The Tenth Amendment Center–Advancing Liberty: 4 Essential, Foundational Principle

Going from the largest government in history to a true “land of the free,” won’t happen fast. And it won’t be easy, either. But we’ve got a fighting chance, thanks to the wisdom, advice and strategy of the founders and old revolutionaries.

The “American revolution” was about much more than the war for Independence. In fact, as John Adams noted, the revolution was “effected before the war commenced.”

A “radical Change in the Principles, Opinions, Sentiments and Affection of the People” was the “real American Revolution.”

Here are 4 essential principles from the Revolution to help the people set the foundation for the Constitution and liberty – whether the government wants us to, or not.

1. Rights are not gifts from government.
It’s not really “liberty” if it requires a government-issued permission slip.

When it comes to the founders and old revolutionaries, that means we’re talking about natural rights.

Samuel Adams put it this way in 1772:
Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. These are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature.

In 1776, John Dickinson reminded us that “our liberties do not come from charters, for these are only a declaration of pre-existing rights.”

And Thomas Paine noted that “it is a perversion of terms to say that a charter gives rights.”

2. Constitutions don’t enforce themselves.
They never did and they never will.

Writing in support of ratification, Dickinson, who was a primary author of the Articles of Confederation, acknowledged that even the best constitution can only “promote” a “good administration,” but it cannot guarantee it.

In Federalist 48, James Madison lamented that many seemed to rely on the ability of documents to restrain government power. But he wrote that such a “parchment barrier” could never do the job on its own.

“A mere demarcation on parchment of the constitutional limits of the several departments, is not a sufficient guard against those encroachments which lead to a tyrannical concentration of all the powers of government in the same hands.” 

In short – something else is needed to keep a government in check beyond pointing them to the rules they’re supposed to follow.

3. It’s up to the People to defend their own constitution and their own liberty. 
Whether the government wants them to, or not.

Dickinson emphasized that enforcement of the Constitution is ultimately up to “the supreme sovereignty of the people.”

IT IS THEIR DUTY TO WATCH, AND THEIR RIGHT TO TAKE CARE, THAT THE CONSTITUTION BE PRESERVED; Or in the Roman phrase on perilous occasions—TO PROVIDE, THAT THE REPUBLIC RECEIVE NO DAMAGE. (all caps in original)

Thomas Jefferson put it this way:

“A free people claim their rights, as derived from the laws of nature, and not as a gift of their chief magistrate.”

And future supreme court justice James Iredell summed it up like this during the North Carolina ratifying convention:

“The only resource against usurpation is the inherent right of the people to prevent its exercise.”

Not just a mere good idea, or something to try after everything else fails. The ONLY resource.

Here’s the “but”

4. It’s not going to be easy. Or fast.
To go from the largest government in history to an actual “land of the free”

In a 1790 letter to his friend Rev. Charles Clay, Thomas Jefferson gave us the strategy:

“The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches.”

Each step forward needs to be relentlessly followed by another, and another, and another.

“we must be contented to secure what we can get from time to time, and eternally press forward for what is yet to get.”

There is no silver bullet to take down the empire – it will take tireless fortitude and perseverance, because, as Jefferson knew, it takes time to persuade the people “to do even what is for their own good.”

Facing the monster state of today isn’t going to be easy – we won’t, as Jefferson noted, go “from despotism to liberty in a feather-bed.”

But as the old saying goes, duty is ours.

A lot of people seem to prefer sugar-coating how bad things are, especially at a time like this when every message we get is about choosing team A over team B (or vice versa) for the fate of everything under the sun.

But we prefer to be straight-shooters.

When it gets down to it, Thomas Paine summed it up best:

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.”

This is the kind of essential information we work to get out to more and more people every single day. We’re commemorating our 17 year anniversary this weekend – and working hard to kick off the next 17 years in support of the Constitution and liberty.

Nothing – absolutely nothing – helps us roll up our sleeves and get this job done more than the financial faith and support of our members.

Please consider joining us today – for as little as $2/month here:
https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/members/

Help us take a stand for the Constitution and liberty – whether the government wants us to, or not.

Concordia res parvae crescunt
(small things grow great by concord)

Michael, Mike
and the rest of the TAC Team