We Have Taken Up Arms!

We have received certain intelligence that President Obama is instigating the people of Acorn and other special interest groups of Marxist ilk to fall upon us; that schemes have been formed to excite domestic enemies against us. In brief, a part of these states now feel, and all of them are sure of feeling, as far as the vengeance of administration can inflict them, the complicated calamities of fire, sword and famine. We are reduced to the alternative of choosing an unconditional submission to the tyranny of further Marxist oppression, or resistance by force. -- The latter is our choice. -- We have counted the cost of this contest, and find nothing as dreadful as voluntary slavery. -- Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them, if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon them.But with the reverence for our creator, the principles of humanity, and the dictates of common sense espoused in our Declaration of Independence, with firm belief that governments are instituted to secure the rights of those they govern for the purposes of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness and ought to administer that government with a single eye toward that fulfillment. The legislature of the United States of America, however, plied on by the drunkenness and passion for unjustifiable power, which they know to be beyond the Constitutional limits granted to them, and where their intentions should have been grounded in truth, law, or right, have beyond measure, deserted those in their trust, have passed every more oppressive laws and taxations enforced by violence upon their own people, and have made it necessary for us to move them to reason before no other option but the reason or arms would dictate. Yet, however misguided that assembly may be, by their quest for unlimited domination over more facets of the American system, we find it necessary, out of respect for the remaining civilized world, to make know the justice of our cause. Our petitions were answered with silence and when plied for response was told they would answer with force. The indignation of the Americans was roused, it is true, but it was the indignation of a virtuous, loyal, and affectionate people. Representatives from every state of the Union assembled on July 4th, 2009, in the fashion of our original tea party. We resolved again to offer a humble and dutiful petition to the President and Congress. We have pursued every peaceful and respectful means to sway this government’s destructive course, but are steadfast in our attachment to Liberty and our resolve to place no government above it. – This, we flattered ourselves, was the ultimate step in controlling the beast of government but subsequent events have shown, how vain was our hope of finding moderation among those who only seek power.Fruitless were all the petitions, arguments, letters, emails from the multitude of American Patriots, who nobly and strenuously asserted the justice of our cause, to be met with further scoffs and scorn of those in Congress. Even the high office of Speaker of the House chuckled at the thought of beholding to the Constitution from whence their authority rises. – Equally fruitless was the interference of the courts and legislature as the people further petitioned on the matter of taxation, asking only for clarity on which law the government esteemed to make the common worker liable for an income tax, and they were only met with further scoffs and threats of violence and prison for any who dare challenge.Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are great, and, if necessary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable. -- We gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the Divine favor towards us, that his Providence would not permit us to be called into this severe controversy, until we were grown up to our present strength, had been previously exercised in warlike operation, and possessed of the means of defending ourselves. With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverance, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves.In our own native states, in defense of the freedom that is our birthright, and which we ever enjoyed till the violation of it -- for the protection of our property, acquired solely by the honest industry of our fore-fathers and ourselves, against violence actually offered, we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease, our rightful Constitution restored and all danger of hostility shall be removed, and not before.With an humble confidence in the mercies of the supreme and impartial Judge and Ruler of the Universe, we most devoutly implore his divine goodness to protect us happily through this great conflict, to dispose our adversaries to reconciliation on reasonable terms, and thereby to relieve the empire from the calamities of civil war.© 2010 Michael LeMieux - All Rights Reserved