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If men through fear, fraud or mistake, should in terms renounce and give up any essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the great end of society, would absolutely vacate such renunciation; the right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of Man to alienate this gift, and voluntarily become a slave.
John Adams, Rights of the Colonists, 1772
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The Founders called it Natural law, or the law of Nature and nature's God in the Declaration of Independence.
It's WHY the Declaration was separate from the Constitution
It's WHY the Bill of Rights were separated from the Constitution
It's WHY we're in such a major mess now because SO FEW PEOPLE understand the beautifully simple system of Natural law left to us by the Founders....
It's WHY America WAS considered FREE!
Already had laws, where? The laws created by the various constitutional legislatures apply to all, unless expressly indicated. ie. cops are allowed to speed to enforce traffic laws.
"...the right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of Man to alienate this gift, and voluntarily become a slave. John Adams, Rights of the Colonists, 1772
Adams erred. It is well within man's power to alienate and take that gift of Freedom and other men's rights away. If that were not true,Adam's and his contemporaries would not have cause to clash withthe King's men and Tories at the time. Ultimately, respect for rights and the existence of Freedom is a gift from your fellows, just as it was a gift from God. Anything else results from a clash of wills and the imposition of sufficient coercive force.
" It's WHY the Declaration was separate from the Constitution "
The Declaration is a document stating the cause for and intent to cede from the Crown's rule. The Constitution is the document that created the new govm't. The only legitimate purpose of govm't is to protect rights and protect Freedom.
" It's WHY the Bill of Rights were separated from the Constitution"
The Constituiton is the blueprint for the US Fed gov. The Bill of rights limited the extent, scope and reach of the gov. created.
"It's WHY we're in such a major mess now because SO FEW PEOPLE understand the beautifully simple system of Natural law left to us by the Founders..."
The founders only recognized, to a limited extent, Natural Law. They are not it's authors and Natural Law is not written down, nor was it ever enforced. Franklin commented that the Constitution was imperfect and it should be left to future generations to perfect, or destroy.
The reason for the abandonment of the condition of Freedom and the prevelant idea that govm'ts purpose was to protect rights, is primarily in accord with deToqueville's observation and conclusion-that the condition of Freedom and enjoyment of rights would cease when the people learned to engage in raiding the public treasury. That means to seek their dreams with other people's time, money, resources and efforts. IOWs "nonviolent" robbery, serfdom and outright slavery.
"It's WHY America WAS considered FREE!
Freedom means rights are honored and an individual's sovereignty of will is inviolate. It now means folks living in the mannor, can pick their rulers from a pot of authoritarian lords.