I had the honor and privilege of going to Colonial Williamsburg, VA, for this past Independence Day celebration. It has always been a goal of mine to visit where those men pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to declare independence from tyranny of the British Government.
The beginning of the colonists’ struggles took place in 1607, thirteen years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Three ships, Godspeed, Susan Constant and Discovery with 104 brave souls arrived from London 4 ½ months later at what is now known as Jamestown Settlement – America’s first permanent English colony.
Having boarded the ships, I’m astounded they endured the journey, much less the hardships that followed, however, in 1619, the colonists created the House of Burgesses patterned after the British Parliament.
Later, in 1699, the House of Burgesses moved to what is now known as Williamsburg and in 1770 became the Virginia House of Delegates. It was the first form of representative government in the colonies.
Some of its distinguished members were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. In 1769, the House of Burgesses was dissolved by the governor (who must have been a liberal) because they were speaking out against the oppressive British taxation.
At this point, Paul Harvey would have said, “you know the rest of the story.”
While touring the hallowed grounds of Williamsburg, the campus of William and Mary, the Capitol or the places the founders met in private, the taverns (where we now pay the tab), I reflected, “what would the founders think about our country today?”
Thomas Jefferson once reminded his fellow citizens that their happiness and prosperity rested upon a “wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.”
Does this sound anything like our government? Unless he was buried in Chicago, he would be rolling over in his grave today.
Jefferson went on to say in 1816 that the tasks of the federal government were few: government should restrain individuals from encroaching on the equal rights of others; compel them to contribute to the necessities of society and require them to submit their disputes to an impartial judge.
Jefferson also stated, “When the laws have declared and enforced all this, they have fulfilled their functions.” Why, then, do we need 1300-page bill written by staffers and lobbyists that no one reads?
The possibility of an out-of-control government was addressed in a quote attributed to George Washington, “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force: like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.”
While observing the Independence Day events, the period costumes, the unnamed horsemen riding into town declaring “news from the North” and later listening to the reading of the Declaration of Independence just as it was read in 1776, I am convinced that the founding fathers were indeed inspired by Divine Providence.
Just as the creation of the earth could not have been some “random event” after some “big boom,” neither could the founding of our country have been a random event in history. How long it will endure will be determined by the perseverance of those who see our country as Reagan did: a shining city on a hill.
At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 as he left Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin was asked by a lady, “Well Dr. Franklin, what have we got – a Republic or a Monarchy?”
He replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”
I stood in the Williamsburg Capitol House of Burgesses in the spot customarily occupied by one of our founders, Patrick Henry. He, of course, is best known for his famous statement, “Give me liberty or give me death.” One day, Americans may be faced with that choice again.
The last night in Williamsburg, VA, was spent at the Kimball Theater watching the play, “Jefferson and Adams.” Incredibly, Jefferson and Adams both died on July 4th on the 50th anniversary of our great republic.
Jefferson died earlier in the day, but Adams was not aware of it as he was taking his last breaths later that day while asserting, “Thomas Jefferson still lives.” Indeed he does sir – indeed he does.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Share