deal and especially the ponzi scheme known as Social Security, our presidents have been instrumental in taking more power to themselves and freedom away from us. Ronald Reagan stopped this slide into socialism temporarily, but Clinton and Bush jumped on the progressive band wagon and opened their arms to a nanny state.

However, it is our current president and current representatives who are taking our republic and turning it into a socialist state. “Never to waste a good disaster” our representatives are using the current financial crisis to steal power for themselves and destroy our hard fought freedoms. With few exceptions, our national government has deserted the founding principles of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The thread that holds our Constitution is unraveling and we are on the verge of losing it. Benjamin Franklin said, “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Our government is attempting to take our essential liberty and offering financial safety – shame on us if we allow this to continue!

In the Dr. Seuss classic, Horton Hears a Who, the Whos’ world was going to be destroyed just because they couldn’t get the “Big” government to hear them. It started slow, but soon almost all of the Who world was crying to be heard – except for one individual. Without the “one” voice, big government was going to throw the world into the boiling oil. But then the “one” woke up to his responsibility and shouted to be heard. It was enough – the big people heard and the world was saved.

I do not want to be the one that is silent, the one that won’t shout, the one voice that stays complacent and lets my world be thrown into the vat of boiling oil. I will speak out. The government cannot save us – they are the problem. It is only through the people that we can reclaim the freedoms that we have lost, and save those that we still have.

I will be part of grass-root movements that speak out. One way is by letting my representatives know that they work for me, and I will not accept or tolerate the misuse of power – the power that comes from the people. Regardless of political affiliation, I will campaign to remove from office any representative that:

• Votes to approve a socialistic program. That includes: Cap and Trade, Socialize Health Care, and any so called Stimulus package that takes control of individual and business rights.


• Who has been in office for more than 2 terms for a senator or 3 terms for a representative. It is the professional politician who is a major cause for our slide into socialism.


• Who will not read a bill before voting on it. This nation of ours is a republic which means that those we elect into office are our representatives – it is their job to read and study all pieces of legislation – that is why we voted them in as our representatives!

The voice of freedom is not heard in the halls of congress nor in the white house. It is not even the few on the radio who espouse conservative principles – though those voices clearly can rally freedom loving people. The voice of freedom is the millions of people in California who just recently rose up and said no to new taxes. It is millions of people around the country that attend the “tea parties” standing up to run away spending. The voice of freedom is the thousands of state legislatures in Montana, Utah, Texas and many other states who are passing laws telling the Federal government that the 9th and 10th amendment are inviolate. It is the millions of voters around this nation who can and will vote people like Chris Dodd out of office next year, and the voters in other states that have finally had enough of their representatives. The voice of freedom never has been one or two people. It is normally a sleeping majority that when riled will wake up and say “Enough!”

As we see again this attack on our freedom, let us resolve to never let go of that hard-earned liberty. Remember the words of Captain John Parker as he faced the British on the Lexington Green, “Stand your ground…”