THE FOUNDING FATHERS ON THE ROLE
OF A MILITIA
James Madison, "The Influence
of the State and Federal Governments Compared," 46 Federalist
New York Packet, January 29, 1788:
"Besides the advantage of being
armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every
other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which
the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are
appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition
more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any
form can admit of. Notwithstanding the military establishments
in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as
the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to
trust the people with arms. And it is not certain that with this
aid alone they would not be able to shake off their yokes. But
were the people to possess the additional advantages of local
governments chosen by themselves, that could collect the national
will and direct the national force, and of officers appointed
out of the militia, by these governments and attached both to
them and to the militia, it may be affirmed with the greatest
assurance that the throne of every tyranny in Europe would be
speedily overturned in spite of the legions which surround it."
Alexander Hamilton, "Concerning
the Militia," 29 Federalist Daily Advertiser, January 10,
1788:
"There is something so far-fetched
and so extravagant in the idea of danger to liberty from the militia
that one is at a loss whether to treat it with gravity or raillery.
Where, in the name of common sense, are our fears to end if we
may not trust our sons, our brothers, our neighbors, our fellow
citizens? What shadow of danger can there be from men who are
daily mingling with the rest of their countrymen and who participate
with them in the same feelings, sentiments, habits and interests?
What reasonable cause of apprehension can be inferred from a power
in the Union to prescribe regulations for the militia, and to
command its services when necessary, while the particular states
are to have the sole and exclusive appointment of the officers?
If it were possible seriously to indulge a jealousy of the militia
upon any conceivable establishment under the federal government,
the circumstance of the officers being in the appointment of the
states ought at once to extinguish it. There can be no doubt that
this circumstance will always secure to them a preponderating
infiuence over the militia."
Richard Henry Lee, Additional Letters
from the Federal Farmer, 1788:
"Militias, when properly formed,
are in fact the people themselves and include all men capable
of bearing arms. To preserve liberty it is essential that the
whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike,
especially when young, how to use them."
Tench Coxe, writing as "the
Pennsylvanian" in the Philadelphia Federal Gazette, 1788:
"The power of the sword, say
the minority of Pennsylvania, is in the hands of Congress. My
friends and countrymen, it is not so, for the powers of the sword
are in the hands of the yeomanry of America from 16 to 60. The
militia of these free commonwealths, entitled and accustomed to
their arms, when compared with any possible army, must be tremendous
and irresistible. Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves?
Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against
his own bosom? Congress has no power to disarm the militia. Their
swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are
the birthright of an American. The unlimited power of the sword
is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments,
but where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of
the people."
AMAZING, ISN'T IT?
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too
late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.
On the road to tyranny, we've gone so far that polite political
action is about as useless as a miniskirt in a convent"
Claire Wolf, "101 things to do 'til the Revolution"
You think you know about these so
called militia groups? You probably think they are, as the media
portrays them, some kind of gun nuts running around the woods
in camouflage carrying assault rifles. You probably can't imagine
yourself ever joining one of these groups, right? Well, if you
are a resident of the state I live in, Massachusetts, and are
a male between the ages of seventeen and forty five, you already
ARE a member of the Massachusetts Militia, whether you want to
be or not.
Massachusetts State Law reads:
Ch33.S1 - Military forces of the
Commonwealth shall include the organized militia and members of
the unorganized militia when drafted or accepted as volunteers.
Ch33.S2 - Militia of the Commonwealth
shall consist of all able bodied males citizens and all other
able bodied males who have declared their intention to become
citizens of the United States, between the ages of seventeen and
forty five, and who are residents of the commonwealth.
Ch33.S3 - The Militia shall consist
of two classes, namely, the organized militia, composed and organized
as provided in this chapter, and the remainder, to be known as
the unorganized militia. The unorganized militia shall not be
subject to duty except in case of war, actual or threatened, invasion,
the prevention of invasion, the suppression of riots, and assisting
of civil officers in the execution of the laws.
So, there you have it. The question
is, do you take this responsibility seriously? Are you prepared,
if necessary, to answer the call of the Massachusetts Militia?
The Media and the government have
tried to discredit the Patriot movement as a meaningless exercise
by a bunch of right wing extremists. The reason for this is FEAR.
The government is afraid of the fact that there is a large group
of armed citizens who are quite prepared to go to war with their
own Government to defend and RESTORE the Constitution of the United
States. So they try to discredit the movement. They try to pass
more and more gun control laws to disarm the population.
Sure, just like any group, the Patriot
movement has attracted a few nuts. But then, so has the Socialist
movement, just look at Ted Kazinski (the Unabomber, remember him?
He is a total, radical socialist extremist). You can't judge thousands
of people based on the actions of a handful of nuts.
At the core of the Patriot Movement
are tens of thousands of regular people. They are people who see
the gradual erosion of our Civil Rights. They are fed up with
politicians who show contempt for the Constitution. They realize
an armed populace is the last line of defense for freedom.
Not every person who supports the
Patriot Movement is a Bible thumping right wing extremist. I am
neither Christian nor Right wing. Do
I consider myself a Patriot? That depends on your definition.
Do I believe in the Constitution? Yes. Do I believe that our Constitutional
Republic is the best form of government possible? Yes. Am I concerned
about abuses of the Constitution, and in turn, my Civil Rights?
Yes. Am I prepared to defend the Constitution, with my very flesh
and blood if necessary? Yes. By this definition, I am a Patriot.
I carry this label proudly
Articles,
Essays, Reports
Links
Rongstad's No-Nonsense Militia Related Links
Jeff Head's Liberty Page
American Patriot Network
Patriots for a Constitutional America
Patriot Knowledge Base Home Page
Constitutional Hazard Warning
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