Declaration of Independence: 56 Signers Proved Freedom is NOT Free
A time to remember the price paid by these patriots.
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
Rev. John C. Blackford
It all began on July 4, 1776 in the city of Philadelphia when a small group of men, suffering under the restraints of a European power 3000 miles away, and acting as the Second Continental Congress, declared their 13 colonies to be free and independent of Great Britain.
Knowing their proclamation would bring difficulties, they committed themselves and their constituents to what they believed was their “unalienable right” — freedom from tyranny.
The Revolutionary War resulted from their declaration. It was a time of tremendous hardship for the new nation, but it ushered in a new era for the world. What is sometimes overlooked, as we consider both the results and the sufferings of our founders, is the price that was paid by the signers.
Nearly all the 56 men of the Congress could be described as professional politicians, and 24 were lawyers. Yet, by affixing their signatures to Thomas Jefferson’s historical document, they risked everything.
Five were later captured by the British and died after being tortured. Nine were wounded in various confrontations with the enemy, and 12 had their homes set on fire.
The British failed to capture Francis Lewis, who represented New York. But after burning his Long Island estate, they took his wife and threw her aboard a prison ship, where she died a few months later.
Lewis never recovered from his grief.
Others who found their homes destroyed for signing were Lewis Morris, Arthur Middleton and Richard Stockton. Thomas Nelson, Virginia’s governor during the siege of Yorktown, implored General George Washington to blow up his mansion when he learned that British General Lord Cornwallis had made it his headquarters. Washington complied, but in doing so, destroyed Nelson’s main financial asset.
Virginia merchant Carter Braxton owned a fleet of trading vessels when he signed. The Royal Navy tracked down and sank those ships.
North Carolina’s Joseph Hewes also lost his merchant fleet in that he donated it to become the core for the new Continental Navy. He died at the age of 50 in 1779.
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I've an odd thought about this.
Reading the comments on this thread...
I'm not one that is into manditory military service, quite frankly because you should be allowed the choice.
However, if you are ever in actual combat it allows you to really understand what our current fight is for.. and the very real stakes.
If you are not prepared to sacrifice everything for an ideal, then is the ideal worth it?
Some people on this thread say that ~you just don't understand what will really happen when the SHTF~ means.
I certainly do, and am prepared to give whatever it takes to get the job done. After all, look at the alternative.
You can give 20% and be all upset when it goes the wrong way. Or you can give 100%, and know that when it goes the wrong way you did everything you could.
Where do you want to be in that equation? I know where I am.
100%, tyvm. I am not an advocate of violence... in fact, I personally believe that if there is violence, then we have already failed. However, if there is, will you respond with... 20%?
DEVON...YOU NAILED IT!!!
and of course if I had to make a short list of people on DP that would be 100% committed to this cause even to the point of violence(which regardless of the posts I have ever written, I do not relish it.. but am not afraid of it)
you would be on it!
ps do you think the native Americans will stand with the patriots? or do you think they will just stand by and not participate? (I am sure it is different for many tribes.. just wondered your thoughts on this..)
THANKS
Devon: If that day ever does arrive, the ones that will fight ..
will have to be 100% committed. There will be no turning back or half-ass resistance. Knowing that they will probably not be taking any prisoners will help convince us resist aggressively. Passive resistance will be dealt will swiftly. Their plan is 80% of us go down. Probably no Gandhi's will be allowed to live very long.
Thank you
for posting. To be honest I don't believe I am cut of the same cloth as our founders. I also don't think I understand our history as well as I should. So much back and forth it is hard to know what to believe. I am non violent so I don't think I will last long. I know its not to smart but I have never been known for my intelligence. Good luck
keep in mind......
that you can be 100% in an not necessarily be the one that pulls a trigger, if it comes to that. There are many unsung heroes in any real Revolution, for example...
-- someone needs to feed the ones who are doing the dirty work,
-- there is a need for recon. and intel..
-- there is/or will be a real need for secure communications (without this one we are dead before starting)
-- there is a need to be a field medic..(meaning stitching up wounded)
-- there will be a REAL NEED FOR safe couriers/drivers.... delivering supplies, personnel, etc
-- there will be a need for housing of Republic Patriots should we need to move to different spots around the country... (ie safe houses) this will be needed for large groups...say several hundred to several thousand , as well as for small parties of say 2-12 people.
--- there will be a definite need for financial assistance.. (for if/when this even takes place ...we really will be all for one and one for all... without that type of mentality we will not survive long at all!!)
-- there will be a need for smart tech guys/gals to figure out how to beat or invent ways around the high tech surveillance and weaponry the NWO has and will most likely use against us.(be it creating new offensive tools, or devising defensive ones)
-- there will be a need for local and regional organizers... there are many people who are motivated but do not have a plan, or an idea as to what to do. So, for the people who have good people skills, there will be a need for them to organize/motivate small to large groups of people ..be it in forming local militias, resisting federal control..or even in the political arena (should there still be one)
So even with a pacifistic view of the world you can still be 100% committed by choosing one or more of the above items.to be involved in...
quilt: Do what you can do.Think Gandhi if you are non-violent.
Many people are non-violent.
All of the people who are the big talkers about fighting back don't really know what they will do when TSHTF. You really don't know either. Have options available to you if that time ever does arrive.
What a load of horse shi.....
Independance from what?
We never gained independance....
In fact, with these documents we became controlled slaves by a ruling class.
Nothing has changed. Step out of line and they will still take everything you have. Dont cave in and see.
Don't you folks think it would be a little odd, not to have some persecution ( at least some fake persecution ) thrown out there for good measure?
I mean come on! They fixed it!!!! Maybe some of these guys were scape goats! used by the agents of the King! But we ARE NOT FREE, nor did we gain independance! Did you really think England couldn't whop a bunch of rag tag colonies? No, we made a deal. Trace the tax code. It ends with England.
Stop celebrating your enslavement.
Is anyone truely free? Would we be having this conversation....
if the Founders did not write, sign, fight for the Declaration? Maybe you need to buy an island and become a hermit.
I would hate to be you.
you are a "unique and special" individual!
" the important thing is to never stop questioning, curiousity, has it's own reason for existing..
Albert Einstien
Thanks MT
did not know that!
just wanted to say...
EXCELLENT POST!!!
I was prepared.....
For this the first time I watched Lord of the Rings and realized what a cruel movement of horror Zionism really was....especially on Christains.
http://mises.org/story/35...
That and when I put the two together, Zionism/Globalization combined being a symbiotic disease.....The Lion seeking out endless countries to destroy and pillage.
And I realized I would have to fight for it....I was prepared then. I am more than prepared and trained now, especially for the end....of all things Federal Reserve and dynasties.....
I'm prepared for WAR and that is putting it mildly......Regardless of both side's taking out huge chunks of manpower and resource.
You write Lord of the Rings..
did you perhaps mean Ring of Power?
Sincere question here.
I meant the One Ring of Power....
The Temple.....The Federal Reserve is ....
"One Ring to Rule Them All......"
It's power has been dominant on every administration....
most are not....
(at least not to the extent that the founders were.)
At least you can count yourself among the few that are !!
CONGRATS!
(now if we can just wake up a few hundred thousand more....)
How many of the Patriots .....here..are prepared mentally,
psychicly, spiritually, etc to have any or all of the above happen to you for standing up against the tyranny that is quickly gripping our land?
--- to have your home, credit, reputation, or business destroyed?
-- to have your loved ones (children, spouse, family, friends, etc0 captured or imprisoned, tortured, or even killed because you stood up for LIBERTY?
-- to become even a hunted fugitive that the government seeks to imprison due to your "radical belief" in your “unalienable right” — freedom from tyranny.?
While one would hope that it does not come to the above, to not be prepared for the possibility is unwise.
Good question
I'd have to say that I was prepared.
Or maybe just accustomed to it.
At least the main offender keeps getting one of his accounts here banned...
lol.