Sermons on Liberty

A few days before July 4, 1787, Benjamin Franklin rose in the Constitutional Convention and, with a few words, likely saved the republic. The war with the British was won, but the monumental task of creating a workable federal government was floundering. The delegates were at an impasse and would likely disband.

This is a great editorial, superbly written and to the point. The author makes some excellent points, including that we live in a "free republic" (a wisely chosen phrase). ;-) He also included some good quotes, and bits of his own editoral could make some nice quotes. Here are some that I liked:

"But even the greatest gathering of minds in American history needed help. A republic conceived in liberty wasn't possible without God."

"In the 1770s, morality and religion played a crucial role in the founders' thinking as they built a free republic. In many ways religion was the philosophical starting point, for without God, man does not have a fundamental claim on his freedom.

"The founders well understood that law requires a moral component--a king could make tyranny "legal"--so morality was built into the legal structure."

"The founders knew no document would long restrain a tyrant. Only a living social institution offered the hope of perpetual protection, by fastening society to fundamental moral principles. A republic needs a relatively moral populace and the constant pressure of virtuous leaders."

"Muslims who share these aspirations might consider studying America's founding documents and the sermons of the Great Awakening. If they do, they might take heed of Nathaniel Niles's warning in 'Two Sermons on Liberty,' published in 1774: 'God gave us liberty and we have enslaved our fellow men. May we not fear that the law of retaliation is about to be executed upon us?'

His last quote of Nathaniel Niles reminded me of a famous one by Thomas Jefferson. He said:
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." (Query XVIII, Notes omn the State of Virginia)

And concerning the 9th Circuit Court's decision, Jefferson made a prophetic statement when he wrote to Abigail Adams in 1804:
"Nothing in the Constitution has given them (the federal judges) a right to decide for the Executive, more than to Excecutive to decide for them... But the opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional, and what not, not only for themselves in their own sphere of action, but for the legislature and executive also, in their sphere, would make the judiciary a despotic branch."

All of this calls into question the wisdom of the Marbury v. Madison ruling in the early 1800s. Many times, the power of judicial review has been abused severely, most notably in the Dred Scott case, and in Roe v. Wade. Maybe it's time to seriously reconsider this power. I'm not saying that there have been good consequences of judicial review, but there also have been extreme abuses. It's time for conservatives to think about this implied power.
(Note to those who are looking for good quotes from the Founding Fathers and other notables: I got these quotes from "America's God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations" by William J. Federer. Another good book is the "Quotable Conservative.")

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.