Articles of Freedom, part 1

The document which has come out of the deliberations of the Continental Congress of 2009 has finally been made available to the public. In this post, I will present and examine the preface, prayer, and the Declaration and Resolves sections of this document. The entire document can be downloaded at articlesoffreedom.us.

Articles of Freedom Preface

Across many administrations and years, by each branch of government, through each major political party, the Constitution for The United States has been violated. The People have formally Petitioned the Government for Redress of the violations in the most humble of terms. The People and their Petitions have been ignored. Each un-remedied violation has taken its toll with dire impact on our economic interests, our people, our quality and way of life and our international and national reputations.

We hold this Truth to be Self- Evident: Any action, by any branch of the Government, that is repugnant to the Constitution, is null and void.

On November 11, 2009, and for eleven days continuing morning, noon and night, Citizens of America gathered in St. Charles, Illinois, as Delegates from each of forty-eight States, to discuss these violations, and Government’s refusal to be held accountable, and to recommend a course of action to restore Constitutional Obedience in a Constitutional Republic now challenged to Its core. These were not professional legislators, wordsmiths or attorneys.

These were ordinary, non-aligned citizens from across America and all walks of life. They set aside their lives for this Assembly. They represent You and Me, the Free People of America. The conclusion of their efforts is This Document called ‘‘Articles of Freedom.’’

It is proposed that these Articles be distributed to All in the Land with the intent to draw the attention and courage of a “goodly number of millions of People” who, entitled to their Freedom and essential to Its maintenance,
Arise to Restore the Constitution for the United States of America.
Then and only then shall America’s Destiny be Fulfilled.

(from Articles of Freedom, the Works of the Continental Congress 2009)

I basically agree with this, here are few knit-picky points:

A lot of the delegates to cc09 were “just ordinary people”, but some of them were attorneys and all (or most all) had a much better knowledge and interest in the Constitution than the average American. Jon Roland of Texas could certainly be described as a wordsmith. At least one member of the delegation had been a state representative (Rick Jore of Montana) and the President of the Continental Congress ran for President of the United States in 2004.

To describe these people as “non-aligned” citizens is also somewhat misleading. Most of them either belong to the Libertarian Party or the Constitution Party. They all seem to have libertarian leanings even though the Constitution only mandates this at federal level.

As far as America’s Destiny being fulfilled, well, I think God is in control of that and we will not have true freedom as long as we continue to turn our backs on him.

The Prayer for Continental Congress 2009

On this day, the eleventh of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand and nine, we turn our attention to Thee and those who Minister with Thee, to Protect and Guard this Nation and the Rights of Free Men.

As we enter into these deliberations, we Humbly ask for Thy Guidance, Illumination, Protection and Peace that we may know Thy Will for our Beloved United States of America and this Continental Congress. Give us the Strength, the Energy and the Courage to do what is Right through this Body.
At all times, Protect those who are gathered here, our loved ones and all who are standing now for the Rights of Free Men, not only in this time together, but as we move forward to Fulfill your Plan.

We ask Thee to Enfold us in that which You Know will enable us to Carry on the Sacred Trust given by our Founding Fathers, through Whom Thy Voice was heard.

We offer all we are or have or ever hope to be into this Service for our Country and Fellow Man. Unite us as One Heart, One Mind, One Body.

We give Thee ALL Credit for All Good that may come from our humble efforts and we ask Thy Great Mercy and Forgiveness for the wrongs which have been committed against the Charters of Freedom which Thou gave to this world through the American People.

May we carry on the Torch of Liberty that all on this earth may one day know the Gifts and Blessings Thou intend for each of us.

We offer this Prayer to Thee, Our Creator and Nature’s God, with a Firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence.

Amen.

(from Articles of Freedom, the Works of the Continental Congress 2009)

The actual prayer which was given at the beginning of cc2009 did not contain the “Thee’s” and “Thou’s”. But most interestingly, the following statement was omitted from the print version:

Remove from our beings the need to criticize, blame, or condemn any other part of life, knowing that divine justice with have its end.

Unlike the prayer that was given at the 1774 Continental Congress, this prayer was not given in Jesus’ name. But the 1774 prayer was at least read along with this new prayer.

Declaration and Resolves of Continental Congress 2009

In Defense of a Free People, the time has come to reassert our God-Given, Natural Rights and cast off tyranny…

Let the Facts Reveal: The federal government of the United States of America was instituted to secure the Individual Rights of our citizens and instead now threatens our Life, Liberty and Property through usurpations of the Constitution. Emboldened by our own lack of responsibility and due diligence in these matters, government has exceeded its mandate and abandoned those Founding Principles that have made our nation exceptional;

Our servant government has undertaken these unconstitutional actions in direct violation of its enumerated duties, to the detriment of the People’s liberty and the sovereignty of our Republic;

Over many years and spanning multiple political administrations, the People who have, in good conscience, attempted to deliberate our grievances and voice our dissent against these offensive actions through both Petition and Assembly, have been maligned and ignored with contempt;

The People of the several States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, justly alarmed at these arbitrary and unconstitutional actions, have met as Citizen-Delegates, and sat in a general Congress, in the city of St. Charles, Illinois;

Whereupon we, as these Citizen- Delegates, have gathered in defense of Divine Justice, Liberty and the principles of limited government, now stand in clear recognition of the Supreme Law of the Land – the Constitution for the United States of America;

Therefore, We demand that Government immediately re-establish Constitutional Rule of Law, lest the People be forced to do so themselves; and we hereby serve notice that in the Defense of Freedom and Liberty there shall be NO COMPROMISE to which we shall ever yield.

21 November 2009

(from Articles of Freedom, the Works of the Continental Congress 2009)

I agree with all of this. Next week I will get into the meat of the document.