What put America on the road to freedom?

Tuesday – October 26, 2010

What put America on the road to freedom?

There are three events that took place on this date, they are:

1) 1787 – The Federalists papers were published and called for the ratification of the Constitution.
2) 1774 – The first Continental Congress adjourns in Philadelphia
3) 1774 – The Minute Men organized in the Colonies


1 ) FEDERALISTS PAPERS - America's most significant political treatise, The Federalist Papers have assumed a special place in legal scholarship. Originally written as eighty five essays under the pseudonym “Publius,” the essays were published in New York City newspapers between October 26, 1787 and May 28, 1788. The early essays were reprinted widely in newspapers and the entire series was published in two volumes in March and May 1788. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison were the principal authors, while John Jay wrote five essays.

The Federalist was published to persuade the people of New York to elect delegates who would ratify the proposed Constitution in the forthcoming state convention. Publius attempted to clarify and justify various provisions of the Constitution and to explain why other provisions, such as a bill of rights, had been omitted. Americans, Publius argued, had a rare opportunity to create their own form of government through reason and choice rather than relying on chance or force, which had dictated previous constitutions. Demonstrating the necessity of union and the insufficiency of the Articles of Confederation, Publius showed that the Constitution created a republican form of government that was strong, but that was restrained by checks and balances. This government would safeguard liberty and property and restore respect for America abroad.

2) THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS - The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia's Carpenters Hall on September 5, 1774. The idea of such a meeting was advanced a year earlier by Benjamin Franklin, but failed to gain much support until after the Port of Boston was closed in response to the Boston Tea Party.
Twelve of the 13 colonies sent delegates. Georgia decided against roiling the waters; they were facing attacks from the restive Creek on their borders and desperately needed the support of regular British soldiers.
The Congress, which continued in session until late October, did not advocate independence; it sought rather to right the wrongs that had been inflicted on the colonies and hoped that a unified voice would gain them a hearing in London. Some of the most prominent figures of the era were among the 55 delegates in attendance, including George Washington, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, John Jay and John Dickinson.
They were mostly people of social standing and made their livings from trade, farming and the law. Many were initially unknown to one another and vast differences existed on some of the issues, but important friendships flourished. Frequent dinners and gatherings were held and were attended by all, except the spartan Sam Adams.
The Major actions taken by this Congress was to: compose a statement of American complaints. It was addressed to King George III, to whom the delegates remained loyal, and pointedly, not to Parliament. The radical elements were critical of the Declaration because it conceded the right of Parliament to regulate colonial trade, a traditional view long held by most Americans, but one that was losing favor in the mid-1770s.
Finally, the Congress agreed to convene the following spring, if colonial complaints had not been properly addressed. That meeting, the Second Continental Congress, was indeed called, in May 1775, in the wake of the battles of Lexington and Concord.
3) The Minute Men - While the leading patriots were preparing for the Grand Council of deputies in 1774, the people, everywhere, were preparing for impending war. They armed themselves, and practiced military tactics almost every day. Men of all stations in life might be found in the ranks for discipline. Deacons of churches were often captains, having more than half of the young men of the congregations with whom they worshipped, as their followers. There was seldom any military organization besides a company, but they were ready to fall into regiments and brigades when called for. Boys imitated their elders, and "trained" with sticks. Blacksmiths were kept busy all of the summer and autumn of 1774, forging swords, guns and bayonets, and other men were compounding gunpowder, and making bullets of lead. When the Congress at Philadelphia had closed late in the autumn, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts voted to enroll twelve thousand of these patriots under the general title of Minute-men--volunteers who would be ready at a minute's warning to take the field with arms in their hands. Rhode Island and Connecticut were invited to do likewise. They did so; and when the time came for armed resistance nearly all New England was disciplined, in a degree, for the struggle. The example was contagious. Other colonies followed, and in Virginia the Minute-men were of special service to the patriot cause at a critical juncture. As the summer of 1774 wore away, Gage found himself greatly perplexed by his peculiar situation. Early in August he received official copies of the several acts of Parliament, which completely subverted the Charter of Massachusetts.

If this history doesn’t move you to consider just how far we have traveled from the original road our forefathers paved for us then my words today should not be of interest. But if you are looking for the old road to liberty and freedom then make sure you look at this history and ask yourself who in this election could fill the shoes of the patriots who paved the road that led to the fork we are now facing.

These three events are events that we should embrace and use in our dialog of relating history in the perspective of current events. Consider one thing if these events didn’t happen we would not be having this discussion today 7 days out from a crucial election.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: In seven days we will be electing our future Senators and Congressional leaders. In seven days a new President might come from those ranks just as they did in times past. In seven days the men and women you elect will hopefully put us back on the road to freedom.