Staff Writer, R. Patrick Chapman
History / Government
_______________________________
In the American colonies, the people had to put up with outright tyranny. Great Britain believed that the financial success of gold backed currency, the rum production off cheap molasses, and American freedom was undermining the Royal Crown.
The new Prime Minister of Great Britain, George Grenville, took office in 1763. His subsequent Acts to control colonial trade and money led to the American Revolution. Grenville passed The Currency Act of 1764, to force the colonies to use the Bank of England's currency in all forms of trade and commerce; The Sugar Act of 1764, to make the colonies buy British molasses and not the cheaper French, Dutch and Spanish West Indies in the Caribbean for their profitable rum production; and The Stamp Act of 1765, which was the worst legislation a monarch could introduce:
_______________________________
In the American colonies, the people had to put up with outright tyranny. Great Britain believed that the financial success of gold backed currency, the rum production off cheap molasses, and American freedom was undermining the Royal Crown.
The new Prime Minister of Great Britain, George Grenville, took office in 1763. His subsequent Acts to control colonial trade and money led to the American Revolution. Grenville passed The Currency Act of 1764, to force the colonies to use the Bank of England's currency in all forms of trade and commerce; The Sugar Act of 1764, to make the colonies buy British molasses and not the cheaper French, Dutch and Spanish West Indies in the Caribbean for their profitable rum production; and The Stamp Act of 1765, which was the worst legislation a monarch could introduce:
a direct tax on a wide array of items all across the economic spectrum of the colonial economy without their consent, which was a direct violation of the right of every Englishman not to be taxed without having his elected representative be a part of the deliberations that go on in Parliament before any such Act is decided upon.
Does all this sound familiar? What is happening today in America? If not, then read what Benjamin Franklin had to say on the matter in “The Examination of Benjamin Franklin” in The Parliamentary History of England from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803:
“To a concurrence of causes: the restraints lately laid on their trade, by which the bringing of foreign gold and silver into the Colonies was prevented; the prohibition of making paper money among themselves, and then demanding a new and heavy tax by stamps; taking away, at the same time, trials by juries, and refusing to receive and hear their humble petitions.”
Government controls even back in Franklin's time negatively impacted trade and currency in such a way that dismantled sound money and a growing economy. The Bank of England wanted its cut and total control over the colonies.
Today we are still fighting this battle against the Bank of England through Admiralty Law, which was established with the Act of 1871 making the United States into a corporation as well as the charter of the Federal Reserve system in 1913, in concert with the Federal Income Tax of 1913.
Today we are still fighting this battle against the Bank of England through Admiralty Law, which was established with the Act of 1871 making the United States into a corporation as well as the charter of the Federal Reserve system in 1913, in concert with the Federal Income Tax of 1913.
In their struggle against direct taxes, lack of representation, harsh and illegal laws, and a corrupt banking system, the original thirteen colonies met in 1774 Philadelphia. In their conference, the colonies created the Declaration of Rights. Unbeknownst to their present circumstances, these men were forging into existence a new form of government. Their grievances back then mirror in great detail the struggles we as Americans face now:
“That the inhabitants of the English colonies in North America, by the immutable laws of nature, the principles of the English Constitution, and the several charters or compacts, have the following rights:
-Resolved, that theyare entitled to life, liberty and property: and they have never ceded to any foreign power whatever, a right to dispose of either without their consent.
-Resolved, that our ancestors, who first settled these colonies, were at the time of their emigration from the mother country, entitled to all the rights, liberties, and immunities of free and natural-born subjects, within the realm of England.
-Resolved, that by such emigration they by no means forfeited, surrendered, or lost any of these rights, but that they were, and their descendants now are, entitled to the exercise and enjoyment of all such of them, as their local and other circumstances enable them to exercise and enjoy.
-Resolved, that the foundation of English liberty, and of all free government, is a right in the people to participate in their legislative counsel: and as the English colonists are not represented, and from their local and other circumstances, cannot properly be represented in the British Parliament, they are entitled to a free and exclusive power of legislation in their several provincial legislatures, where their right of representation alone can be preserved, in all cases of taxation and internal polity, subject only to the negative of their sovereign, in such manner as has heretofore been used and accustomed: but, from the necessity of the case, and a regard to the mutual interests of both countries, we cheerfully consent to the operation of such acts of the British Parliament, as are bona fide, restrained to the regulation of our external commerce, for the purpose of securing the commercial advantages of the whole empire to the mother country, and the commercial benefits of its respective members; excluding every idea of taxation internal or external, for raising a revenue on the subjects, in America, without their consent.
-Resolved, that the respective colonies are entitled to the common law of England, and more especially to the great inestimable privilege of being tried by their peers of the vicinity, according to the course of that law.
-Resolved, that they are entitled to the benefit of such of the English statutes, as existed at the time of their colonization; and which they have, by experience, respectively found to be applicable to their several local and other circumstances.
-Resolved, that these, his Majesty's colonies, are likewise entitled to all the immunities and privileges granted and confirmed to them by royal charters, or secured by their several codes of provincial laws.
-Resolved, that they have a right peaceably to assemble, consider of their grievances, and petition the King; and that all prosecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the same, are illegal.
-Resolved, that the keeping a standing army in these colonies, in times of peace, without the consent of the legislature of the colony, in which such armies is kept, is against law.
-Resolved, it is indispensably necessary to good government, and rendered essential by the English Constitution, that the constituent branches of the legislature be independent of each other, that, therefore, the exercise of legislative power in several colonies, by a counsel appointed, during pleasure, by the Crown, is unconstitutional, dangerous and destructive to the freedom of American legislation. In the course of our inquiry, we find many infringements and violations o the foregoing rights, which, from an ardent desire, that harmony and mutual intercourse of affection and interest may be restored, we pass over for the present, and proceed to state such acts and measures as have been adopted since the last war (the French and Indian Wars), which demonstrate a systematic form to enslave America.
-Resolved, that the following acts of Parliament are infringements and violations of the rights of the colonists; and that the repeal of them is essentially necessary, in order to restore harmony between Great Britain and the American colonies:
• The several acts which impose duties for the purpose of raising revenue in America, extend the power of the Admiralty courts beyond their ancient limits, deprive the American subject of trial by jury, authorize the judges certificate to indemnify the prosecution from damages, that he might otherwise be liable to, requiring oppressive security from a claimant of ships and good sees, before he shall be allowed to defend his property, and are subversive of American rights.
• Also an act for the better securing his Majesty’s dockyards, magazines, ships, ammunition, and stores which declares a new offense in America, and deprives the American subject of a constitutional trial by jury of the vicinity, by authorizing the trial of any person, charged with the committing any offense described in said act, out of the realm, to be indicted and tried for the same in any shyer or county within the realm.
• Also the three acts passed in the last session of Parliament, for stopping the port and blocking up the harbor of Boston, for altering the charter and government of Massachusetts Bay, and that which is entitled, ‘An act for the better administration of justice, etc.’
• Also the act passed in the same session for establishing the Roman Catholic religion, in the province of Québec, abolishing the equitable system of English laws, and erecting a tyranny there, to the great danger (from so total a dissimilarity of religion, law and government) of the neighboring British colonies, by the assistance of whose blood and treasure the said country was conquered from France.
• Also the active past in the same session, for the better providing suitable quarters for officers and soldiers in his Majesty's service, in North America.
• Also, that the keeping a standing army in various of these colonies, in time of peace, without the consent of the legislature of that colony, in which such army is kept, is against law.To these grievous acts and measures, Americans cannot submit, but in hopes that their fellow subjects in Great Britain will, on a revision of them, restore us to that state, in which both countries found happiness and prosperity, we have for the present, only resolved to pursue the following peaceable measures: 1. To enter into a non-importation, nonconsumption, and non-exportation agreement or association. 2. To prepare and an address to the people of Great Britain, and a memorial to the inhabitants of British America: and 3. To prepare a loyal address to his Majesty, agreeable to resolutions already entered into.”
Perhaps the American people need to send this Declaration of Rights to the White House in care of the Queen of England, the Bank of England, and the Vatican. Wouldn't that get someone's nickers in a twist?
Better yet, shouldn't we hold a Constitutional Convention?
Source: Our Documents, Rebuilding the Global Banking System, Early America,
Better yet, shouldn't we hold a Constitutional Convention?
Source: Our Documents, Rebuilding the Global Banking System, Early America,
