The Importance of Historical Background

"Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government."

James Madison

Where Liberty Dwells

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country"

Benjamin Franklin (Attributed) in a letter to Benjamin Vaughn 1783

Duties

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."

George Washington, General Orders; May 2, 1778

The Finger of God

"For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests."

Alexander Hamilton
1787 after the Constitutional Convention

Defending Those We Disagree With

"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."

Thomas Paine

A Moral and Religious People

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

John Adams

I Am Old Glory

I know this isn't a Founder's Quote, but if you're reading this blog, I will surmise that you love this country as much as I do.
Here is a tribute to Flag Day

I Am Old Glory by Howard Schnauber


I am the flag of the United States of America.

I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I stand side by side with the Maple Leaf on
the worlds' longest undefended border.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,
my head is a little higher,
my colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped — I am saluted.
I am loved — I am revered.
I am respected — and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war
for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy.
Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me,
I was there.

I led my troops, I was dirty, battle worn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me And I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of
countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt,
for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on
the streets of my country. And when it's by those whom
I've served in battle — it hurts.
But I shall overcome — for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over
the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded
comrades on the battlefield, When I am flown at
half-mast to honor my soldier, Or when I lie in the
trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their
fallen son or daughter, I am proud.

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY. LONG MAY I WAVE.

Question with Boldness

"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear."

Thomas Jefferson

Favorable Interpositions

"We have abundant reason to thank Providence for it's many favorable interposition in our behalf. It has at times been my only dependence, for all other resources seemed to have failed us."

George Washington to Reverend William Gordon

Acting my Part

"Whether I shall live to rejoice with the Friends of Liberty and Virtue, my fellow laborers in the common cause, is a matter of no consequence. I will endeavor by God's assistance to act my little part well -- to appove myself to him and trust everything which concerns me to His ...all-gracious providence."
-- Samuel Adams, Nov. 7, 1775,... letter to his wife Betsy

Igniting the Flame

"On every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." --Thomas Jefferson

Keeping Liberty's Flame

Those of you who follow my other blog, My Book of Common Days, know of my political leanings.

I have decided to let you hear from our Founding Fathers and occasionally our Founding Mother's, in order that you may learn to love them as I do; that you need not take my word for things, you can hear it from them.

I make no secret that I watch Glenn Beck; I owe the inspiration for this endeavor to him.
It is my humble wish that through this blog, we can learn to be Keepers of Liberty in our homes and in our communities; we are in desperate need of a Restoration of the founding principles, and hopefully, through the Founder’s own words, we can begin together to restore the Constitution; to restore Faith, honor, dignity, respect, honesty and duty to our lives and patriotism for our beloved Republic.