“We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism. We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it, that the only way to detect it is to be free to inquire. We know that in secrecy error undetected will flourish and subvert.” –J. Robert Oppenheimer
Wait a minute. I just remembered that I told readers that Benjamin Rush was a hero for helping Federalist John Adams and Anti-Federalist Thomas Jefferson to reconcile. That must mean those two strong willed, highly intelligent American patriots had a falling out? I thought they were great friends? What gives?
Continental Congress
The two first met at the Continental Congress and began working together in the Committee of Five that wrote the Declaration of Independence. There was a strong mutual respect as each saw the strengths of the other. The tall, handsome, wordsmith Jefferson and the short, more portly, born leader, extroverted Adams hit it off. Per worldhistoryedu.com,
Adams admired Jefferson’s eloquence and writing skills, and Jefferson respected Adams’s fierce advocacy and leadership. Their collaboration during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 marked a high point in their relationship. Adams even suggested Jefferson for the task of writing the Declaration because of his “masterly pen.” This period of cooperation laid the foundation for their future interactions, though the seeds of their eventual rivalry were already present in their differing temperaments and political philosophies.
Per historyhit.com,
When Jefferson’s wife, Martha, died in 1782, Jefferson became a frequent guest at the home of John and Abigail Adams. Abigail said of Jefferson that he was “the only person with whom my companion could associate with perfect freedom and reserve”.
During the war both were sent as diplomats to Europe. For a time Adams worked with Benjamin Franklin in France, but they grew to despise each other. Franklin had decades of experience and a polished ease in social situations that fit in well in Europe while Adams was brash and direct. They separated and Adams was sent to Holland. Meanwhile, Jefferson served as Governor of VA and was nearly captured at his home in Monticello. Over time and as the war ended, Adams resumed the lead role in negotiating the Treaty of Paris.
The tensions between the two began well after the war was won and the Treaty of Paris signed. After signing Adams headed to London and Jefferson was dispatched to Paris to begin efforts to restore normalized relations for the new nation. From the time they had first met through their years in Europe, they exchanged many of the 380 letters accorded them in their lifetimes. It was what happened when they returned to America with the finalizing of the Constitution that caused the rift.
Both had very different views over the primary role of a federal government. As noted previously, Adams was a Federalist who strongly believed in a dominant centralized government and was very suspicious of the French Revolution. He was a student of classical world history and saw how great nations fell when they lost order and experienced chaos. He feared the people having too much freedom from democracy. He was also more oriented to populated urban areas.
On the other hand Jefferson was Anti-Federalist who believed in decentralization of government, who saw no reason to abandon relations with the French. He preferred an agrarian based nation and was all in on democracy for all. He believed in the basic goodness and wisdom of the common man from his experiences within the Enlightenment period. A link to an explanation of that is below.
As both Adams and Jefferson dug in deeper in their beliefs and actions, their letter writing to each other slowed dramatically. With the POTUS election of 1788 each battled for the role of VP under President George Washington. Adams was the victor. At that point the publicly drawn battle lines between the two became more pronounced. The respect and friendship they once shared soured.
Adams and Jefferson ran against each other for POTUS in 1796 after Washington’s retirement. Once again Adams was the narrow victor. However, the rules provided for Jefferson to be the VP.
Awkward! 😆
Undeterred with the loss, Jefferson and his Democratic Republican party supporters stayed on the offensive and used the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 by the Federalists as proof of how removed Adams and his party had become from the will of the people. SOUND FAMILIAR?
So what were the Acts all about that caused the ruckus?
At this point, please do not make the mistake of drawing a parallel of the Federalists kicking out the aliens as the same as what is happening today. The aliens of yesteryear were not here to overturn the government and were in fact here legally. They were invited here to become citizens in a young country bursting with opportunities that was expanding westward in need of workers and settlers. This is why the period of residency before becoming a citizen was only 5 years. The fearful reaction of the Federalists to this population growth in other regions of the country drove the passage of the Acts that increased the residency requirement to 14 years among other onerous, controlling provisions. They knew the newer citizens would not be interested in more control from a central government and would be attracted to the Democratic Republicans’ promise of liberty and a decentralized government. It was an attempt to keep the status quo and the Federalists in power. SOUND FAMILIAR?
Today’s Uniparty throws in millions of illegal ballots in key races and areas. It is a current version of the Federalist operatives who gamed the system to stay in power. Different method, same result. The parallel you can draw effectively is that the will of the people won out in 1800 just as it did on November 5, 2024. Thomas Jefferson won the POTUS role in 1800 and Adams was defeated. It was called The Revolution of 1800 as it was a dogfight between the two camps. Personal attacks and partisanship ruled the campaigns. It got ugly. At one point James Madison joined forces with Jefferson to promote states rights.
The election actually ended in a tie between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. It was finally determined in the House of Representatives for Jefferson. The oppressive Acts subsequently expired or were repealed. With the loss Adams retreated from government and politics. He returned to his farm in Quincy, MA and largely withdrew from public life.
Jefferson went on to served two terms successfully. Both Adams and Jefferson had very little contact with each other and held resentments. In 1812, the friend of both, Declaration signer Benjamin Rush, took the big step to restore their relationship. He had been saddened by their lack of communications as well as the effects it had on the nation as a whole. After conversations with both over the years he took it upon himself to approach Adams about the prospects of reconciling with Jefferson. Adams agreed and sent a short cordial letter to Jefferson. That was all it took for the two to resume their friendship. Over the next 14 years they wrote each other often, discussing a wide variety of subjects that included politics, philosophy and personal matters.
Their words revealed a deep mutual respect and a shared sense of history and their involvement in it. They discussed their disagreements and were even humorous about their past behavior. They bridged their divide and reconciled as people. It was a very meaningful event for America that these two patriot giants could settle their differences and remain bonded in friendship and love of country. Again, it may have been the most important act Benjamin Rush took out of an incredible number of important acts he undertook in his storied life.
How appropriate that both Adams and Jefferson died on the same day; July 4 ,1826 – Independence Day. The last words of Adams were, “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” He was mistaken: Jefferson had died five hours earlier at Monticello at the age of 83.
Shivers.
Let’s move on to more signers.
John Hart
I am going to go with 1713 as John Hart’s birth year primarily because it is the year Congress officially recognized, although other sources state 1711 and other years. In reality they do not know with certainty. What they do know is that his father was Captain Edward Hart and that John was born in Stonington, CT. His father was in the local militia that was active in the French and Indian War as well as being a farmer, public assessor and justice of the peace. The family relocated to New Jersey early in his life and he was baptized in a local meeting house that is now a Presbyterian Church, although it appears his family had some association with Baptists as John deeded some land to them to build a church on in 1747.
John married Deborah Scudder in 1741. They went on to have 13 children together. He held a county position beginning in 1750 and by 1761 was elected to the NJ Colonial Assembly where he served for ten years. His primary occupation was a farmer and earned the name “Honest John Hart” from within the state. As a patriot he was appointed the state’s Committee of Safety as well as the Committee of Correspondence. As the First Continental Congress was formed he was chosen as one of the representatives of the state. That led to him being one of the first sent to the Second and as a result an approver and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
As the war came to New Jersey, The British sought him out as a signer as well as Speaker of the Assembly in NJ. As this was happening his wife lay dying in their home. He refused to leave until she breathed her last, then departed for the nearby Sourland Mountains he had hunted for many years even though he was well into his sixties by that time. He remained for a year until the threat of the British had passed there before returning home and finding that they had severely damaged his property. In the summer of 1778 he offered his farm along with other local farm owners to become the staging and planning area for General Washington’s 12,000 man army. He and Washington dined together while camped there. However, before the year was out he experienced life threatening kidney stone attacks that left him in great pain until his death six months later in 1779.
Honest John Hart literally gave all of himself and his possessions for the cause of liberty without regard to its cost. He was a great America Patriot.
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Born St. Luke’s Parish, SC in 1746, Thomas Heyward. Jr., was from a wealthy plantation owning family that were known for growing tidal rice. His father was Col. Daniel Heyward. He was educated at home in classical studies and Latin, while later being trained in law locally and in England. While in England he observed that the Brits there viewed the colonists as their lessers, which angered him. He continued to travel Europe and saw that the lives of luxury around him stood in contrast to the simple lives of the farmers he liked at home. It made a distinct impression on him.
When he returned in 1772 he soon married Elizabeth Matthews, daughter of Col. John and Sarah Matthews. The couple had six children together although she passed away in childbirth in 1782. Only one survived to adulthood.
When the Stamp Act was passed Heyward was its most vocal critic. He began to rise in patriot circles, much to his loyalist father’s dismay. At one time the Heyward family were the largest slaveholders in America, so his beliefs about independence ran contrary to long held family interests. In 1775 he was elected to the General Assembly and subsequently to represent the state in the First Continental Congress. His father warned him of the consequences, but was unable to dissuade him. However, prior to his father’s death in 1777, the two reconciled.
He became a Declaration signer as well as later, a signer of the Articles of Confederation. In 1778 he returned home to take over operations of the family plantation after his father’s death the previous year. He assumed control of a small artillery militia and was wounded in battle, from which he recovered. He was subsequently captured in the Battle of Charleston and sent to St. Augustine with other officers. He was later sent to Philadelphia in a prisoner exchange near the end of the war and was nearly killed when he fell over board of the prison ship. After the exchange, it was not long until his wife died during childbirth. He had lost his wife, his plantation had been destroyed, his slaves ad other possessions taken away, and yet, he continued to serve as a judge and in the affairs of his state including the writing of the state Constitution until his retirement in 1798. His personal life recovered with his second marriage to Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Col. Thomas and Mary Elliot Savage of Charleston. They had three children together. Heyward passed away in 1809 having fulfilled his life’s mission of serving his country as a great American Patriot.
Lessons From The Life Of Thomas Heyward
Picture yourself as a young man born into southern plantation society and wealth, whose family is aligned with the Crown. Life has been plentiful. Your family is highly respected in the community and state. Slaves work the fields and serve throughout the mansion and grounds. You have been afforded an elite classical education at home that has led to an apprenticeship and training into the law. Your parents see your abilities and send you to England to complete your education and training in law. You spend the next five years traveling Europe and then realize as you set sail for home that you do not care for those people or the lives they represent.
This leads to getting sideways with your father as you have determined that liberty is the only path for the colonies. You go your own way, though fortunately reconciling with him before he passes. Over the ensuing years you give your all for the cause that includes your freedom as a prisoner of war and nearly your life on multiple occasions. You go from being shot to being imprisoned to nearly drowning from going overboard on the voyage that was to take you to freedom. Then you lose your wife in the childbirth of one of your six children, only one of whom survived. All of this only to return home after the war to find your family’s plantation in ruins and all of the slaves gone, most of whom having been sent to Jamaica.
Instead of throwing your hands up in surrender, you rebuild your life. You become a judge and continue to be active in state affairs. You marry again and have children. And the one constant through it all remains your commitment to the service of your country and your memories of having signed the greatest document in American history.
Thomas Heyward was a man of qualities and flaws like all of us. However, his life illustrates his commitment to our nation no matter the cost. It is a strong lesson for all who would be patriots.
Conclusion
I only have time for two signers this week. I have finally recovered from Flu A and much work remains on the project for the kids’ house. I will likely skip a week before restarting the series as I want the content to continue to reflect our nation’s return to its patriot roots with the Golden Age upon us.
I am in awe over what PDT, JD, Elon, cabinet members and supporters are delivering. It is literally a long held dream come true for this old head and heart. I wanted it so badly for the children and grandchildren, so they could carry the day and fight well into the future. Our America First MAGA leaders get it. They have the spirit and the will of our 1776 Sons of Liberty coursing through their veins. I am so proud to be an American again.
May God continue to bless our united efforts to restore and lift up the republic for His glory and the good of His people.
Now would be an excellent time to pay honor to a great American who is probably enjoying the show in our nation from Heaven.
America is back! God bless America and all freedom loving people worldwide.
Time To Get Into The Weeds
This is an appropriate time to discuss Federalism versus Anti-Federalism. Since our leaders in the national experiment called the United States of America back in the day were playing hard, fast and for keeps; we should be made very aware of what was involved. If you have not spotted the truth of this issue still being in play today along with a nasty fight between the political forces aligned with PDT versus the Uniparty, then you need to take a dose of cold reality. The parallels are amazingly similar. Below is a primer to get you started.
Now, extend what you learned or were reminded of and apply it to America today.
Do you consider the federal government your friend and partner, or, the potential usurper of God and/or Constitution granted rights as an American?
If you believe the former, you are probably a Federalist. If you believe the latter, you are probably an Anti-Federalist.
Do you believe the federal government should be involved in curing the perceived weaknesses of society and righting perceived wrongs of equal rights for all classes of citizens, or, do you believe that responsibility to redress should be left to local citizens and/or related state and local authorities?
The former is Federalist, the latter is Anti-Federalist.
If a power or authority has not been assigned by the Constitution to handle a subject or concern of importance to the nation, do you believe it is a federal or a state responsibility per the Constitution to address?
Yup, Federalist or Anti-Federalist.
We could continue the game, but you probably get the point. The founding fathers worked through the subjects between them and delivered our Constitution and Bill of Rights as the answer to the desires of both sides. Which is the exact same positions we still fight over today for many of the same reasons they did. Let’s review the officially long deceased Federalist Party and what it represented per an accurate Wiki description. Who does that party resemble today?
Backers of the Anti-Federalist movement formed a political party called the Democratic Republican Party with Thomas Jefferson as its leader. These Anti-Federalist influenced backers were for smaller central government, states rights, less regulation, lower taxes and the abolition of slavery. As the years passed the Federalist Party became the limited party of the elites in the New England and eventually died. With Andrew Jackson’s rise to power and the Presidency, the Democratic-Republican Party split with Jackson on the Democratic party side supporting individual and states rights rivaling a coalition formed primarily of remaining Republicans and Anti-Mason Party supporters into the Whig Party. It was led by Henry Clay supporting Federalism and greater power of Congress over the President.
The 1850’s brought the demise of the Whig Party with their support of slavery and elitism. That led to the rise of the Republican Party and eventually Abraham Lincoln and the anti-slavery forces. This Grand Old Party (GOP) as it became known, arose from the Union’s victory in the Civil War. The party typically dominated federal politics for several decades afterward. The Democratic Party became the broad based party of conservatives and agriculture rooted in the “solid south” as well as other scattered segments. As backers of states rights, they generally opposed the anti-slavery changes. They would occasionally win control of houses of Congress along the way.
Fast forward to today. My, oh, my how things change!
We are back to Federalists being Uni-party elitists with cobbled together minority segments in the Democrat Party and RINO’s versus the Anti-Federalists being the rapidly growing, populist America First MAGA segment of the GOP that is all about operating as a republic with states rights being important.
What has happened since our nation’s founding and today is a continuous morphing between these primarily Federalist versus Anti-Federalist viewpoints. America and its politics have never been one thing or the other throughout its history. Yet, the tension remains from the negotiations surrounding the interpretation of the Constitution and with the accommodation provided by the Bill of Rights.
As things stand today, did the Democrat and RINO Uniparty exceed their authority by claiming powers over subjects, issues and people that are not enumerated in the Constitution? Of course they did and still attempt to do. That is why EO’s and EA’s have been flying out of the Oval Office in droves under President Trump already. To increase their power and reach, central governments tend to naturally grow and extend their tentacles increasingly into the business of the people. That is not a question, it is a fact demonstrated over thousands of years in governments all around the globe.
Can a fully decentralized republic adequately defend itself against foreign and domestic forces and enemies without central governance and leadership? Probably not very well in America as the independent states may opt out of their responsibilities and enter into disputes with each other as well as the federal government. There would be no hammer to cover all aspects of government in place to force them back into compliance. Our strength as a nation against foreign powers is in unity, not division.
As a result the pendulum of change has swung both right and left since the Constitution’s ratification in 1788 and implementation in 1789. The excesses of the Uniparty activities in our times are obvious and the reason Donald Trump is POTUS. Very few are willing to admit it, but the Constitution still has problems that the Anti-Federalists foresaw. The compromise over the Bill of Rights did not go far enough. It addressed some of the major issues of the day that would probably survive as time passed. But as we have subsequently learned over time it left gaping holes of how to prevent and penalize federal government overreach when they venture into powers and authorities that are not enumerated. When transparency is the law, those in federal authority have rarely provided it without prodding, outright threats or legal actions. Attempts to permanently change the responses have been unsuccessful at times, just as Anti-Federalists predicted could happen.
The truth is the development and use of political parties has stymied our nation’s progress frequently. The tension of partisanship that is built into the system can help, but it also can hinder as we have seen repeatedly in our times. We will touch more on this and the life of James Monroe in particular down the road in this series.
The partisanship has led our nation into the long overdue corrective phase today that Anti-Federalists of old would celebrate. We populist, American First, MAGA, states rights, kill the Fed, modern day Anti-Federalists won the election despite the current day, Federalist, Uniparty cheating the elections as they have for at least a century. Too big to rig got it done, however, that should not have been required. As a law abiding nation our citizens could choose to be honorable and have integrity. Unfortunately, the past 235+ years years since Constitution implementation reveals the truth that honesty and honor are not always present or enough. One of the primary reasons for that is radical partisanship. Many throw up their middle finger on reasoning and consensus building, two ingredients that are required for effective leadership.
Which is why the theme of the POTUS Trump administration has been “common sense“.
Strengthening constitutional enforcement issues could be a meaningful answer as well as satisfying the obvious need for honest, accurate elections. When one side or the other goes rogue or overreach becomes the modus operandi while in control, they can choose to enforce or not enforce the provisions of the Constitution and related law with minimal blow back because of the mockery they have made of law enforcement activities and the judiciary. We have seen this blatantly demonstrated in the past three decades with the weaponization of the DOJ and Intelligence Community (IC). Political gain replaced bipartisan administration of the law in the highest offices of our land.
President Trump and America First supporters aim to change all of that. We are already seeing a great deal of Anti-Federalist approaches to powers not enumerated and a great deal of leverage applied. President Trump, cabinet, and all supporters are going back to the original intent of the Massachusetts Compromise we discussed in a previous part. That compromise led to that key state’s ratification of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Some of the actions President Trump is intentionally taking will end up on the desks of the SCOTUS due to lawfare by the Uniparty if they are not codified through actions of Congress. We will have clarity on which to base future steps soon. As that happens it will be critical to gain even more patriot control over Congress in the future as the Uniparty will be fighting against us with all they have. There are more amendments to the Constitution that are necessary to assure our nation’s viability for centuries to come.
If history is our guide, political parties based on partisanship control will eventually die and morph into something else. That is exactly where the Democrat Party finds itself today. The GOP through POTUS Trump and supporters morphed from the party of big business to the party of the people over a couple of decades. What signaled that change was coming was when the Democrats lurched left. The Solid South left the party and have become GOP stalwarts.
Given a personal choice of one side or the other, I think readers know I am an Anti-Federalist in my core. Power and money corrupt and nowhere is that seen in a greater display than in our nation’s Capitol. I have personal experiences during my career on which to base my position. I also recognize that in regard to the powers that are enumerated to the federal government, we all must support without reservation as long as the activities are legally conducted. They are not mutually exclusive positions.
On we go to discuss more signers of the Declaration of Independence. We will look at a leader of both the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists as well as one who help reconcile both sides to make it all happen as it did.
George Read
Born in 1733 in North East, MD, George Read was born to John and Mary Howell Read. His father was an Englishman from a family of great wealth. He moved to the colonies and bought a large estate in Cecil County, MD. With six others he went on to found the City of Charleston on the Chesapeake Bay. While there he held numerous military offices.
Soon after his birth, George’s family moved to an estate in New Castle, DE. He went to school with American Patriot Thomas McKean at Rev. Francis Allison’s Academy in New London, PA at age 15. He then studied law in Philadelphia, passed the bar in 1753, and moved back to New Castle to establish his law practice. In 1763 he married the daughter of an Anglican Church rector, Gertrude Ross. They joined the Episcopal Church there. They had three sons; George Jr., William and John.
He was appointed as the Crown Attorney General of three counties in DE by the governor. He remained in that position until he joined the first Continental Congress in 1774. Read preferred that the colonists find common ground with the British and loyalists. When it became time to vote on the Declaration of Independence he voted against it. This caused Rep. Caesar Rodney from the state to ride all night to break the tie for DE to approve the Declaration. However, when it came time to sign it, George Read did so in support.
With the future of the United States on the line in the Revolutionary War. He returned to serve in DE, but soon learned of the capture of the Continental Congress President John McKinley. He was nearly captured himself in Philadelphia, but escaped and served as President of the Congress for six months. He recruited men for the military and helped in the defense of the colonists during the period wile serving in the Legislative Council after the end of his term. He then returned to his home and activities in the state legislature. He took one year away to recover his health.
He was called into service again by DE with the work towards the approval of the Constitution. He was a leader in the fight for a strong federal government, advocating at one point for the abolition of states altogether. None of his fellow representatives agreed with him, so he moved on to protecting the rights of small states versus their larger neighbors. Once those rights were assured he led the approval of the vote for the Constitution for which DE was the first to ratify. In leading these efforts Read became a major voice in the Federalist Party.
The DE General Assembly elected Read to be a U. S Senator in 1789. He served there until 1793. He strongly supported George Washington and believed in centralization, including the creation of a national bank. He left the Senate when appointed the Chief Justice of the DE Supreme Court and served there until his death from heart problems in 1798. His wife passed away five years later. His son George Read, Jr. became the first U. S. Attorney for DE. His grandson, Read III, became the second. He had two brothers serve as officers in the Continental Army and Navy respectively.
George Read was a highly influential American Patriot who gave his all and left a family legacy of doing likewise.
Richard Henry Lee
In addition to prominent Anti-Federalists John Hancock and Samuel Adams, there was Richard Henry Lee. Born in Westmoreland County, VA in 1732, Lee came from a long line of aristocratic military officers, diplomats and politicians in his family. His parents were Colonel Thomas Lee and Hannah Harrison Ludwell Lee. Lee was sent to England to study and during the period both of his parents died in 1750. He continued in Europe until 1752 when he returned home to settle the estate of his parents with his siblings. In 1757 he was appointed justice of the peace and a year later elected into the House of Burgesses, serving until 1775. Also in 1757 he married his first wife, Anne Aylett, with whom he had six children with four surviving. After her death in 1768 he married Anne Gaskins Pinckard a year later. The couple had seven children together of whom five survived.
Lee was strongly in favor of independence and was a founder of the VA Committees of Correspondence. However, he was not in the tar and feathers promoters. He preferred boycotts and verbal persuasion in a gentlemanly manner. In 1766 he authored the Westmoreland Resolution that was against the enforcement of the British Stamp Act. Among those who signed it were several of George Washington’s family members. He was even more actively opposed to the Townshend Acts. He was selected by VA to attend the First Continental Congress. It was Lee who brought the motion for independence in the Second Continental Congress is 1776. The key part of his resolution read,
“Resolved: That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
He had returned to VA prior to the actual vote, but returned in time to sign the Declaration. Later in 1783 he was selected as the President of the Congress. He served for a year and was selected as U. S. Senator from 1789-1792.
Lee strongly supported states rights and a reduced presence of the federal government. He was very active in the Anti-Federalist movement and instrumental in the inclusion of the Bill of Rights. His proposal of the language of the 10th Amendment was adopted substantially as he presented it. With the compromise, he backed the ratification of the Constitution and had high regard for the performance of George Washington through the years. He soon grew to appreciate the Constitution as he saw how it actually performed. He passed away in 1794 at age 62 with his wife passing away two years later at age 48. He never fully recovered from an overturned carriage accident in 1791. Within the founding fathers as a group, he was considered as important as the bigger names of Jefferson, Adams and Franklin.
Richard Henry Lee was a great American Patriot.
Roger Sherman
One of the patriots who was critical to building consensus between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, large states and small states, providing a compromise that led to the House and Senate structures as well as other meaningful agreements was Roger Sherman. Born in Newton, MA in 1721, Sherman was the son of farmers. His parents, William and Mehetabel Sherman, moved when he was two years old to Stoughton. Sherman had little formal education outside of grammar school and his father’s library. He was also taught by his Harvard educated parish minister, Rev. Samuel Dunbar. His first job was as a shoemaker.
After his father died in 1743, he moved to New Milford, CT with his mother and siblings. He opened a cobbler store with a brother. He became the county’s surveyor two years later. This helped him save money to later purchase land and earn a good reputation among county residents. He married Elizabeth Hartwell in 1749. She passed away in 1760. He then married Rebecca Prescott in 1763. Between the two wives they had 15 children, 13 of whom lived to adulthood. He published a successful almanac for eleven years as well as studied law. He passed the bar exam in 1754. He became very involved in church and civic affairs, resulting in his election as town clerk of New Milford. He was also elected to the CT House of Representatives for several terms during the period. He was named a justice of the peace in 1762 and a judge in 1765. From that position he was named Justice of the CT Superior Court for the next 23 years. During this time he was also appointed Treasurer of Yale College and taught religious studies there for years.
He represented CT in both the first and second Continental Congress. He was one of the Committee of Five who drafted the Declaration of Independence. His involvement continued into the production of the Articles of Confederation and a member of the related Congress. As such he also became a signer on the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War.
Sherman attended the Constitution Convention with no preconceived positions. He actually preferred amending the Articles of Confederation as he saw the problem with it being primarily the lack of the ability to enforce its provisions. (SOUND FAMILIAR?) 😂
Sherman was the definition of a nationalist and viewed his state in isolationist ways. He saw it being essentially self sufficient and aligned with his religious (Puritan) views. Even then he foresaw the future end to slavery in America (SOUND FAMILIAR?) So, he worked to encourage compromises between the two sides even though he was personally anti-slavery. He was a very active participant in legislative and development sessions no matter the project or meeting. He was not an eloquent speaker as he was described as being very direct and terse in his many presentations. This led to him not being quoted as much as others as well as the fact he did not keep extensive journals of his activities.
He was also an opponent of “paper” money. He saw a national currency of same being a future problem to the individual states.
Roger Sherman was largely responsible for the current organization and voting functions of Congress. He forged a compromise, the Connecticut Compromise, through the Grand Committee he formed to deliver a compromise between the large and small states that would balance the interests of both more fairly. He went on to serve as a U. S. Representative and later, as a U. S Senator of his state until his passing from typhoid in 1793. The great American theologian Jonathon Edwards preached his funeral. His wife, Rebecca, passed away in 1813.
Roger Sherman was the only person in our history to sign all four major documents of the United States from our period of founding; the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U. S. Constitution. His more famous contemporaries Jefferson, Adams and Madison had deep admiration for the man and held all of his works in high regard.
Conclusion
A Federalist, an Anti-Federalist, and a Consensus Builder walk into a bar…
OK, start to a bad joke. However, this has been how America has evolved over many years by building consensus among dissimilar individuals who are linked by the common bonds formed from our great Declaration of Independence.
Saratoga. Everything hinged on Saratoga. From history.com we have the following:
“British strategy in 1777 involved two main prongs of attack aimed at separating New England (where the rebellion enjoyed the most popular support) from the other colonies. To that end, General John Burgoyne’s army marched south from Canada toward a planned meeting with Howe’s forces on the Hudson River. Burgoyne’s men dealt a devastating loss to the Americans in July by retaking Fort Ticonderoga, while Howe decided to move his troops southward from New York to confront Washington’s army near the Chesapeake Bay. The British defeated the Americans at Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvannia on September 11 and entered Philadelphia on September 25. Washington rebounded to strike Germantown in early October before withdrawing to winter quarters near Valley Forge.
Howe’s move had left Burgoyne’s army exposed near Saratoga, New York, and the British suffered the consequences of this on September 19, when an American force under General Horatio Gates defeated them at Freeman’s Farm in the first Battle of Saratoga. After suffering another defeat on October 7 at Bemis Heights (the Second Battle of Saratoga), Burgoyne surrendered his remaining forces on October 17. The American victory at Saratoga would prove to be a turning point of the American Revolution, as it prompted France (which had been secretly aiding the rebels since 1776) to enter the war openly on the American side, though it would not formally declare war on Great Britain until June 1778. The American Revolution, which had begun as a civil conflict between Britain and its colonies, had become a world war.“
At one time, France actually had a spine. The colonists rejected their oppressors and earned the assistance of the long time British enemies, France. What is not remembered often is that Spain entered the conflict as an ally of France. America owed Spain a debt of gratitude for what they did to assist. They provided critical supplies and funding. They were in their own conflict with the British and saw it as an opportunity to further weaken their enemy so that that could retake Menorca, which was successful a few years later.
Win-win-win for the colonies, France and Spain. An enemy of my enemy is my friend.
But let’s take a closer look at General Horatio Gates in the fall of 1777, the reported hero General who changed everything for the colonies. From mountvernon.com:
“When British troops under the command of Major General John Burgoyne invaded New York in 1777, Gates’ army defeated Burgoyne twice, on September 19, 1777 and October 7, 1777. Gates’ troops forced Burgoyne to surrender his 5,700 man army near Saratoga on October 17, 1777. This victory, a major turning point of the American Revolution, convinced France to form an alliance with the Americans against Great Britain in 1778.
Tensions between Gates and General George Washington grew immediately following Saratoga, after Gates informed Congress directly of his victory rather than informing his Commander-in-Chief. Washington was further angered that Gates did not promptly return troops sent to help Gates during the New York campaign. General Washington was also convinced that Gates played a role in the Conway Cabal in late 1777, which was a supposed plot to remove Washington from command and replace him with Gates. In November 1777, Gates became president of the Board of War and technically became Washington’s superior. Bickering continued between the two men as Gates drew up plans for an invasion of Canada without consulting Washington.“
Wait… what? There was dissent in the highest ranks during the Revolutionary War? Somebody got the big head after battle victories? Somebody decided to posture for personal career gain like our political and military idgits do today? Tell me it isn’t so! What is this about a “Conway Cabal” being involved? Enjoy reading the backbiting of some of our founding fathers in the link below. Be sure and click on the second page prompt at the bottom left of the first page.
As if Benedict Arnold was not enough, Gen. Gates played politics and showed his pompous azz in the middle of our fight for independence. But in the ultimate “what goes around comes around” result, the following explains what happened next. Unfortunately it came with a heavy cost of lives for the colonists.
“In the spring of 1778, Gates returned to field command in the north, controlling troops in New York and Massachusetts. Gates took command of the Southern Army in South Carolina in July 1780 to meet the British army that had invaded that state earlier in the year. Abandoning the cautious strategy he employed against Burgoyne in 1777, Gates marched his army toward the British troops in Camden, South Carolina, despite the fact that his men were running low on supplies. This action led to the Battle of Camden on August 16, 1780, which was one of the largest American defeats of the war. As the American troops retreated, Gates left the battlefield and abandoned his army, riding nearly 200 miles in three days. Accused of cowardice, his reputation was ruined. Gates was removed from command in October 1780.
Congress briefly reinstated Gates into the army in the summer of 1782, but after uneventful service he left for the final time in 1783. In 1790 Gates sold his Virginia plantation, freed his slaves, and bought an estate in New York called “Rose Hill Farm.” He ended his career serving one term in the New York legislature from 1800-1801. Gates died on April 10, 1806.”
Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. We have seen this scripture proven true countless times over the years. We should always heed these wise words.
Time for more signers. Let ‘s go with one of the players in the Conway Cabal debacle.
Benjamin Rush
The most celebrated physician in America post Revolutionary War was Benjamin Rush. He was born in Byberry, PA in 1745. He was born to merchant John Rush and Susana Hall, the middle of seven children. His father died when he was six and he was sent with a brother to live with an aunt and uncle two years later so they could receive an education. He studied under Dr. Samuel Finley at the West Nottingham Academy. Not long after that he graduated at age 14 with a BA degree from the College of New Jersey, which became Princeton later. For the next five years he apprenticed under Dr. John Redman in Philadelphia before accepting an opportunity to study at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for three years, where he earned an M. D. degree. While there he became fluent in French, Italian and Spanish. He returned to America in 1769 and opened a medical practice while also teaching chemistry at the University of Philadelphia (UPenn – there it is again). Later in life he published the first American textbook on chemistry.
Rush joined the Sons of Liberty soon after his return from Scotland. He was so respected that Thomas Paine consulted him about content in his Common Sense book. He represented PA when he signed the Declaration. In a letter to John Adams he recalled the signing in a similar manner as fellow signer William Elery. Per Wiki, he wrote the following,
He described it as a scene of “pensive and awful silence”. Rush said the delegates were called up, one after another, and then filed forward somberly to subscribe to what each thought was their ensuing death warrant. He related that the “gloom of the morning” was briefly interrupted when the rotund Benjamin Harrison of Virginia said to a diminutive Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, at the signing table, “I shall have a great advantage over you, Mr. Gerry, when we are all hung for what we are now doing. From the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes and be with the Angels, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air an hour or two before you are dead.” According to Rush, Harrison’s remark “procured a transient smile, but it was soon succeeded by the Solemnity with which the whole business was conducted.”
He served in the Continental Congress as well as in the war in the field with the Philadelphia militia. He laid the foundation for battlefield treatments of the Continental Army during this time. For a period he served as Surgeon General in the Continental Army’s Middle Department until the lack of medical supplies and underreporting of casualties by officials caused him to make the ill fated Conway related comments, after which Washington asked him to resign. He regretted what he said greatly. Per Wiki, in another letter to John Adams in 1812 he stated, “He [Washington] was the highly favored instrument whose patriotism and name contributed greatly to the establishment of the independence of the United States.” Rush also successfully pleaded with Washington’s biographers Justice Bushrod Washington and Chief Justice John Marshall to delete his association with those stinging words.
Benjamin Rush accomplished an incredible amount in his life in the post revolutionary period. Perhaps the greatest was facilitating the reconciliation of two of the great founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. He had lifelong friendships with both as well as other signers.
A biographical summary is linked below and you will probably be as amazed by his accomplishments as I was.
On a personal level Benjamin Rush was a devoted Christian. He believed (as I do) that the United States of America was the work of God: “I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am as perfectly satisfied that the Union of the United States in its form and adoption is as much the work of a Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament”. In 1798, after the Constitution’s adoption, Rush declared: “The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in Religion.” He had involvement in several denominations through the years and assisted Richard Allen in the formation of the AME Church at one point.
He had married Julia Stockton in 1776. The couple had thirteen children, nine survived past one year. One son, Richard, went on to become part of the administrations of the presidencies of James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincey Adams, Andrew Jackson, James Polk and Zachary Taylor. Benjamin Rush died of Typhus Fever in 1813 at age 68. Julia, 14 years his junior, lived until 1848. Both remained faithful to the Lord and their country throughout their lives.
Benjamin Rush was an incredible American Patriot who left a legacy that continues to this day.
Joseph Hewes
Born in 1730 in Princeton, NJ to Society of Friends (Quaker) parents. He also graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton). He left the area soon after and joined a family member’s mercantile business in Philadelphia. He attended Quaker meetings while there and apprenticed in the business. He learned of business opportunities in the port town of Edenton in North Carolina, so he moved and formed a company with Charles Blount there that succeeded for a time. However, the death of his fiancee soured him on life as well as the business, which was dissolved. He recovered and partnered with a local attorney, Robert Smith. His business ventures began to flourish. He owned many properties, warehouses and became involved with shipping at the port; owning multiple ships, sloops and brigs. He created a rope walk to be used between ships as well developing and selling rope and related products to the shipping industry.
Over the years he became a justice of the peace and later was elected into the NC Assembly. He remained active as a Quaker and at one point was believed to have joined the Anglican church. Many historians report he believed as a deist.
He became more and more involved in the independence movement. He joined the NC Committee of Correspondence and represented the state in the Continental Congress. He actively supported the Suffolk Reserves, which called for a termination of trade with Great Britain in 1774. He was sold out to the causes of the colonists and independence. Ultimately this led to his signing of the Declaration.
For a month afterwards he visited his mother back in Princeton, NJ. The gravity of the situation had begun to weigh on him. Per Wiki, “Hewes wrote “I had the weight of North Carolina on my shoulders within a day or two of three months. The service was too severe. I have sat some days from Six in the morning till five, and sometimes Six in the afternoon without eating or drinking. My health is bad, such close attention made it worse. …Duty, inclination and self preservation call on me now to make a little excursion in the County to see my mother. This is a duty which I have not allowed myself to perform during almost nine months that I have been here.” Towards the end of September Hewes returned to Edenton for rest and recuperation.
Hewes fully realized what was to come from the Declaration. He assisted in training the NC militia and began preparing ships for Naval use. In truth, some of this work had been done well before the signing of the Declaration as he saw the course the colonists were on would lead to war. He was appointed to a marine committee that began outfitting of privately owned ships with guns. He even leased one of his brigs to the marine committee in the Continental Congress with the committee providing him insurance for potential loss.
In the late 1770’s his health began to suffer as he dealt with continuous head aches. He served in the Continental Congress until mid 1779 despite a group of fellow marine committee members objecting to the money he made while providing marine services to the country. He returned to office with the NC Assembly and continued to represent the state in the Continental Congress. He returned home from the Congress in October 1779 due to his health. He passed away a month later at 49 years of age.
Joseph Hewes never married. The earlier loss of his future wife was too much for him to overcome. As a result he had no children. Her loss had led him to throw all of his efforts into his business ventures and service to our country in the Revolutionary War period. He was a self made man of great wealth who remained committed to the cause of independence unto his death. In his honor and in a demonstration of respect, members of Congress wore crape on their left arms for one month after his death.
Joseph Hewes was a true, devoted American Patriot.
William Williams
Born in Lebanon, CT in 1731, William Williams was one of ten children of Congregationalist Church minister, Solomon Williams and wife, Mary Porter Williams. He studied both law and theology at Harvard and graduated in 1751 as well as studying the ministry with his father. Four years later he served in a local militia in the French and Indian War. He returned and opened a store in Lebanon. He never owned slaves as he felt it was morally wrong.
At nearly 40 years old he married Mary Trumbull who was about 15 years younger. She was the daughter of CT Royal Governor Jonathon Trumbull. Trumbull went on to serve as the second Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives. William and Mary went on have three children together. He took the job of town clerk, a position he held for 44 years.
Williams spent over two decades as a representative in the CT House of Representatives. He was elected Speaker in four of those years. He was strongly for independence as he was a member of the Sons of Liberty, on the Committee for Correspondence as well as the Council for Safety. At one time he anonymously had a satirical letter published in the local newspaper that confronted the King and his actions. He became an even more fierce opponent to the Crown after the Coercive Acts of 1774. He was elected to replace Oliver Wolcott as a representative from CT in the Continental Congress one week after the Declaration was formally announced, so he did not get to vote. However, he arrived in time to be a signer. Following this act he resigned his militia commission as a Colonel to serve in the Congress. He also served as a county judge for 28 years beginning in 1776.
Williams refused to sign the Constitution. He was opposed because Article VI banned religious tests for government officials. As a devout Christian and Congregationalist Deacon he felt it was a necessary requirement. He lived a life of dignity with a humble attitude and consistency that he felt was necessary for government officials. He lived his entire life as an example for Christ and for America. During the war, he closed his business, gave generously of his time and contributed much of his wealth for the cause. He regularly opened his home for military members to stay and rest.
In his latter days Williams read, meditated and prayed. He passed away at age 80. The day of his death, August 2, was exactly 35 years to the day from the date he signed the Declaration. His wife, Mary, passed away 20 years later.
William Williams was the epitome of a Christian servant leader and American Patriot.
Conclusion
As we wind our way through the Declaration signers, we come across stories such as these with Gates, Conway, Washington and Rush that remind us that nothing in life happens in a linear progression of goodness. Sometimes it all comes across as a soap opera. Yet, somehow the hand of God always has appeared at the right time to steer us in a direction that restores our destiny. Indeed, we are going through such a resurgence of the American spirit today.
It is interesting to me that an active faith in God, in a higher power, always seems to be the catalyst that drives the renewal.
In this story we have two devout Christians and a probable deist from different states who were working on the same team as patriots and signers of the Declaration of Independence. They gave their all for America, just as American First MAGA is doing today.
This series is now dedicated to DeplorablePatriot, Susie Sampson. RIP and enjoy the company of Heaven, friend. We will carry on here and try to do you proud.
The post below probably reflects the more crude sentiments of most of the 77+ million voters for President Trump, which was probably over 90 million if all of his votes were actually counted.
Pardon me as I leave my Christian virtue outside the door. It will return after my next statements.
Our righteous anger has consequences. That summarizes how my current day fellow Sons and Daughters of Liberty feel. That unity and mercy shiz at the enemy’s request and terms ends now. There must be full compliance with the principles of the Declaration of Independence and provisions in the Constitution or GTFO to every person within our borders from this point on.
The scoundrels said and did what they said and did. Even with that President Trump is reaching across the aisle to encourage working together, just on our terms and not theirs. It will not work and he can say he tried. They will only do so reluctantly and will return to their evil ways at the first opportunity. l much prefer we move on to the obvious conclusion. They have no remorse for what they have done to him or us. They will continue to obstruct, lie and deceive. Yet, it will not stop what is coming.
Judgment Day.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled, but applicable, programming. Well, maybe after one more discussion. As you will probably figure out, I have clearly gone off the rails with this posted story. 😂
Coincidently
Was Inauguration Day great or what?! That day is one for the ages, it will likely never be topped. Celebration with each statement he made and EO he signed. Inspiring speeches. meaningful prayers and fun music abounded. The wonderful happy faces of people celebrating filled me with joy. Patriotism and expressions of faith are returning in full force. The majority of Americans have hungered for this day and were sick of the dangerous, corrupted, woke nanny state we had become. For psychological effects, nothing tops J6 for rebellion against Americans by the feds and their minions. Yet, we patriots know that all of the power plays by the leftists and cabal have been illegal and treasonous in nature. When many of the cops and judges break bad, it is a painfully hard thing to return the law and order of the American Way. That begins in earnest now.
EO after EO. Confirmation after confirmation of meaningful actions to come. Reconciliation bill(s) on tap per Speaker Johnson that will codify Execrative Orders and Actions into law with a united GOP paving the way for a change is what will benefit We the People the most. Thank you POTUS! 🇺🇸
Now, let’s get the election system in order so that cheating ends forever.
Treaties, Pacts And Deceptions
The following is one man’s observations and opinions in just one major aspect of our rights as citizens. The reader is free to agree or disagree, it is the American Way and your right to do so thanks to the founding fathers and now, President Trump. I encourage it. Regardless of your position, the subject is one of major focus by POTUS and his cabinet. Treaties and trade pacts will be up for constant withdrawal, negotiation, execution and discussion. America is going to be aggressive economically as well as geographically. With multi polarity the topic of international discussions, expect the first step to be toward a lockdown control of North America with inroads of increased relations in Central and South America. The Abraham Accords will also return to the stage soon.
As a result it seems appropriate to begin this part on Declaration signers with a summary discussion of treaties and pacts. Many folks ignore or forget that treaties and bi/multi lateral pacts are legal and binding between peoples and nations only as long as they are honored by all parties. They die in value the very second a party(ies) violates regardless of legal language in the treaty or pact that provides remedies. The reason is the violators nearly always know they are violating. The violated can never fully trust the violators again. There are no independent, neutral arbiters of violated treaties and pacts that have the ability and authority to enforce. For the most part there are no real “mistakes” or “errors of omission or commission”. The documents are negotiated and reviewed in great detail before execution. The parties know what they are doing.
Violations of treaties and pacts lead to all types of conflicts and wars on the battlefields, economically, with terrorism, with criminal activities and so on. Honoring a legal agreement that has been violated by a party to it is foolishness. The violator has openly provided a sign of a lack of respect and honorable intent. For an example, who first violated provisions of the NATO/Russia Founding Act of 1997 when each party stated they did not consider the other adversaries? Who violated the Minsk Accords in 2014 with a color revolution? Now look where things are today in the subject nation of Ukraine. Why bother signing agreements when neither party can trust the other to hold up their end of the deal? It is lipstick on the pig and We the People need to wise up to not fall for political maneuvering and theater.
Next, drill down to the individual rights of all people in the above referenced comments. You have now entered into the “natural rights” of all people individually to which our American founding fathers speak in the Declaration. In fact, it is the basis for everything that comes thereafter in our nation’s history. Those same rights were granted at the dawn of creation by the Creator. OUR collective American nation is governed by that principle and law per the Declaration and Constitution that followed. It was the understanding of our founding fathers and all American patriots. It has been in our governing documents since execution.
As a result, anything or anybody operating outside of those documents; any laws or regulations that violate that understanding; any foreign interests that impose their wills against it; even Satan himself doing his thing: None have any authority to act opposed to those governed by the founding document and resulting Constitution. We have the natural rights to toss any conflicting statute, law, rule, regulation, etc. out and overthrow anybody that attempts to enforce them. In fact, our founding documents indicate it is our responsibility to do so.
To illustrate the point of the intertwining of our nation’s formation and Christianity, what is the first sentence in the 1783 Treaty of Paris that officially brought an end to Revolutionary War hostilities and freed the states from British oppression?
“In the Name of the mostHoly & undivided Trinity.“
The Treaty was willingly executed by both nations to end the conflict. They each acknowledged the above reference quote. They agreed the document was being executed in good faith in the presence of the most high, holy God in the form of the Trinity. Anytime a person or entity tells you that America was not founded on Christianity or is not a Christian nation, tell them to go pound sand and to read the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris. You have seen the references to the Creator and His providence in the Declaration and its affirmation in the Constitution. Now you see it and a direct reference to the Trinity in the Treaty that granted America its full independence. So enough with the lies and propaganda. Full stop. The Holy Word of God is the final authority on all matters.
Further…
“His Brittanic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and Independent States; that he treats with them as such, and for himself his Heirs & Successors, relinquishes all claims to the Government, Propriety, and Territorial Rights of the same and every Part thereof.”
Freedom.
We see that the Constitution that was subsequently executed a few years later is valid in that Americans had treaty granted rights to do as they pleased in terms of government and national formation. Great Britain was out. At least until they tried to force their way in again in 1812, which led to the Treaty of Ghent two years later.
Which is a major point. Treaties are good until they aren’t. But know this, no amount of deception such as was performed in 1913 is legal per the founding documents. They are direct violations of established principles in the Declaration and law in the Constitution. For example, there is no legitimate national indebtedness to the City of London as some supposed, just like there is no legitimate national indebtedness to the Federal Reserve. Americans are about to get educated if I read the tea leaves right. President Trump and fellow patriots are going to rip down the veil and tear it to shreds.
To summarize, our elected leaders and their appointees have no authority to enter into any treaty or pact that does not have America First. America was not first with the Paris Agreement on climate, the funding of WHO through the UN and many others in recent memory. We should sign nothing that does not have America and its citizens first. If our government does not do that they are operating in opposition to the law from the founding documents that rule our nation. If there is a need of We the People that is pressing, the governing officials have no legal right to give the funding to any foreign nation or interests before us. Every Congress critter and POTUS who has done that is corrupted and violated their oaths of office.
The Declaration of Independence is the vision and authority for the American experience, the American Way. It also provided a citation of violations of the King and Great Britain against the colonies. Do the listed violations sound familiar? Many are similar to what we have experienced currently from our own government that has pushed down heavily on We the People. Many of our leaders and citizens are still connected to the Crown and other blood suckers just as they were in the Revolutionary War period.
The Constitution is the modus operandi for how we live and operate as a nation. The statutes, laws, rules and regulations that flow from it must be in accordance and also be in sync with the Declaration. Even SCOTUS rulings that violate the goals, intentions and mission of those documents are null and void. Any legal precedents they establish that violate natural laws are invalid. We only have to look to the recent COVID related mandates to understand how and why. For example, Roe v. Wade was finally seen by the SCOTUS to be an unconstitutional violation that a previous SCOTUS made and others upheld through the decades that followed. The more current court chose to honor the founding documents that established a republic in opposition to the new age Federalists that pushed for central governance and control. This recent decision led to the people in each state being able to legally determine to honor or not honor the natural rights of the conceived, but not yet born; which is how this republic is supposed to work.
All people are acknowledged as being created equally by the Bible as well as in the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution is written to reflect that understanding. Again…
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Knowing that even some of the same patriots who brought us that language permitted slavery of “equal” men and women with certain “unalienable Rights” to exist in the new nation. If the quoted language is to be believed, which it should be, the view of many of We the People that slaves were property was obviously dead wrong. It is no wonder that as soon as America officially existed, it had internal strife that culminated in a horrific, bloody war less than a century later that had slavery as well as other major issues attached such as banking wars, industrialist control issues, treatment of native American Indians, misuse of central government over states’ rights, buying religious endorsements from the pulpits, corrupting higher education, and so on.
All of the deception can throw individuals and nations off track. The saboteurs and evil doers know that and use it to gain an upper hand. Because America is dedicated to God clearly in the Declaration and affirmed in the Constitution as well as the Treaty of Paris, eventually slavery would cease to exist. It was inevitable. But flawed leaders and parts of society resisted as people are want to do just as they do today. In the early days of our nation the existence of slavery in the United States led to their using it as an excuse for starting another war to reclaim their still perceived possession of the colonies in violation of the Treaty of Paris that they previously signed “In the Name of the mostHoly & undivided Trinity.“
And the circle goes round and round and…
It is my personal belief that the Declaration is one of the greatest documents ever produced in human existence and that it was guided by the hand of God. Many of the expressions contained within reflect related messages of the Bible.
With this understanding and in contrast, what would you do if opposed to our founding documents? If war did not work; infiltrate and circumvent, of course.
That has been what has happened to America since it won the Revolutionary War. Do you want to know the primary reasons why Sons of Liberty wild men John Hancock, Samuel Adams and others had voiced concerns and reservations about approving the Constitution after winning the war? After much consternation and debate, consider that that those two finally agreed to go along and vote to approve it. Their influence swung the state’s vote to approval in Boston, the Cradle of Liberty. The short Wiki link below is accurate and briefly explains this compromise. You can find numerous historical accounts if you want to dig deeper.
The actual vote was 187 – 168 in favor. If only 10 people had voted differently things would have been messier. Hancock and Adams were deeply concerned that the young nation would descend into chaos and ruin without its ratification even though they believed parts of it were flawed. So they forced a compromise with the central government supporters, the Federalists, that formed our Bill of Rights and many of the legal principles and related provisions that provide individual freedoms associated with natural rights.
Failure to approve would have been worrisome since they had just led a bloody, destructive revolution that was based on and assured those rights for the colonists. Logically, all should have been unanimously voting in support of the natural rights of the people in a republican form of government. I guess liberty and freedom is never fully understood and accepted even by all who benefit.
Basically we have been at some form of war since the revolution. The battlefronts and war types have changed, but the worldly and fallen angel heavenly forces allied against us are still the same. If we had no value, were of no consequence to the world or Heaven, I dare say we would not be at war continuously. Apparently, we are very valuable to both camps.
So as Joshua said in Joshua 24:15 and I have repeated often in my stories, “But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (NASB)
Sounds like a Godly version of what Samuel Adams might say.
Now on to two more of our Declaration signers.
William Elery
Born in Newport, RI in 1727, William Elery was the second son of a merchant father of the same name along with his wife, Elizabeth. His father educated him until he entered Harvard at age 16, graduating four years later while excelling in Greek and Latin. For many years afterwards he tried to find a career that suited him. At first he was a merchant, then collector of Custom taxes, and eventually the recording clerk of the General Assembly. Finally at age 43, after his parents were deceased and he had received a large estate, he found his calling and became an attorney and judge. He joined the Sons of Liberty in Rhode Island and became a representative at the Continental Congress when the previous representative, Samuel Ward died. When it came time to sign the Declaration he boldly approached. “I watched everyone sign, as I was determined to see how they looked as they gave their names to what might be their death warrant.” He had been moved by their “undaunted resolution” while doing so.
Just like many of the patriot founding fathers and signers of the Declaration, he found his home had been ransacked and burned during the Revolutionary War.
In 1785 he became a strong, vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery. He was appointed Commissioner of The Continental Loan Office a year later. He served there until appointed by POTUS Washington to be Customs Collector in Newport in 1791. He passed away in 1820 at the age of 92.
Though lower in profile than many of the other founding fathers, Ellery made other inspiring, resolute, patriotic statements that have been quoted by historians. In addition to the previous quote, the following was written in a letter to his brother, Benjamin.
“We have lived to see a Period which a few years ago no human forecast could have imagined – to see these Colonies shake off and declare themselves independent of a State which they once gloried to call Parent …”
Later, Ellery wrote to Reverend Ezra Stiles and said, “We have been driven into a Declaration of Independency & must forget our former love of our British brethren. The Sword must determine our quarrel.”
These quotes are strong reminders to us today. Never accept less than America First and forge forward regardless of the opposition. Be bold and be strong for liberty and freedom for all.
Ellery was married to Ann Remington until her death in 1764. He later married Abigal Cary who bore them seven children that survived to adulthood. One of his children became a noted Universalist theologian and another, Henry Dana, became a noted poet and essayist. William Ellery was a devoted American Patriot.
Lyman Hall
Lyman Hall was born in Wallingford, CT in 1724. He was the son of a local minister, John Hall and mother, Mary Hall, who was the daughter of Rev. Samuel Street. He was educated by his uncle, Samuel Hall. He went on to graduate from Yale. He attempted to become a minister, which was met with trouble within the congregation. He began studying medicine and two years later became a physician. He married Abigali Burr of CT, but she died a year later. Five years later he married Mary Osborne. They had two sons together, one of whom died as at age 11.
The couple moved to Charleston, SC and Lyman opened a medical office. In 1760 he purchased land in Georgia and started a plantation operation there. He joined the radical patriots in the Sunbury, GA area, which is now a ghost town. He prevailed in being elected to the Continental Congress despite a predominance of Georgians who were loyalists at the time. He became active in the Revolutionary Armies provisioning medical supplies and food. He remained in the Congress for five years until 1780, however, he returned to GA for a period in 1777 to attend to plantation operations and to help with the personal and legal situation of his friend and fellow Declaration signer, Button Gwinnett. Gwinnett later died in a dual with his rival and fellow patriot, Lachlan McIntosh. Hall was devastated by the loss of his friend and attempted without success to have McIntosh arrested.
A short time after his return he learned the British had taken Savannah and had burned down his home and property. They charged him with treason. He and his family fled to Charleston and realized the British had control. They continued on to Connecticut and possibly later, Virginia. Finally, in 1782 they were able to return to the Savannah, Georgia area to reclaim their property and resume their lives.
A year later he was elected Governor of GA. He never left his religious roots and began efforts to charter a college level school that provided a good education, especially in religious education that would help deliver a more virtuous society with less vice. The University of Georgia was chartered in 1785 as a result. After serving one year as Governor he returned to his medical practice. Through the years he experienced financial challenges and hardships that originated from the war. In 1790 he sold his plantation and moved to a different one in Burke County, GA to retire. He passed away that same year at age 66. His wife passed away three years later. Hall County, GA bears his name.
Lyman Hall was a dignified, affable, intelligent, considerate American Patriot who took up the challenges of gaining freedom and liberty from the oppressors no matter the personal cost.
Conclusion
The better we understand our history the more we realize this great nation has been established through the blood, sweat and tears of patriots over many years. I still hear Elery’s words in my head and heart relating to the signers standing on principles and purpose unto the point of their willingness to die for the good of fellow Americans. Most could have chosen to continue in their high social standing and not risk it all. Yet, they exhibited the spirit that John F. Kennedy conveyed with his famous quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
The founding patriots did it to establish a free republic for We the People.
We do it to preserve and strengthen the greatest nation on earth.
Before we begin this inspiring part of our signers of the Declaration of Independence series, I have one more note for the readers on the research involved in this series. Many of the historical accounts disagree with each other on specifics. For example some may have a person leaving a town for another in one year and others in a different year. Some may include career details in one place or another doing one one thing or another that are different than other accounts. Some of our subject signers left journals, letters and other accounts for posterity; while others left nothing, just the accounts of supporters and detractors. I have one account of a person dying in one year, but attending a gala later that same year. Details matter, however, in doing these summarized accounts of American Patriot lives going back over three centuries, I reserve the right to miss the mark in the minor details as I am working from other people’s sources and works. I consider numerous accounts before I write. I attempt to ferret through the details and determine what I believe best summarizes the truth and message learned from their lives. I also want to represent them as real people like all of us, not some gods whose actions or words cannot be questioned. After all, there is only the one I AM that holds that title.
It is now time for us to review the role of an important group of patriot trouble makers toward the British Crown. Their role is unquestioned in moving the needle toward independence for the colonists.
The Sons of Liberty
We started this series with John Hancock, a card carrying member of the Sons of Liberty if there ever was one. We can easily see how he would be associated with this loosely organized group of patriots who were antagonists to the Brits. He was proud of his role in the early days of the independence movement. To learn more about this group please read the link below.
Not much else needs said about them. You did not want to cross them, they would make your life miserable if you were an American loyalist Tory or sympathizer. They were some of the most important founding fathers of our nation. One Son of Liberty may have been the most important in the movement and I have briefly discussed him previously.
Samuel Adams
From the link above…
“The Sons’ most prominent leader was Samuel Adams, the son of a wealthy brewer who was more interested in radical rabble-rousing than commerce. Adams wrote his masters thesis at Harvard on the lawfulness of resisting British rule. While George Washington eventually led the war effort against the British, “the truth is that there might not have been a fight to begin with had it not been for the work of Sam Adams,” writes historian Les Standiford.”
Both Adams and Hancock were hated and feared by the Brits as will be discussed later in this story. Samuel Adams was so outspoken about independence that he put the world on notice while a student at Harvard, a college that was filled with loyalist students sent there by their aristocratic, Tory parents. It is no wonder that fellow average colonists who desired independence joined in with the Sons of Liberty’s exploits to push the Brits beyond their limits.
Samuel Adams was born in 1722 in Boston. He was the son of Samuel and Mary Adams, Sr. He was one of twelve children, however, only three survived past the age of three. His father was a wealthy merchant and deacon in the Puritan Church. His father became active in Boston politics and eventually rose to elected office in the MA House of Representatives. Integrity was instilled in the couple that passed to their son. Adams, Sr. was active in the town meetings and sided with the popular party, which was the precursor to the Whigs, or, Patriot party.
His parents hoped young Samuel would gravitate more toward ministry in the church, but as time passed Samuel became more involved in politics. After Harvard, Samuel became a partner in his father’s malthouse business. He was not a good businessman at all and it eventually was closed. During the period the local economy began experiencing a cash shortage. His father became involved with other business leaders in creating a local land bank that included the creation of paper currency in 1739 by using borrower mortgages as security. Most of the area citizens fully supported it, which concerned the loyalists. The aristocratic, Court Party held control over governance and used the Brits to dissolve the bank through an act of Parliament. Directors of the bank who included young Samuel’s father were held personally liable for all of the currency outstanding, which had to be repaid in gold and silver. Lawsuits continued over the years even after his father’s death. As Samuel dealt with them it remained a constant reminder to him of the untrustworthy Brits and loyalists, the Tories. It became fuel for his patriot fire.
Meanwhile Samuel’s interest and influence in politics and independence continued to grow. He was elected to a clerk position of the Boston market in 1747. To understand more about the market, Faneuil Hall, its origin and place in the American revolution, please read the link below.
At that point Samuel also assumed control over his family’s affairs when his father passed away a year later. A year after that he married Elizabeth Checkley, his pastor’s daughter. She bore them six children over the next seven years, but only two survived to adulthood. Elizabeth passed away with the stillbirth of their last child. Some years later he married Elizabeth Wells and they had no children.
As his prominence and popularity grew, in 1756 he was elected into the position of tax collector. The problem was he could not always force himself to collect taxes from some of the people. However, that did make him even more popular with the people. By 1765 the deficit in collections had risen significantly and become a governmental problem. His political opponents used it against him and by 1768 he was forced to pay a large judgment. Friends helped raise funds and a portion was written off. Yet, it did nothing to reduce his popularity with the people and the “popular party” of patriots.
The Brits had incurred huge debts in the winning of the French and Indian War. They looked to the colonies as a source of taxation to repay much of it, rationalizing their victory helped the colonies. Through the years leading up to the Declaration of Independence, Adams contested every move and interpretation taken by the Brits and loyalists. He led boycotts to counter. This led to confrontations over the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshends Act, and more. Many times his arguments and boycotts were successful. However, it did not stop the Brits from overreach. Finally, with the British occupation of Boston by four regiments of troops in 1768, Adams gave up any hope of reconciliation.
Adams continued to try to get the Brits to remove their regiments without full success. This culminated in the Boston Massacre of 1770 when five colonists were killed. Through his efforts this led to the remaining regiments being withdrawn from Boston even if the Brits resisted allowing trials of their murdering soldiers. In a compromise he arranged for his cousin, John Adams, to defend the accused to present a more balanced view of the hearings to both colonists and Brits. Six of the eight soldiers involved were acquitted of charges. The other two received reduced sentences for manslaughter with a simple branding on a hand.
Please note that despite many other depictions and representations, Samuel and John Adams were cousins, not brothers. They also became political opponents later in life.
The resolution of the Boston Massacre led to a “quiet” period of a couple of years. After losing an election for Register of Deeds, Samuel won another term to the MA House of Representatives. When the Brits took over the colonists’ role of paying the Governor, Lt. Governor and Superior Court Justices; Adams and supporters felt the Brits had overstepped their legal authority once again. Adams and associates devised a system of Committees of Correspondence to circulate information throughout the colony about the British activities. Loyalist Governor Hutchinson became concerned and entered into this discourse, which gave Adams an opening to make his points for the colonists and in support of independence. In mid 1773 Adams and associates seized the opportunity and published the widely circulated Boston Pamphlet that addressed colonist rights along with the past written statements from letters of the loyalist Governor to Adams. This effectively ended Hutchinson’s political career.
When Parliament passed the Tea Tax later in 1773 the colonies went into a rage due to the effect it would have on the economy of the colonies. This soon led to the often referenced Boston Tea Party and the Brits’ responses through the Coercive Acts. As they say, the rest is history; all of which Adams was in the middle of as a charismatic, rebel leader of the colonists along with John Hancock.
The events leading to the Revolutionary War began to happen at an increasing pace. After attending the First Continental Congress, Hancock and Adams decided to stay at Hancock’s Lexington home when they were informed by fellow patriots that British General Gage had been dispatched from Boston with troops for their capture. They escaped, but this move by Gage incited the American militia in Lexington and Concord to battle them in the start of the Revolutionary War.
As the Second Continental Congress met and the Declaration of Independence was introduced and signed by Adams and the others, he began a crusade against American loyalists. In a 1776 speech in Philadelphia, he went after all who sided with the Crown. “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom—go from us in peace,” Adams said. “We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.” A few years later he pushed for exiling all loyalists as well as the payment of reparations through confiscating their properties. He considered them traitors to the America he loved.
He helped draft the Articles of Confederation and in 1781 returned to Boston where he entered state politics. He was elected to the MA Senate, Lt. Governor and later Governor for three, one year terms after Hancock passed away. He remained a man of the people and supported free education for all including women, which was considered highly controversial. He tried to return to national politics as he had concerns about the soon to be enacted Constitution, but was not successful. In the end he signed along with Hancock to ratify the Constitution, which was approved by a narrow majority in MA. His influence began to wane and he lost a vote in 1796 for a potential VP position to his cousin, John Adams, on the Thomas Jefferson ticket. He was pleased when his cousin lost a run for POTUS four years later.
At that point he retired. He and his wife had no financial issues as he had received income from his surgeon son who had served in the Revolutionary War when he passed away at age 37. The couple had always lived modestly, so they had enough. He passed away in 1803 at the age of 81 from Essential Tremors that had plagued him the last decade of his life.
Samuel Adams was a political firebrand with Puritan ethics and integrity that influenced legions of moderate colonists to embrace independence. He had been deeply influenced in his younger years during his education and from literature that held the view and belief that all people are born with specific rights and that governments exist by consent of the people. It fit his worldview as a Puritan and patriot. This was imprinted even more deeply into his being when he observed what the Brits and American Tories did to the land bank. The resulting legal hardships it caused his father and later, himself, as he handled the family affairs after his father died were never forgotten. He wanted all Americans who sought independence to be free of the oppressors.
There may never have been a Revolutionary War and our independence without patriots such as Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty.
Charles Carroll
Seemingly entering the scene of patriots as a dignified wealthy aristocrat, Charles Carroll proved to have a steely resolve that was no less strong than that of John Hancock or Samuel Adams. Given his family’s background and circumstances one would think he would have sided with the Tories or otherwise taken a life of neutral, non-commitment to patriot causes. Perhaps his learned appreciation for all things French through the years influenced his future thoughts about British rule.
Charles “Charley” Carroll was born in Annapolis, MD in 1737 into a mega wealthy plantation family. At the time of the Revolution he was likely the wealthiest of all American colonists as he inherited a fortune of land and assets that was the equivalent of $375 million even then, the equivalent of multi billions today. His father’s side descended from Irish rulers and his mother’s side was English. Since they were Catholics, he attended Jesuit prep school until age 11 when he was sent to France where he was educated by Jesuits at St. Omer, France; at seminary in Rheims; as a graduate at the College of Louis the Grande in Bourges; as well as other studies in Paris and finally, an apprenticeship in law in London. He returned to Maryland in 1765 in the middle of the rancor of the Stamp Act that he adamantly opposed. He became involved immediately as his dignified manner and intelligence helped bring order to the response. He enthusiastically joined a group of patriots and fully supported independence even if it meant armed conflict. He made himself quite clear with the quote, “Neither my millions nor my writing will settle this just cause, but the bayonet will.”
Carroll was elected to represent Maryland on the 4th of July and was too late to vote for the Declaration, however he arrived in time to sign it. Since Carroll was a common surname, he signed it Charles Carroll of Carrollton. At which time he told Hancock, “Let there be no doubt there is only one Carrollton.” Throughout the period leading up to the signing Carroll had been a tireless promoter of independence and debated frequently with great eloquence and skill from his religious and law background. He represented Maryland within the Samuel Adams promoted Committees of Correspondence. Due to his fluency in the language he was chosen along with Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Chase and his cousin John Carroll to visit with French Canadian Catholics to seek assistance for the colonies. The effort was unsuccessful. This lack of success only strengthened his patriotic resolve.
He served on the Board of War during some of the darkest years for the colonies. He remained a staunch defender of George Washington as well as a close friend. Both were like-minded conservatives by nature from planters backgrounds and opposed the confiscation of Tory land that Samuel Adams and others proposed. They both fought against the enlistment of slaves into the army without there being adequate compensation to slave owners.
He served two years in the Continental Congress before returning to his native Maryland to assist in state government, where he was elected into the Maryland Senate and for a brief period as a U. S. Senator. He resigned the latter when he was prohibited by law from serving both roles as he much preferred serving his state. He did so in the MD Senate for nearly 25 years until retirement.
He was somewhat ambivalent about the issue of slavery. The Carroll family owned the most slaves of anybody at the start of the Revolution. He personally owned 400 – 500 at one point. Yet, he stated frequently his desire for slavery to end and even introduced a bill to gradually do so, which failed. Even with his beliefs on the issue he still did not release his own. In the later years of his life he supported and led the movement to return slaves to a free status in the nation of Liberia and other African nations.
He retired from public life and politics in 1801. He would occasionally be seen in ceremonial roles through the years. Much of his time was spent operating his many businesses. He lived the longest of all Declaration signers and passed away at age 95 in 1832.
His story could have stopped there. Most historical accounts of him do.
However, at this point in my research I noticed little had been stated about Carroll’s personal and family life in historical accounts other than his early years and his wife’s name, who passed away sometime around the end of the Revolutionary War. I searched deeper and found two sites dedicated to telling more of his personal story. The one quoted and linked below probably reveals why many historians did not go “there”…
“His family had become a wreck during his continued absences. His wife was addicted to opium before her death and his son, Charles Carroll of Homewood, soon became a miserable alcoholic. Carroll tried to intervene to save his family, but more often than not, his efforts were futile.
His record as a slave owner and early abolitionist is a testament to his faith. He sold slaves, but avoided breaking up families, and he offered weekly religious instruction. He once presented a bill in the Maryland Senate for the gradual abolition of slavery which required all slave girls to be educated and then freed at twenty-eight so they could in turn educate their husbands and children. When several proposals for abolition failed, he joined the American Colonization Society and in 1830 was elected president of that organization. Three older slaves kneeled at his bedside the night of his death, practicing the Catholic faith his religious instruction provided them.“
On his return to Maryland in 1765, Charles Carroll was given a 10,000-acre land tract called Carrollton, located in Frederick County. Although he would never live there, Carroll added the word “Carrollton” to his signature to distinguish himself from other Charles Carrolls. In 1768, he married his cousin, Mary “Molly” Darnall, and began major improvements to his family’s urban home and gardens in Annapolis. They had seven children, only three of whom lived to adulthood. Charles, their only son, would later live at Homewood, now located on the Baltimore campus of Johns Hopkins University.
The Carrolls were busy and gracious hosts to such dignitaries and governmental leaders as George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. The house and grounds were the scenes for many social events, “humble feasts” and after-the-races dinners. Politics kept the family busy through the Revolutionary War and in 1783, the Annapolis house and grounds were the sites of the Official State Celebration for Peace and Independence:
“Elegant and plentiful dinner provided for the celebration of Peace on Carroll’s Green; … sheep, calves, and whole ox were roasted, liquor in proportion … A convenient, extensive building was erected sufficient for the accommodations of many hundreds. Patriotic toasts were drunk, each attended with thirteen cannon. After dinner at night, the Statehouse, a superb building, was beautifully and magnificently illuminated and an elegant entertainment given to the ladies at the ball-room …” April 24, 1783, Maryland Gazette
No person, even the mega wealthy, is exempt from toil, trouble, and personal issues in the struggle of living well. Charles Carroll was another legendary patriot who overcame many challenges and America was the better for it. Despite being raised in wealth, Samuel Adams battled through numerous hardships that would have destroyed lesser men and lived in very modest conditions in retirement with serious physical limitations and far less popularity.
These men, their families, and supporters serve as reminders that freedom is not free for us. Do you count yourself as a modern day Son or Daughter of Liberty? We the People need you.
Before we go farther, I want to inform readers about the sourcing of my information, which should have been done in the opening story. All of the content is in the public record and accessible via the internet. As a result I am not listing the individual sources in my stories with one exception. I am also utilizing a special edition insert from The Sun newspaper of the Conway/Myrtle Beach area of SC from the 1990’s titled “The 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence”. While on vacation there about 30 years ago I picked up this wonderful supplement to that newspaper and retained it in my files. It has been very helpful.
Our first three American patriot heroes were from the colonies of Massachusetts, New York and South Carolina. In our minds we can picture them in the assembly of many others from the colonies who were there to discuss their situations and the possible path forward. As they gathered there would be small group breakouts and much discussion, laughter, contentiousness, toasting, yawns, speech making, anger, joking, and even prayer. We tend to forget they were people just like us. Some slept well and others did not. Some were constipated, had colds, were stroke victims, walked with canes and so on. Some were healthy, near death, or somewhere in between. Some had alcohol addictions or drank socially while others abstained. Some had personality disorders. Some were loud braggarts and others were humble in spirit. Some were hawks and others were doves. They were all adult ages. There were the wealthy and those of more modest means. Some were reconciliatory toward the Brits and others could not rest until the last one on American soil was dead or back in England. Most missed their families, friends and life’s work at home while doing the work of We the People. They all had concerns and fears.
Most importantly, they all knew the magnitude of what they were doing.
When it came time for making decisions on the direction of the colonies and the formation of the new nation they were all focused on the task at hand to achieve consensus. As you will learn, many times the votes were split between the representatives within a state. These votes had consequences back home and some lost reelection for voting in ways that were against the will of the people. For the Declaration and Constitution that followed the war’s conclusion to come to fruition required divine inspiration and a guiding hand. As a result, God’s wisdom is interwoven into the document intentionally. The participants knew they were dependent upon God’s providence to succeed as they were going against the most formidable opponent in the world that they knew all too well. They demonstrated that understanding by referencing God multiple times in the documents.
Americans – Who Are We?
It is such a basic question, yet, I am afraid most people cannot answer adequately. For this part and those to come we need to review a foundational truth about America and being an American citizen. In my opinion it is most accurately reflected in something written by the great, great grandson of the next patriot I will feature. You may or may not be familiar with it, although it should be something imprinted in our heads and hearts as Americans. It was presented and accepted by the U. S. House of Representatives in 1917. As you read the words that follow, you will sense the passion and commitment. The statements may appear familiar, similar to those you see and hear that are associated with the America First MAGA movement today. Anybody or anything that seeks to change the definition of the following must do so within Constitutionally provided confines. Which is why the globalist criminals and other enemies of our nation work to corrupt and circumvent the Constitution at every opportunity. So as you read transport yourself back in time to the origin of it and understand the words contained within are in their purest form, uncorrupted by current times.
The American’s Creed
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.
Beginning at age 13 in the role of a page in the U. S. Capitol, Page had a 61 year career in public service. In the middle of that career at age 49 he entered the above Creed in a nationwide patriotism contest and won. He drew his inspiration and wording from a widevariety of documents including the Declaration, the preamble to the Constitution, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Patriot William Tyler Page probably did not know at that time that some political and business globalist leaders had taken steps to completely undermine the very foundation of America and its Constitution four years previous to his Creed being accepted by the House. We can only speculate on how many of those elected representatives were in on that treason and sedition that ensued over the next century. The Creed is inscribed on a bronze tablet and displayed in the Capitol. How many of our current elected officials and administrative staffers even know it exists, much less believe the foundational truths it states?
What if those words that were written over a century ago by a descendent of a patriot signer of the Declaration of Independence have become the current marching orders for our America First MAGA movement that is led by President Donald J. Trump? We know our roles are to restore the republic and the American Way. The Creed is representative of the American Way. It is with it in mind that we turn to learning more about other Declaration signers.
Mr. Page descended from…
Carter Braxton
Carter Braxton was born into wealth on the Newington Plantation in King and Queen County, VA, east of Richmond in 1736. His maternal grandfather, King Carter, was the wealthiest man in VA at the time. Carter went to the College of William & Mary in the state and returned to be a planter. He married into wealth as well, wedding first the niece, Judith Robinson, of the Speaker of the House of Burgesses in the state. She later died during the birth of their second child. After she passed away he journeyed to England for two years before returning and later marrying his second wife, Elizabeth Corbin, who was also from a family of wealth and governance in VA. He is known to have a minimum of 16 children from the two marriages.
When his older brother died in 1761, Braxton became the wealthiest man in Virginia and of all of the signers of the Declaration. His holdings were so large that even after selling off large amounts of land for the war effort he still owned over 12,000 acres of farmland and 165 slaves after the Revolutionary War ended. With more land than cash to fund operations, he sold off 3500 acres over the next half dozen years and gave away many of his slaves to other family members and farmers. By the time of his death he had sold off or gave away more land to the point he only owned about 3900 acres. He differed from the other grandsons of his maternal grandfather as he wanted to continue slavery while they did not.
During his life he became very involved in politics and served in various roles from The House of Burgesses to county sheriff to colonel of a local militia. Considered a moderate to conservative in politics he was personally conflicted about independence and the war. Prior to the Declaration he served as intermediary when the Brits stole gunpowder owned by the colonists in VA. He negotiated a compromise financial settlement between Patrick Henry and his father in law who was a loyalist in government, Corbin, to settle it without conflict. For many years he could work in both worlds of the colonists and Brits while trying to bring compromise and mediate disputes.
However, the time came when he had to choose.
When Peyton Randolph of VA died in 1775 and John Hancock stepped into his role as President of the Continental Congress, Braxton was chosen to replace Randolph. It was in that role in 1776 that he signed the Declaration. It was an act that he took despite misgivings. He felt it was premature and had issued a pamphlet of his views to counter those of John Adams in his “Thoughts on Government”. However, he valued the unity of the colonists and agreed in consensus with the other signers. He then returned to his home soon afterwards and resumed roles in VA government, politics and with his plantation holdings.
No serious historian would question his commitment to the war efforts after signing. He gave and loaned a large amount of his wealth to the effort. During the war he lost half of his shipping interests and racked up large war debts that he struggled to repay. At one point he was even censured by the Continental Congress when his men illegally seized a neutral Portuguese vessel. He was constantly involved in business disputes and lawsuits. He basically was a royal pain in the azz from life’s challenges. The Brits inflicted great damage to many of his plantation holdings. His own business operations practices also created hardships as he made many mistakes. After the war he eventually moved to Richmond and more modest housing as he worked through his many financial mishaps. It is there where he is believed to have died after suffering a stroke that paralyzed him in 1797 at the age of 61. He was buried at his beloved Chericoke Plantation that is still owned by his descendants today.
He had outlived all five of his sons. However, there were many grandchildren that were produced from his children. A number of his descendants fought in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. A great grandson, John W. Stevenson served terms in the U. S House of Representatives, as a Senator, and as Governor of KY.
The years that followed his death have helped enhance his legacy. He is now seen as instrumental in winning the war, that his financial commitment to the cause was critical to the victory. During the gunpowder theft scandal it was his negotiation that kept Patrick Henry and men from engaging in a poorly thought out attack that would have caused the destruction of the town in the British response. In much the same manner he acted as a moderate to negotiate a resolution over unpopular duty taxes charged by the British before the war in VA.
Braxton was sympathetic toward the British and their interests often, but would never be considered a loyalist. He wanted to exhaust all avenues of compromise before resulting to more extreme measures. It is in that willingness to negotiate and seek common ground that he excelled. He became a legendary American hero despite being a large slave owner because he was willing to put all of his wealth on the line and work in government roles for the America he loved.
Thomas McKean
This one will take awhile. The historian and media focus seems to be on other founding fathers more often. But there are some real jewels for those who enjoy researching parallels and interconnections like I do. Hold on to your hats.
Thomas McKean was born in New London, PA in 1734. His father immigrated to America in 1720 and was a tavern owner. Thomas’ mother, Letitia, passed away when he was still a child in 1742. This led to his father becoming an alcoholic and incapable of raising their three children, so Thomas’ sister went to live with an uncle and aunt while he and his older brother, Robert, were taken into a school operated by Presbyterian minister Francis Alison in New Castle, DE. It was there he grew in all aspects of being a boy as well as in his studies. A noted Latin scholar, Rev. Alison was a leader of the Old Side (order and tradition) versus New Side (Great Awakening/Whitefield) struggle within the Presbyterian Church during the period. With the two sides reconciling in 1758, Rev. Alison continued to take the Old Side interpretation of theology.
At this point it is important to note that Thomas McKean is not the only signer of the Declaration of Independence that directly studied under Rev. Francis Alison in New Castle. It seems signers George Read and James Smith were his students as well. In addition the Secretary of the Continental Congress, Charles Thomson, also studied under Rev. Alison. Their foundational understanding of life and its application as well as education were rooted in the mentorship and teachings of one of the greats of the Presbyterian faith.
Funny, those truths never seem to make it into many of the historical accounts, publications and media reports about the clear interconnections of many of our patriot founders and their adherence to Christian principles in how they led and governed our nation. Rev. Alison was also a noted leader in the Philadelphia Synod of the American Presbyterian Church. He was a close friend of Benjamin Franklin who took a special assignment from same to assist in teaching and the development of the College of Philadelphia, which is now known as Ivy League school Penn. This is the school that educated eight future signers of the Declaration and twelve future signers of the Constitution, including Gouvenor Morris, the brother of Lewis Morris we discussed in the previous part. See link below.
Rev. Alison was a defender of Presbyterian theology in opposition to the influence of the Church of England. He stood with both feet firmly planted with American patriots. Finally, he was the founder of New Ark Academy that eventually merged into the institution that later became the University of Delaware. It is clear that Rev. Alison was a man of great accomplishment and value for the kingdom of God as well as this nation.
Among other connections through the years there is a major current connection, Donald J. Trump. The same Donald Trump that attended Penn University and graduated from its Wharton School of Business in 1968. The same Donald Trump whose mother was a Gaelic speaking Scottish Presbyterian who had immigrated to the States in 1930 and married Donald’s father, Fred, in 1936 at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church with its Old Side theology and connections decades before to member, Andrew Carnegie.
Fred Trump was already established as a real estate developer in the Queens area. Mary Anne MacLeod Trump became a naturalized citizen in 1942. Donald and all of his siblings were raised in the Old Side Presbyterian faith. A Christian worldview that has been expanded with his political career as POTUS that has introduced him to more evangelical elements of Christianity that would have common interests with the Presbyterian New Side and George Whitefield. Benjamin Franklin had commissioned a great preaching hall at the school where he wanted his close friend Whitefield to preach while there at Penn. Until 2020, Penn displayed a statute of Whitefield on its grounds. They placed it in storage to accommodate the woke cancel culture at that point.
Is it any wonder that Donald J. Trump is a flag loving American patriot with a historically rich Christian background? What Rev. Alison helped start at the behest of the American patriot great, Benjamin Franklin, is flowing through his veins. We see our heritage unfolding before us and why Donald Trump is willing to take a bullet for all of us. I dare say that no POTUS has ever worked harder for his country with more focus and dedication to American values than him.
Knowing this history, it is then no surprise that Thomas McKean was known to work harder and in more positions of service than any other signer of the Declaration. He learned at the feet of a master, which continued into the practice of law. After he finished school with Rev. Alison in 1750 he left and moved in with his uncle, John Finney, a wealthy attorney. He studied law there and passed the Delaware bar four years later. In 1753 he married his first wife, Mary Borden of Bordentown. Once again we find connections to the Revolutionary War era with local Bordentown resident Francis Hopkinson signing the Declaration along with Thomas Paine living there. Thomas McKean and his wife had six children together in the years that followed until her passing in 1763. A year later Thomas reconnected with a woman from his youth, Sarah Armitage, who was a toddler friend before he had been taken in by Rev. Alison. They married and moved to Philadelphia where they had four children together.
McKean was active in many roles throughout the region that ranged from law to holding government offices as well as in the military. He identified as a Country Party member in Delaware that supported independence from the British. The Court Party were loyalists. McKean’s family arrived from Britain as Irish Presbyterian refugees known as Scotch-Irish (Scots-Irish). The slogan “no taxation without representation ” originated with northern Irish Presbyterians and Catholics who were not allowed to vote in Parliament. McKean became a noted leader and represented Delaware in the Stamp Act Congress of 1765 along with Caesar Rodney. This work eventually led to the Continental Congress accepting the recommendation of McKean on voting procedures. The Congress of the Articles of Confederation adopted the practice and as a result, the young nation established the value of the equality of states in the composition of the U. S. Senate.
Despite living in Philadelphia, McKean remained a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congress representing Delaware. When it came time to vote for independence, the vote was split with McKean for it and George Read against it, which meant a tie for the state and no agreement. This led to McKean sending word to Caesar Rodney, the third DE delegate, to ride all night to come vote and break the tie. He did so and Delaware voted for independence. A few days later McKean joined the Fourth Battalion militia of the Philadelphia Associators that had been created by Benjamin Franklin, rising to the rank of colonel. The battalion joined in Gen. Washington’s defense in battles in New York and New Jersey. Having left soon after the vote to join the military, McKean did not sign the Declaration initially. It is speculated he signed after certification, possibly as late as 1781.
Not all went well in Delaware when other officials learned of the independence vote as the Court Party stood in direct opposition and all citizens were wary. McKean and Rodney were not reelected to their roles in the Congress as many sided with the loyalists or were fearful. That is until the Brits occupation of the colony/state after the Battle of Brandywine. Moods and attitudes changed quickly and McKean was reelected back to Congress in 1777. However, McKean and his family remained on the move as he was a top target of British forces. He and his family relocated five times in just a few years to stay out of their reach.
He served in Congress throughout the war and drafted The Articles of Confederation in 1783. He served in Delaware’s House of Assembly for several years beginning in 1776. For a brief period he was chosen as President of the Congress for an interim period. He also worked on keeping civic order and recruiting militia in Delaware during the period.
While all that was going on in the Congress and Delaware, McKean was also Chief Justice in Pennsylvania. Yup, he served in that capacity for 22 years. This service led to him being elected Governor of Pennsylvania from 1799 to 1808. He was noted for expanding free education and leading the local war effort in the War of 1812 at age 80. He spent his retirement in Philadelphia writing, talking politics, and enjoying the wealth he had gained with business and real estate investments. He passed away in 1817 at age 83 and is buried in Philadelphia. He was honored by many and there were probably just as many detractors at various points in his productive life. He had served an Assemblyman, Judge, Delegate, President of Congress, State Representative, Chief Justice, and Governor for a total of 36 terms over 42 years in three states (PA, DE, NJ), often holding office or acting in an official capacity in more than one state at the same time.
During his time as Chief Justice of PA, his decisions became part of the basis of the future ruling of Chief Justice John Marshall in Marbury vs. Madison that freed the way for SCOTUS to overturn an unconstitutional law. It is a basic legal principle that applies to this day.
It is mind boggling that he survived all of his experiences and had time to be married and have ten children. I have linked a bullet point style summary of the man, events and his many accomplishments for those who want to know more.
Our government and judiciary today use principles and conduct business using practices that Thomas McKean established prior to, during and after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Revolutionary War. He is a legendary American patriot.
Conclusion
There is only time to discuss two signers and the great grandson of one to keep this part from running too long. As we read we need to think about their actual lives. For example, we can clearly see that Thomas McKean was a workaholic that operated at a furious pace with a quick, highly intelligent mind that could accomplish many great things. We also see that he did so with zero concern for the potential personal repercussions. He did what he thought was right and damn the consequences. He seem to have developed this disciplined approach to life as a child and young adult from the mentorship of Rev. Alison and his uncle.
With Carter Braxton we see a man of great wealth and historical standing in the colonies with loyalist friends. He felt pulled between two worlds, yet, knew that what the King and Brits were doing was wrong and harmful to the colonists and their families. He saw the need to act as an intermediary attempting to find compromise to help prevent harm to either side, but in the end chose the way of freedom for the nation even if he did see that as something his slaves might be worthy of as well. When he committed, it was all in and the treasury of America was the beneficiary when they needed it most to battle the oppressors. He died with far less than he had, having given away much to the war effort as well as to family members during the last years of his life.
Both of these signers were larger than life figures. They had many people who thought highly of them as well as many detractors. However, the war results hung in the balance and may never have tipped in the colonists favor without them.
There is ample history to write about concerning the signers’ achievements and failures. Whereas the great, great grandson of Carter Braxton, William Tyler Page, served as a humble civil servant in a support role of a government apparatus that grew into the one we MAGA types abhor today. He worked most of his career as a clerk in the House of Representatives with involvement in the U. S. Flag Association. He married, had five children and passed away at age 74 in 1942. Yet, he left Americans with something we should all ascribe to believe and be for as long as America exists. He is also an America patriot, just like so many people who serve America without fanfare today.
November 5, 2024 happened. It is time. God answered the prayers and groanings of His faithful as well as all MAGA supporters with an intervention. We start this story by going back in history to build the foundation. It was also a time of God’s intervention into human events.
Most people ignore or gloss over what transpired with the negotiations and collective agreement of the content that is stated in the Declaration of Independence. They acknowledge its importance, just do not really pay much attention to how it came to be. The vast majority of Americans are clueless as to its content and relevance to life in America today, nearly 250 years later.
Instead of spending time on discussing the Declaration’s content, I have posted a link below. As an American you owe it to yourself and your country to study the Declaration of Independence and Constitution as if your life on this planet depended upon it. Your children and grandchildren should be taught its content and importance; do not count on the schools to do so. If you are unfamiliar or need a reminder, please read it because my story is about some of the people who conceived, executed andrisked all for the contents of that critical document that led to the establishment of the United States of America.
What was the foundational concept of the Declaration? It was a Biblically inspired belief in the natural rights of mankind as expressed in the document itself. What was the background of the signers in regards to this belief system? From the following link,
“Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration, the great majority, perhaps all, identified themselves as Christians, and all but one were Protestants. Four were either present or former ministers, and a number of the signers were the sons of clergy. At least half of them had studied “divinity” at their various universities. The denominations breakdown runs as follows: 32 of the signers, well over half, were Episcopalians, or Anglicans, the old state Church of England. There were 13 Congregationalists, 12 were Presbyterians. There were two Quakers, two Unitarians, and one Roman Catholic.“
If that statement is correct and I have no reason to believe it is not, we can clearly determine that Biblical faith formed the basis of their world view as well as that of the future nation.
The ensuing implementation of the Declaration led to war, lost battles and this…
I hope you have reacquainted yourself with the document and the period in this brief tour of American history at its founding. I contend that it is that same American spirit that charges through the words of the Declaration of Independence that led to the greatest, ongoing experiment in national governance in world history. It is a spirit that is very much alive and expressed by the massive America First MAGA movement today, whose spirit is spreading like wildfire worldwide.
Not all of the 56 signers were present during the discussions and negotiations that surrounded the production of the document. They signed on anyway. They knew what was at stake and agreed in principle with the contents of the document. In this series we are going to dig down into understanding their roles and who many of them were as human beings. We need to personally identify with their commitment such that we may be emboldened to go and do likewise. This series will focus on many of these brave patriots.
Hint: They acted a lot like many America First MAGA patriots do today. Quite a few were from wealth and dignified. A handful were truly messed up people. Others were heroic and inspirational. Some were bombastic and others were pensive. A large number were highly educated and accomplished. Others were less educated, yet enlightened and committed to the cause. Blended together they gave us the foundational start for a truly blessed nation.
John Hancock
The signature of the first to execute it, John Hancock from Massachusetts, was the most flamboyant and recognizable of all. It reflected his popularity during that day. He was orphaned as a youth and adopted by a wealthy merchant uncle. He interned in the business, graduated from Harvard College at 17 and eventually inherited a vast wealth when his uncle died in 1763. The assets were said to be the largest in all of New England. Prior to the rise of the American patriots; that wealthy, elite standing would have placed him in the midst of the society of British loyalists in the colonies. However, John Hancock rejected that standing as time moved on and joined the independence movement. He was in the company of John and Samuel Adams, the latter being a political mentor, while becoming deeply involved in the republican movement in New England. In 1768, his sloop the Liberty was impounded by the British for allegedly carrying contraband. This accusation inspired a large group of local patriots to storm the customs post, burn the government’s boat and beat up its officers. The officers retreated to a British ship offshore. It was not long afterwards that Hancock helped lead and strongly support the Boston Tea Party.
When Peyton Randolph resigned from the Continental Congress in 1776, Hancock became President. England decreed a large reward for his capture and other patriot leaders later that year. Hancock’s comments upon signing the Declaration with large, easy to read handwriting were, “The British ministry can read that name without spectacles, let them double their reward.” One who had so much to lose, who could have easily gone along to get along; gave without reservation to America and his fellow patriots.
It was a big 🖕 you to the oppressors of the colonists. A spirit that has long prevailed in our nation.
What is not discussed much in historical accounts is all of the relationships, entanglements, misfortunes, twists and turns of the life of this as well as many other patriots. Some historians suggest Hancock was disappointed that Washington was given command of the Continental Army. Yet, we know that he held great respect for Washington and the two worked well together in the affairs of the young nation. What was true by this point was that his mentor from the early days, Samuel Adams, had soured on Hancock as he considered him vain and extravagant, unbecoming of a republican leader. Despite his wealth suffering from the war, Hancock always gave greatly to the poor and needy. He was generous to so many and the people idolized him.
His political career was a picture of ups and downs, as were his military leadership skills during the war. Yet, his reputation and support never really suffered for it. Throughout the war period he was loved and was elected governor of Massachusetts in 1780 with over 90% of the vote. He served terms there as well as being elected as a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention among other elected posts.
There have been many supporters and many detractors of Hancock that continued over the 2+ centuries that have followed; owed in large part because he did not leave much in the way of journals or letters for historians to use to make their assessments. Obviously, too much that has been stated about him came from information gained from his detractors as they were not shy in writing their commentaries (much like today). What he did have that could never be discarded or ignored was the overwhelming support of We the People (sound familiar?).
Despite his wealth and societal acceptance, he chose to give his all for America. He cast off the British crown and became an American patriot. Well before the war he had married into the politically prominent Quincy family with whom he had two children. He died in 1793 at 56 years old with his loyal wife, Dorothy, by his bedside. He had suffered from gout most of his life and it eventually led to his death. Even Samuel Adams, the acting Governor, reconciled to the greatness of the man as he led the efforts to provide a lavish funeral and declared its day a state holiday.
Guess Who?
Shall we step into the shoes of the next founding father?
You have lived a life of wealth and privilege as a 4th generation colonist with deep British roots. You are a graduate of Yale and have numerous real estate and business holdings that you received as inheritance. Your ancestors had immigrated to America and built the family’s business empire as loyal British subjects. Over the years as they passed away this led to you assuming control as an adult. You marry Mary Walton of the prominent merchant Walton family. You expand your family’s holdings and eventually become the 8th colonial governor of New Jersey. Local residents in one area even name a town after you. Life has been exceptionally good, but now you are faced with a difficult decision that will have lasting consequences on not only you and your family, but on your fellow colonists. The rulers of the colonies have ordered your vast property holdings and real estate development interests to be seized. However, they tell you that if you decline to vote for liberty that your holdings will be spared and life can go on as it has been. This is an offer that is extended as a courtesy due to your great grandfather and his brother having served with honor and high rank in Cromwell’s army in the English Civil War in the previous century; which eventually led to similar military involvement currently with a brother and half brother located in the colonies. They know your decision will be one of great influence on your fellow restless, angry colonists.
With all of this family history, work, and social standing you respond to the offer with, “There are plenty of homes but only one country.” To summarize – 🖕Brits.
It does not stop there. Your brother who is a General in the British army follows up and tells you not to not sign that document or you will lose everything. Your half-brother, Gouverneur Morris, does likewise even though he sides with the colonists. You hesitate after the safety of your family becomes a question. Once reassured by General Washington that they will be safe and it comes time to sign or walk away you respond with, “Damn the consequences. Give me the pen.” Once again – a big🖕Brits. Your family of a wife and ten children are driven into exile.
You then proceed to lose all of your property holdings and money in the exchange from the sacrifices of war.
Over time you become a hero and icon in the Revolutionary War and legislature that leads to your nation’s founding. You first give up your seat in the Continental Congress to your brother, Gouverneur, and become a General in the Continental Army under Washington. In 1777 you also return to roles in governance in the New York legislature and later become a county judge. After the war you return to your 2000 acre farm and begin the process of restoring what had been burned down by the Brits. Over time three of your sons join the military and become officers; a General, a Colonel and a Lieutenant. They later go on to serve with honor and distinction in the War of 1812.
You continue to serve your nation until your death in 1798 at age 71. Prior to your death in 1790 you offer your land as the site to house the U. S. Capital. It is now part of the South Bronx neighborhood known as Morrisania. Upon your death you are buried in the family vault on the property of St. Anne’s Church in the Bronx.
Your name is Lewis Morris of Bronx County, New York, a legendary American patriot.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
I am sure some are asking, “Who?” Other than reading his signature on the document, most probably know very little about him. Yet, this young patriot contributed during a critical time in the lead up to the war in important ways that cannot be easily measured. His efforts had very little to do with military exploits on the battlefield. His gifts were of persuasion and concern for family and countrymen. He did his thing, after which, he disappeared.
Yes, there is more, a mixed bag like all of us. Privilege, good deeds and decisions, love, suffering, sorrow, poor decisions, and tragedy are in his story.
Thomas Lynch, Jr. was born in the Georgetown, SC area in 1749 on the Hopsewee Plantation his family owned. He was sent to England to study at Cambridge University, graduated and stayed to study law. After eight years away he returned home in 1772 and married Paige Shubrick, whom he courted prior to going to England. He was active in the family’s plantation operations as a planter, having no interest in going into law despite his education. He became politically engaged immediately as his father was a noted patriot in the independence movement who later signed on the Continental Association. His father had a serious stroke while serving in this role, so at age 26, young Lewis stepped in as a representative of the Continental Congress.
Upon his return to South Carolina and with independence in the wind, he was soon commissioned a captain and company commander in the South Carolina First Regiment under famous Col. Thomas Pinckney. He recruited men from his region to join the unit.
Unfortunately, while in his role with the regiment he soon fell ill from bilious fever (tick bite) before he could take full command of the unit he had recruited for the war effort. He never fully recovered. News soon came that his father’s health was again severely declining and he received permission to go to Philadelphia as a representative of the state where his father was serving in the Continental Congress. This led to him at age 27 to become the youngest signer on the Declaration of Independence as he stepped into his father’s role once again. While still there he made a fierce defense for the use of slaves on the plantations and threatened South Carolina’s secession if there were illegal attempts to end the practice. Later that year as he and his father made their way home, his father passed away from a second stroke.
Lynch stayed in South Carolina and lived with his wife at their Peachtree Plantation in the South Santee River area, one of three he owned. His health continued to be a lingering, serious problem. He and his wife took the advice of friends to relocate to Europe to see if a different environment might help. With the young nation still at war they could not leave through normal sea routes, so they chose to travel to the West Indies first. From there they planned to travel to Europe. They left for the destination on the brigantine, Polly, on December 17, 1779. They never arrived. The ship, crew and passengers were never heard from again. After becoming the youngest of the Declaration signers, at age 30, Thomas Lynch, Jr. became the youngest of the signers to die.
Lynch’s contributions beyond those stated above were his passion and ability to encourage others in the patriotic pursuit of independence. He was a brilliant orator and motivator of the people. He was aware of his impact on others and served as an inspiration to the people who knew him during the fight for independence.
Common Themes
Throughout this series you will note common themes. In this part and as will also be present in others; each of these colonists became American heroes at a critical juncture in our nation’s formation. These and many other signers first arrived on this planet from families that came from wealth and strongly rooted British backgrounds. They were privileged with strong educational training. They were disciplined in their pursuits. They had advantages that average colonists would never experience. However, this was important in the organization of the young nation. Their understanding of law, governance and industry while embracing the principles of natural rights, liberty and freedom would serve the needs of We the People well.
Yet, all three in this story as well as the other signers rejected the haughty attitudes of the Brits and loyalists with whom they had lived for so long and maintained relations. The interconnections from long held family relationships had proven very difficult to navigate. All three in this story chose a different path for themselves and their fellow colonists. They did so without reservation and remained faithful to the pursuit of freedom until death. Their devoted spouses were at their side when each passed away. The newly formed states of their origins proudly memorialized their contributions, which still affect the course of our nation today.
These were three American heroes who gave their all for their fellow Americans in the spirit of the words in the founding document they all signed in defiance of their oppressors. May we go and do likewise.
We are living long enough to witness something that does not appear to have been done before. Ever. It is time to give thanks for it.
In the history of the world it is likely that there has never been a dominating empire whose government was a representative republic of private citizens. Governments appear to have always been in authority over the people with the support of the elites and powerful – the ruling class. The people were the subjects of the government. That is not true for Americans per our founding documents. America is the beneficiary of the providence of God through the vision of our forefathers who acted against oppression and sought a better way.
Which is why oppressors have attempted to destroy us internally and externally since conception. This has led to the current awakening of the majority of American citizens after decades of deception and corruption. The first response to this awakening led to the events of November 8, 2016. It was a shot over the bow at the oppressors, traitors and seditionists. The war had begun for the soul of America.
Fast forward.
November 5, 2024
We all know what happened after Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016. There is no point in rehashing it or discussing many of the things and people involved behind the scenes and in front of the cameras. There are devils and demons everywhere. Most do not even realize that is who they are. We just seem to forget at times there have been many patriots and heroes working against them. Which has led to positive changes for average citizens even with the DC instigated chaos created against President Trump during the first term.
Over the years a complete disconnect from the desires of the citizens has infected many politicians and their unelected administrative minions. That ends now. Politicians who go with business as usual will be isolated by the executive branch and We the People, then voted out of office or otherwise identified as enemies of the people. Their administrative state cronies are going out the door with them. The reason that will happen over the coming years is because We the People have seen the strings and we cannot unsee them. Citizen journalists have taken over to inform us and transparency reigns. To maintain their credibility these sources of information have to disclose the facts and evidence. They are not dependent on advertisers to cover the massive overheads and compensation of the propagandist talking heads in the fake news industry. As a result they are nimble, close to the people and operate without filters for the most part.
To be sure, MAGA will still need to vet the citizen journalists. Some can be influenced and bought like their fake counterparts. However, We the People know we should do that now and as a result will sort out the posers much more quickly and efficiently. That is a profound change from past practice.
A little alphabet letter birdie hooked many of us and sent us on a journey we will never forget.
WWG1WGA.
We the People have become emboldened by having a popular supposed felon’s back, President-Elect Trump, and staring down the enemy no matter the threats and potential costs. As a result it is time to discuss some major parts of this American reconstruction period we will be seeing now that the bigger war is trending toward a successful, “winning” conclusion.
World Cooperation
Respect oozes out of world leaders for Donald Trump and normal American people. They really don’t want to cross him, they want to make deals and find ways to work together. They know he is a man’s man. Look what is already happening worldwide and the man is still two months away from going back to the White House. They know he is not a politician. He is a pragmatic businessman icon with a true vision of what is best for America, which consequently improves all of their situations if they play their cards right. A rising tide lifts all boats. POTUS-Elect Trump understands win-win and will not go with win-lose unless it is the opponents who are losing and they are enemies of We the People.
Peace is returning. Business expansion and better living conditions are on the way. The world will become more secure, predictable…and happy.
World Economics and Politics
If you move your investments out of the stock market because Trump won you may be certifiably insane. Even his enemies are jumping on for that ride.
Multi-polarity is a real thing. The USMCA and all of his bi-lateral trade agreements with world governments from the first term have already informed you. His acceptance and acknowledgement of BRICS+ is further evidence as is his open acknowledgement and acceptance of a place for crypto. Where you will likely see a slow down in BRICS+ development plans is their move away from the dollar as the basis of the world economy. Vlad and Russia have already indicated their willingness to deal in dollars. President- Elect Trump is going to go after reestablishment of the dollar as the world’s currency with fervor. Investing in America will be cool again.
With multi-polarity we can expect North America to become a more cohesive economic system with greater cooperation from Mehico and Canada. Mehico will act tough and independent at times, but it is all bluster. They know they are toast without us as 25% of their economic production is sold into America. The cartels eventually will be the losers, nothing more than rogue bands of criminals that will be disposed through greater cooperation between agencies and military. Mehico really has no choice. The off the books dark money that funded them through the clowns and other seditionists will be drying up over time with DOGE and Bobby at HHS. Mehico is on notice as are many South and Central America nations who have opened their doors to China’s fentanyl as well as other drug and human trafficking trades.
The NWO and its Barry/Brandon Show overstepped their way into blowing Germany out of being a serious contender for world leadership through their continued support of Islamic immigration (invasion), fascism and Nazis. If Trump pulls back militarily from that country or deemphasizes NATO they will be at bankruptcy. So guess who is going to be buying energy from America and making other concessions? There is no European Union of note without a strong Germany. The Germany and EU that remains will be greatly weakened due to the stupidity and corruption of their leaders, other than the few who have been solidly in Trump’s’ camp for some time like Orban. It should spawn positive change from within the EU over time.
The Muslim Brotherhood is done as are their American promoters, Barry and Cankles, except in their own backyard. No mo money for scum buckets. The Saudis have also strongly assisted with that. Iran is already in retreat mode, cozying up even closer to Vlad, who PDT gets along with well. All of it means stability in world markets. That means there is money to be made for those with investment funds, 401(k)’s and such. With personal income tax rates on a downward trend as a percentage of income, the average working men and women are going to have opportunities to recover from Brandon’s inept criminal appointment as POTUS and improve their financial situations. Say hello to a larger, more well heeled middle class who will become prime, MAGA GOP voters. My advice is to seize on the opportunity.
As far as daily life goes expect lower energy, grocery, and household item prices compared to household incomes. Incomes overall will rise. Employers will be competing hard for sufficient quality staffing with the significant reduction of illegals, stiffer immigration procedures and the element of depop still being felt. That drives up wages and benefits for everybody. There is more money to be made in investments as well as to use with larger purchases with a lowering percentage of cash outflow compared to income, so expect housing and the automotive industry to take off again. We know the drill, we lived it for four years in Trump’s first term. Banks will be lending again because times will be good. That industry will have good profitability and they will lose their fear of bad times as regulators loosen the grips that Brandon’s economic control thugs wielded.
Which makes the propagandist diatribes against efforts to curb illegal immigration even more ridiculous than it is. America is going to need millions more workers in various trades including housing and agriculture. Well vetted worker visas will be a valuable tool to assist. That will make it even easier for our citizen hispanic population to continue their moves toward the GOP. In reality they have far more in common with the MAGA GOP than the Dems.
The difference in big picture this time around is the looming defeat of the old WEF/NWO fraudsters. They are in full retreat worldwide and threats to their existence will accelerate. Many people are hedging their bets, expecting the heavy shoe of these criminals to drop because it has happened before. I call that emotion the Battered Normie Syndrome (BNS). I am and have not been in that camp, I am too contrarian to ever give in to criminals.
In my opinion there may be setbacks, but nothing that MAGA will not overcome. The left has no bench of political candidates except in economically and culturally declining blue crapholes. There is literally nobody who can galvanize existing and create additional support on a national level. The Bob Casey loss in PA was ground shaking for them and reveals cracks in even Gov. Shapiro’s armor, who was their next star. It revealed that a growing majority of the people in the rust belt who were formerly in their camp are over them. These leftists are devoid of solid, potentially productive ideas. They only run against people and stuff using tired fear porn phrases with nothing new to add. Their tired old socialist and communist strategies are falling on more deaf ears now. More people are waking up that have traditionally always pulled a donkey tail. They are realizing as the T-shirts say, “Life is Good”, and rejecting the death advocates. They will find that life is indeed good on the right side of history. MAGA folks blew the criminals off long ago.
Conversely the GOP is deep with MAGA candidates on the federal and state office level with more in development at the local. It is not even close. As a result when the BNS folks start reaping more of the benefits it will be eye opening and stick. Some have already learned to believe nothing the propagandist media tells them. The election this month proved it. Fake polls, politician endorsements (except for Trump) and the views of condescending rich celebrities are not the influence they once were. They heard the pronouncements of the pending Harris/Dem victories and watched as the election results revealed the lies. The blue wall crumbled like a cookie because real people tossed out convention and tradition for practical help and the hope for better. The propagandist TV ratings are tubing, many people are no longer watching them and fewer folks believe what they hear.
Continued pressure on election cheating and using the courts to effect change will increase the margins of victory over time. Who does not know there are still 20+ million fraudulent leftist votes in the federal election system? Watch the totals and percentages gradually dwindle down for the criminals with more judicial screw turning for election security along with the illegals hitting the trails, roads and airways home.
Many such factors lead to my opinion that you bet bullish on America with your personal finances and through living well. Expect America to create a rising tide to lift our international business partners. This is why I posted a few years ago to reduce your debts. You needed to conserve cash for investing. You needed to go conservative in the retirement plan to be in position to be more aggressive with your investment choices today.
We have arrived at our long desired and anticipated destination.
In America there is one fundamental principle of existence in play. It is that our personal views on life itself matter. Desire abundance and life? Choose MAGA GOP. Prefer scarcity and death? Choose Dem/RINO. People’s choices with this principle reflect who they are. Believe them. Our role is to teach others who will listen and consider a better way while making disciples for MAGA. Give no quarter to those who refuse to listen or remain in the Dem/RINO camp politically. Shut them down with truth.
In The Weeds
First, if you are not knowledgeable or want a review of economic indicators, please read the summary link below. It will help.
Now, for the nerds – I ignore the CPI index for understanding inflation. It has been rigged for decades along with many statistics quoted in the lamestream business reports. As government has become more and more politicized (corrupted), so have the statistics. Which is why they always revisit them a few months or years later and restate. These restatements are nearly always negative adjustments from what leftist leaders initially report. Fact.
Instead I focus on the personal consumption expenditures price index (PCE) from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. CPI runs higher than PCE. I focus on PCE because the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) uses it more to make recommendations to the Federal Reserve on inflation pressures, to which the Fed reacts and typically concurs. PCE is not immune to their tinkering, just less so. It gives a better picture of what consumers are actually facing. So if you want to know what to expect and why from the Fed, monitor that index and see how the Fed views it in their communications. Below is a good recent summary from the Cleveland Fed. The index is viewed in the same manner by most Fed banks.
Now for the fun part, what games will Trump play with Powell and the Fed until he replaces him? We know it will lead to more honest representations of the data and approaches of the Fed, Treasury, Commerce, etc. use. It will all become real again instead of the Kabuki Theater we see now. I will not address what I believe happens to the Federal Reserve System itself long term. I believe it will take a POTUS term beyond our President-Elect for a permanent solution.
😉
Now as to the current view…
One financial analyst’s opinion is below. You will note that he is educated guessing while trying to draw comparisons and utilizing very little understanding or referencing to the absolute meat cleaver Trump is going to take to government spending through DOGE and HHS among other departments in government.
I admire his willingness to guess, albeit dumbly and without the use of tea leaves in my opinion.
To illustrate: Assume your personal family situation is as a working married couple with a large mortgage, car payments and kids in school. You go into work one day and there is a letter for you or the spouse that states one of you is out of a job from a layoff, company closure, whatever. (As a side note, I hope currently unknown large numbers of federally employed administrative azzhats receive said letter in January, but I digress.) Odds are with such a large hit to your family income coming, you will be faced with choices on what expenses to cut; possibly selling a car or house in a worst case. At the same time you find other costs you can reduce or eliminate like Junior’s Ivy League college expenses, and so on. You try to muddle through it the best you can and hope to find a decent job quickly to replace the lost income until better days come.
Now substitute the term “married couple” with “America” from the above. The mortgage and car payments are the national debt service. The kids in school are the social network needs of the citizens. The layoffs and job losses are obvious; thank you China and others via the globalists and other criminals who have no regard for America and the needs of our citizens. This is a result on the imbalance in trade.
I will provide a simple, practical example here for readers who do not know. If we buy more foreign goods than we produce and sell, more dollars are held in foreign hands. The globalists and political idgits claim those dollars return to America in the form of buying our nation’s debt, (Treasuries), real estate, etc. as investments. First off, that is no longer the case. Many nations who formerly invested heavily in our debt have drastically reduced their exposure or have divested due to our exploding deficits from spend crazy politicians. China would be high on that list, the nation we spend more for imported products than any other on earth. Dollars have been going out to them without an equal amount of dollars coming in to keep us in equilibrium. Second, why would anybody think it is a good thing to bring dollars back through the issuance of debt (Treasuries) and selling our land to foreign adversaries? We have to pay interest on all that debt, which compounds the problem. That negatively affects every single American. Yet, the politicians and propagandist media tell all of us daily it is a good thing and we will be fine.
Understand, our government will never borrow its way out of debt despite their continuing best efforts. Don’t get me started on the stupidity of our politicians and administrative state in going all in with Quantitative Easing. It causes my blood pressure to escalate too high.
So if any talking heads act like the deficit of the Balance of Trade is unimportant, turn off your TV or hearing aids. Our national leadership, as do many citizens, violate a principle of life that never changes. Proverbs 22:7 says, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” Our nation did this willingly with the rise of globalist influence within our federal government to rebuild nations destroyed by WW II. They saw it as an opportunity to gain huge wealth and power. They used the national treasury and wealth of We the People as their personal piggybanks and still do. Which is why they have tried to ruin and kill the head of the MAGA snake in their minds, President Trump.
He has been the rightful POTUS since 2016 as all MAGA knows. We know what the globalist criminals did and they hate us for it.
With this in mind let’s go back to the married couple example. It gets worse for you and your family. You see and now comprehend that America has more than stubbed its toe by electing the wrong leaders, or worse yet, a bunch of criminals who game the system and take over. You begin to comprehend that with their co-conspirators in the Fed they create even more inflation through printing money to handle globalist desires, proxy wars and scamdemics. You see what is good for them is bad for you and your children.
Your discomfort grows. The propagandists on the evening news tell you that the national debt service and expenses are rising well beyond the nation’s ability to repay by say… 2 TRILLION dollars a year. They say Social Security and Medicare are even threatened. So the Treasury borrows even more funds from foreign mafias with strings attached that clear the way for turmoil and wars worldwide. They tell you the government simply has to pass that stop gap continuing resolution for more money printing or else, GASP!, the federal government will have to shut down except for essential services as there may be a financial apocalypse on the horizon. They begin talking about raising taxes and booting the Trump era tax cuts when they come up for renewal in 2025.
All of this is happening while you as a family simply want to earn enough money to pay the bills, eat healthy and give a future worth living to your kids.
Get the picture now? That was our reality in America until the new sheriff, who is the old sheriff, who is the only righful sheriff; rode back into town. We really were at the edge of the cliff about to fall off as a nation. It is like going from darkness to light. Which is why the Blue Wall fell. Most voters there knew they had no choice, they could not continue to support status quo even if it meant mean tweets again and the propagandists bitching all of the time. They responded in a too big to rig fashion.
The declining establishment and fake news media will continue to beat that same drum even though their masters lost. It will not matter that things are different and better. They are prostitutes and know of no other way to make a living. However, the reality is they lost and they know it. No amount of subterfuge and stalling by RINO’s and such can prevent the inevitable changes that provide a Golden Age for America and its international friends. It is coming down the tracks like a freight train.
President-Elect Trump, JD, Elon, Vivek, Bobby and many others will show you where to invest. Listen to their words and believe their actions. You do not need anybody else to help you do that. Just know that you cannot borrow your way out of debt and cutting expenses will rarely be enough to complete that task as well. Those are actions that a mature to declining nation undertakes, which is who America was before this election. To turn things around America has to return to the growth cycle. President-Elect Trump has already told you how and has already done it before. This time it needs to be institutionalized such that our enemies cannot disrupt it.
Going to growth from decline means selling off non-essential assets, shedding debt, shedding non-essential unproductive payroll, shedding meritless activities, tossing needless regulations, and so on. It takes investment capital (tariffs), an increasing commercial (preferably industrial focused) tax base and global capital investors willing to make new investments (I see you, Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick). It takes innovation and innovative people with outside the box thinking. It takes hard work as well as smart moves in the markets. It takes security agencies to reduce corporate spying and fraud to produce a more level playing field that is administered by law enforcement functions and the judiciary. Most of all it takes a federal government that serves the people and enables its citizens to succeed instead of the reverse, which is unlike what we have experienced in recent years.
A massive paradigm shift for America has occurred. Know it, act on it as applicable in your own lives.
Conclusion
I hope you have heard and seen all of that from the President-Elect and his inner circle. I know I have. I do not concern myself with second guessing his picks for the various cabinet roles. He has his reasons and if the wrong choice is made with any of them We the People will know it quickly and let him know about it. This time around he has a feel for the solid MAGA pulse, the authority to make the decisions and the apparatus to make the changes. No lawfare attempts to undermine him and supporters will succeed, just delay, so be patient. They did not succeed when he was a private citizen, they certainly will not now. The law has also changed in important areas such as with the Chevron Deference overturn. The SCOTUS has a Constitution supporting majority that will likely grow if the MAGA GOP can increase its involvement and Congressional dominance over the coming years.
I also know this approach and method works. We have followed this path for over two decades in Tennessee. We are not perfect, but we are definitely America First worthy. It came from We the People on the local ground level figuring things out, working hard, building alliances and consensus, building momentum that carried into the voting booths and the halls of our legislature and Governor’s office. Over time we gradually rooted the Dem and RINO influence and control out of our system of government. We have sustained via a super majority (75+%) in both House and Senate. We have a state Constitutionally required balanced budget as well as no personal income or estate taxes. The left tried to change them with amendments and were met with crushing defeats by the people because we have a secured election system and the Volunteer spirit in our bones. They no longer try because We the People made them pay for even attempting it – which was our “penalty” phase. Now when federal elections occur we know that at minimum over 60% of the statewide votes will be MAGA GOP. We still have a couple of RINO’s to root out, however, the only pockets of voter resistance are within blue crapholes in a couple of cities.
Our state was in the bottom third of the nation economically before We the People took over. For several years now our state has enjoyed a AAA bond rating from the agencies with a low tax burden on residents while issuing state record business license applications and strong growth in manufacturing. The government has a large rainy day fund and we offer free tuition and no fees to students attending community and technical colleges. These are all signs of a government serving the people as compared to being served.
Other than the long term leftist wacko in Memphis, Steve Cohen, all of our other eight elected officials in the House in DC are GOP to go with all key GOP state leaders. Senators Blackburn and Hagerty continue to perform well and fully support the MAGA movement with POTUS Trump’s endorsement. It should be clear to all of us that We the People simply need to trust the plan and do our parts all around the country as it is being done here and other MAGA states.
I believe in this nation of states, this republic. I believe the majority of Americans will return to a love of the Constitution along with freedom and liberty for all. That’s why I choose to ride with the America First…
Our criminal dynamic duo always have to mess with the kids.
Just a suggestion for most folks, use common sense. Never accept a statement of the scientific community and media as fact before vetting the statement and them. The criminal cabal has infected most everything institutionally provided in our country. They have proven that to all of us repeatedly over a very long time.
Accept that there is no significant climate change created by mankind. Every prediction of imminent disaster has proven to be false, yet, was used for somebody to gain power and make money for a period of time. The universe was created by our eternal Creator who is all knowing. To suggest He would not know what we humans, his created beings, would do when given dominion over the earth by Him is silly stupid. Genesis begins the story of His relationship with man and the expectations He had for all of it. He remains in total control of His creation. He alone will decide if, when and how it ends. He will also steer it the way He wants it all to go when it goes off course.
Gail has thoroughly addressed the scientific truth that our planet appears to have entered into a cooling period, which is in the midst of their shouts of global warming and climate change. Ironically, the actions of a number of world leaders reflects her version is correct in relation to cooling. For example, Putin grabbed Crimea for good reasons besides the fact it had originally been Russian territory populated with Russian speaking people who wanted to be in Russia. One reason he did so was that it permanently expanded Russia’s warm, deepwater Black Sea port access under their control. Second, he is taking down the Nazis in Ukraine and it helped that cause. Russians and Nazis are mortal enemies as most of us should know. Which is why our federal government continues to oppose Russia in an antagonizing way. Our government is infested with and continues to support Nazis worldwide.
One of the other primary reasons for conflict was due to gaining access to Ukraine’s energy reserves, much of which is located in former Russian territory populated by Russian speaking people who want to be in Russia. Another major reason is because Ukraine is the bread basket agricultural supplier of Europe and there needed to be stability instead of the west’s use of it as a weapon. All the NATO nations did with their saber rattling, breaking agreements with Russia, participation in money laundering and human trafficking, as well as funding bioweapons labs there is give Russia the valid reasons to take it. NATO’s continued full support of Nazis in this proxy war is revealing. In the end the pre-war predicable results means sufficient security, energy and food for Russia and its allies to endure a long term cooling period.
China has taken licensed control of deepwater ports and continues to expand its hold over minerals worldwide. They are prepping their nation for a different world with a common defense pact in their back pockets with Russia, who supply much of their fuels. All of it helps ensure they survive a cooling period successfully.
Surely people can use their minds to see through all of this green new deal, Nazi WEF directed nonsense. All the evil doers desire is your money and power over you. It is a similar fear porn plan and method of operations that was used in the COVID scamdemic. Don’t fall for it.
As just one recent example, the “experts” predicted 20 named tropical storms in the Atlantic in 2024.
dailysceptic.org has more, but their site will not allow me to link. Their data reveals that sea temps are dropping significantly around the world.
Despite that, in the link below we see a claim of scientific experts about what happened 34 million years ago based on historical reports from scientists who were actually there, conducted research and recorded their findings that were safely stored in caves. It states…
OK, you caught me – no human being was there to know. They were too busy hunting wooly mammoths.The subject researchers and scientists used methods of reviewing the state of marine sedimentary samples that had pollen fossils in coal and concluded that 34 million years ago, give or take a few million, those were the conditions. They are certain all of the climate stuff happened quickly because, well, because of scientific assumptions. My take: that will be the explanation until their theories are later proven wrong or need substantial adjustment. At which time more requests for research funding will occur to prove this or that in response to the new understanding, observations or “facts” they then have. If one is paying attention, it is a pattern.
The following is the claim of more experts about the earth getting warmer because of greenhouse gases increasing while the upper atmosphere actually gets colder. The science they are selling is we have total control over our outcome. Just stop using fossil fuels and save the planet, well, at least warm the upper atmosphere. Trust them.
At least with that one there is only 3 million years involved. But the next one is a classic. Hold onto your hats, this one goes back 450 million years. They express sincere concerns about humanity’s survival because we are in a period that is a great deal colder than history indicates. They believe sudden increases in temperature a few degrees could kill off our ability to adapt. I kid you not. “It’s an indication of all the things we don’t know about how greenhouse climates work,” Wing said.
I wonder what idgits provided their research funding?
It is no wonder why environmental scientists and climatologists are baffled by the current dramatic cooling of the Atlantic. They are clueless about what is, but certain about what once was that they (or anybody else) never witnessed. Somehow I know they believe that greenhouse gases and global warming are involved in whatever they are selling at the time. Just an educated guess by a somewhat interested bystander.
Prepare for the opposite of global warming. The criminal globullist cabal and other world leaders are. They are keeping the general public deceived and ill prepared because depopulation is still their long term goal. Grasshopper or ant, you decide the best approach.
Back To FIRE!
This one is personal to a lot of us around this region. The Great Smoky Mountains Fire of 2016 (TGSMF) is etched in our memories here in east TN. It is also an excellent example of how American government frequently ignores the needs of its citizens until a disaster occurs. The clean up on Aisle 7 phase kicks in, a flurry of words and activities occur, and truth is scuttled for a narrative. It is up to the reader to decide if the following, which has been repeated for centuries worldwide, is intentional or not. I have my suspicions with a Trail of Tears (a nod to our local Cherokee nation) I will provide. The ensuing eight years since TGSMF reveal much.
Below is a link to a story published in the past year by a nearby resident who is the managing editor of an area newspaper. This story gives you a good summary from which to begin.
I will provide many links below that tell the overall story better than I can. When taken in total a picture emerges that reveals what appears to be great incompetency from those in authority at the National Park Service (NPS). It reveals stonewalling for years in the judiciary process post fire. It reveals a probable DEI type hire in a key senior NPS position before such things were called DEI. It reveals great suffering, loss of life, and loss of property. It also appears to reveal a political agenda and protection of the key leader operatives in authority on site during those days. Combine that with local and state politician collusion in keeping facts about the events hidden along with park officials being protected from inquiry and, well, we see a corrupt mess. Then the topping on cake is applied by all those with wealth who benefit in the aftermath.
The good counter side reveals many heroes and great acts of courage. It reveals local law enforcement and fire personnel doing their best to save people and property while alerting the NPS of fire calls. It reveals people at their best at helping one another. It reveals one of our own known to the world, Dolly, doing very special things to help in the recovery; not just paying lip service for publicity as many celebrities do. It reveals much needed early warning safety improvements and procedures being acted upon by local officials post-fire.
What is not revealed enough is even more telling – the complete truth.
Storylines Galore
The following is a link from the NPS that shows a few interactive photos comparing more recent times in areas within the Park itself to that of the aftermath of the fire. In general, the environmental recovery is going well.
However, what happened outside of the Park will not be forgotten by locals. Depending on vantage point, the flames (not just smoke) of the fire could be seen miles away. We live 27 miles away via driving, about half that as the crow flies. A local mountain blocked our direct view, but when we traveled past the mountain and closer to the event, we could easily see the fire in Gatlinburg and fringed areas of Pigeon Forge in the evenings. The smoke engulfed the entire county and migrated into surrounding counties. As reported, over 2400 buildings were destroyed and 14 people died with a couple hundred injured. Our county’s citizens were fortunate in that the area that the fire was most intense was rural and that tourism was not in a peak period.
Below are more links that describe it all with various accounts. The first link shows the locations of the clustered areas of structures that were affected, followed by a story on the victims, which is then followed by NPS summary release nearly a year later.
All of this leads to trying to understand the results of investigations into the events. This effort has been clouded by not having access to information as the authorities have been unwilling to release various aspects. The more accurate picture that has developed came from what the public has discovered on its own from observation, media investigative reports, videos, recorded conversations, local contacts and such. In an effort to move toward the full reality of what really happened, the following is the local Knoxville newspaper’s investigative look at it three years after the events. It did not gloss over some of the failures.
There is another investigative report seven plus years later that dug deeper, which is surprising since it came from typically fake news. The actual story is behind a paywall. However, Yahoo posted it on their site;
Deadly Comedy of Failures Or Intentional Features?
That is always the primary question to ask when it comes to large scale tragedies such as this. For example, did the East Palestine, OH train disaster occur due to mistakes and failures, or, was it a feature of something more sinister? We know how occult practices of the leftist criminals seem to come into play frequently. I have covered The Great Chicago Fire and pointed readers to more information relating to the Lahaina, Maui fire. California residents have endured widespread wildfires for decades. Going back in history, New York City had a Great Fire in 1778 during the British occupation. Another followed in 1835 that gutted Manhattan, which amazingly (sarc/) led to a reconstruction that resulted in NYC more than tripling its population over the next 25 years. Business and industry exploded with growth there in the lead up to the Civil War. Which is just another coincidence, I guess. It was not long after that war that the Great Chicago Fire happened and the blueprint from New York was implemented with similar results that primarily benefitted the globullist criminal cabal.
😉
Apparent failures and mistakes are often intentional features. The pattern reveals the truth. What may have been good as it existed, but less economically attractive than could be realized; can be revisited and changed if local resident obstructions to the planned “progress” are removed.
Several friends and acquaintances of ours were injured in TGSMF. We had met a couple of the people who died, including the elderly pastor who had married countless couples in the county for decades. A now retired high school football coach I knew who lived in the immediate area of the fire survived by rolling downhill on his property into a creek and submerging himself. His home was fire damaged. A historic Baptist Church within the Gatlinburg city limits was a total loss. It was finally rebuilt five years later. Two other churches were damaged. See links below,
Many rental cabins around town were destroyed or badly damaged along with a number of motels and hotels that were gutted. Dollywood had to close during a prime time of the holiday season. All sorts of lodging facilities, restaurants, Ski Mountain (snow) operations (Ober Gatlinburg), retail establishments, recreational businesses, the convention center, and so on had to close for a time; some to make repairs. A number of lodging facilities were gutted from the fires or burned to the ground. Even for those businesses that were physically unharmed, there were no tourists visiting to help keep the doors open. That meant employee layoffs and terminations, business closures, and strains on tax revenues to handle city/county services, etc.
The business losses extended into nearby Pigeon Forge as tourists understandably stopped coming until given the green light months later. More layoffs and hurting people were the results.
However, mountain folks are strong and tough. We came together. Some of the relief efforts that were spearheaded by Dolly, some local officials, the state and some feds helped in the short term recovery. Churches, schools and charities rallied people to the cause. People could at least survive until they figured out what was next. Contractors rushed to the area for jobs. Building supply houses were hard pressed to keep with the demand. Utilities company employees worked double shifts for a couple of months. Building inspection and permitting offices were inundated.
Many property owners just walked away. Some had no money to add to insurance settlements, which were paid first to mortgage holders. Many were not adequately insured to the rising level of construction costs. Some who were financially able did rebuild eventually as they found reputable contractors, which often took up to 7 years afterwards as we see from the church example above. For those unable or unwilling to wait, properties were sold by the owners at below market values prices or through foreclosures.
NPS Failures
It is here where you find the root cause of the tragedy. To have a once in a hundred years or more fire when the conditions are right is one thing. For NPS leaders, nationally and locally, to have authority to handle this and other wildfires along with notifications to the public properly, yet, not do so for any reason is unacceptable. Read the following links,
Inexcusable performance of the duties of a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent.
Meanwhile, on the front lines of the fire was a NPS guy in authority, Greg Salansky, whose job it was to coordinate the efforts to control and eventually put out the fire. He didn’t. Apparently he sent the crew of assigned fire fighters home to rest that infamous night instead, believing the fire to be small and controllable despite weather warnings of high winds in the area well in advance.
What firefighting professional would ever do such a thing? The wind forecast for several days in advance of the event should have been enough to know that you needed more firefighters and resources on site. You would know that unless you have been ordered to do what you did.
The story below provides more detail including when the lawsuits first started. The following Facebook video gives visual and recorded emergency personnel conversations.
My first observation is that the lawsuits have merit in that there was clear negligence by the NPS and its leaders that could be proven with recordings and other solid evidence. I will leave it to legal experts and the courts to decide if they can hide behind shields from liability for federal agencies and employees. The attorneys for the plaintiffs represent many insurance companies, victims and families of victims. That they have not abandoned the expensive legal pursuit after these years is revealing.
My second observation is the NPS attempt to deflect the cause of the fire. Allegedly, two minors skipping out of school were the cause and were charged at first. Then six months later the charges were dropped with authorities stating they could not prove their involvement and admitting in legal documents that there were other fires in the general vicinity of its alleged staring point. That brings us to seven plus years later and there is still no definitive explanation given for the event.
My third observation is that local politicians and government officials ran interference to protect the NPS and its employees. It seems they were more interested in keeping things on the down low than providing transparency. They did step up in the aftermath with solid assistance for all who were affected. However, they were just not all that interested in clearing the air with truth about the event itself. This tells me there were benefits from their relationship with the NPS of which the general public is unaware.
My fourth observation follows.
The Two Scoundrels
Cash and Salansky are still employed by the NPS. They effed it all up or they did what they were ordered to do – you decide. That they remained employed by NPS is unconscionable. Fourteen people died and nearly 200 were injured along with close to a billion dollars in damages. Apparently, Salansky’s career continues on unabated to this point. See the linked evidence of his employment below.
Cash remained the GSMN Park Superintendent until this month when he left to take an executive role with the Yosemite Conservancy. Other than with the local political and media Establishment, he is not highly regarded as you can imagine. In the recent past he sponsored a move to charge parking fees in the GSMNP, which was approved by their cronies. In approving this the NPS reneged on a 90 year pledge made at dedication to never charge fees for people to visit the park. If you want to visit a picnic area, historic attraction, hike, etc. and you plan to park for more than 15 minutes in designated areas, you must pay a fee thanks to Cassius Cash and crew. He was quite proud of this accomplishment. The people’s national park now charges people to park in their own park, something that was never supposed to happen. It is generating $6-7 million annually that is supposed to be used only on projects in the park. I guess the scumbags in DC sent all the spare change they could have used for the entire NPS system to Ukraine. Priorities you know.
One thing is for certain, we will never see a true accounting of where the parking fees are going. My assumption is somebody is personally benefitting. Regardless, Mr. Cash has completed his role here, thankfully. This was just announced right before press time for this post.
Falling upward seems to be a thing with many government employees. Good luck with that, Yosemite. With PDT’s arrival on the scene again, maybe a quality appointment can be made for The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
If one stands back and looks objectively at the entire event, it becomes obvious that the NPS leadership blew it causing death and great destruction. Yet, they are still employed in the same agency and industry doing their thing.
That infamous day there were ideal weather conditions for a wildfire. A drought, high winds and lack of precipitation caused small fires to grow and eventually go out of control days later because there were insufficient fire fighting resources called in by the NPS. In fact, Salansky sent who he did have working home to rest. It had been known for several days in advance that high winds were predicted in that area. They knew conditions were ripe for disaster and did the exact opposite of what responsible leaders would do. The NPS failed. The federal government also failed to provide adequate resources to this National Park with over a half million acres under management.
It would have been far worse if substantial precipitation did not fall on the affected area every couple of days after the event. That is what put out the fire. The firefighters, most of them locals from volunteer fire departments in the area, handled the remaining smoldering hot spots.
So, once again, human error or intentional?
Conditions On The Ground Today
Why would local authorities defend the NPS and interfere in jounalist investigations when the tragedy affected friends and neighbors they served? The officials live here. It makes very little sense to help those who caused all of the death and destruction. That is unless one considers that they, their cronies and local governments might somehow benefit. It appears some may not care all that much about human life.
However their best efforts to block communications of facts did not stop the insurance companies from going after the NPS.
Which makes what happened next, well, interesting. What is that rising from the ashes of 2016 in the fire affected area? The following was a modest rental cabin resort in 2016. Not so much now.
The first phase of the below opened a year after the fire and there have been many attractions added to it since. Just curious, did land costs go up or down immediately after the fire? 😀
Plus numerous other new attractions were added that include mountain roller coasters, zip lines, restaurants, retail outlets, rental cabin resorts, along with other hotels, condos and lodges.
I guess all this extra business and rebuilding with new ownerships and investments was just really good luck for some folks. That so many people lost their homes, businesses and properties was just unfortunate, just like having to sell out at below market values. It all seems that way unless you consider that it generally takes several years to conceive, conceptually plan, and design a proposed resort of significance. Subject to financing and/or investment capital being available, a prospective site search would be conducted afterwards. Then, after an acceptable site is secured, project developers and ownership would seek to obtain government/utility approvals and coordinate with contractors before construction began. Finally add the construction period, advance marketing as well the hiring and training of staffing before operations can begin.
Those requirements and related timelines indicate that most of these major projects were conceived years in advance of TGSMF of 2016.
Which makes it all appear to be a solution (opportunities) in search of a problem (destruction/rebuilding). A phoenix in search of a disaster that created the very ashes to rise from. How convenient that the NPS authorities were so perfectly incompetent and may be proven to be protected from personal liability. How convenient there were two truant teenagers discovered in the park that day, whose names could not legally be revealed as they were minors, who could be accused of setting the fire. How convenient charges against them were dropped six months later without proof that they were the source of the fire since other fires were also burning in the vicinity. I wonder who set those other fires that were discussed in documents and recorded discussions? How did the NPS and legal authorities know there were other fires that day? Why were no other sources of those fires discussed or charged since there was a burning ban during the period?
The currently unanswered questions are virtually endless – again – eight years later. The way TGSMF of 2016 has been formally investigated by authorities and handled by the judiciary makes it appear to have been originated intentionally. If that is not true, why deflect and refuse full transparency? Could it be that many of those in authority know more than they desire to reveal?
I also wonder what a search of the subject area’s property records would reveal? Somebody with more time on their hands can take a run at that one. I have seen this movie once too often.
The beneficiaries of the tragedy are clear and they also include the local governmental authorities. New large scale business investment, so many more opportunities for themselves and their close associates to invest into surrounding properties and businesses in an area that was already “built out” for many years. An Increase of draws and attractions that bring in more tourists and their dollars along with greater tax revenues for the governments has been the end result that was created in its aftermath.
Again, it is pattern.
Conclusion
It is nearly eight years later and there is another small wildfire in dense mountainside underbrush in the Smokies on 58 acres that is slowly spreading. It has been a dry summer going into fall. The fire has been burning for about 4 weeks now and is not contained. This time the origin is known. It was started via a lightning strike during the last major rain event we have experienced in the area in the past month. The usual small number of NPS associated firefighters have been unsuccessfully working hard to contain. The NPS is conducting air drops of water with one lone helicopter over the past couple of weeks with minimal success as they worked to build more trails into the site.
They have been doing things with the same number of firefighters the same ways. The only condition that is different this time is the tree leaves have not yet started falling significantly because it has remained warm. This will be changing in a couple of weeks. Even with the fire being relatively small, starting with about 16 acres before growing to its current size, it has not prevented the acrid smoke from drifting throughout the area. It is making some people ill and and many people nervous. Yet, the NPS “reassures” the public daily they have things under control. This link is from a few weeks ago.
As mentioned it has slowly expanded to the current 58 acres. However, the NPS has called in the calvary. Undoubtedly they are feeling the “heat” from the public. Which is another thing that has changed. They killed the public’s trust in 2016. They know we know and are watching their every move. The Olympic Wildland Fire Module just arrived. See the link below.
Many of us wonder how much longer it will be until some more smaller fires in the area of the current one are started. We are in the dry season, very little rain is predicted. Leaves will be falling to fuel them. The Olympic Module is only anticipated to be there a week before being shipped out to another hot spot out west. The location of this fire area is shown in the GSMNP map below.
Over in the left hand side near the #1 is the area in discussion. TGSMF of 2016 started a good distance farther to the east toward Gatlinburg near to #4. What is it do we find near the current area but the recently expanded scenic Foothills Parkway, one of the most beautiful vistas in the eastern U. S. An area that would appear attractive to investment with the greatly increasing number of visitors enjoying the drive between Blount and Sevier County resorts and attractions.
Conspiracy theory? Perhaps. However, it seems the rapidly increasing abilities to make money and gain power at the expense of others are present once again.
The broader NPS entity still maintains very limited resources stationed in our area for fire fighting. Their primary assets stay deployed primarily in the western U. S. (their admission). I guess TGSMF of 2016 was not destructive enough to justify an increase in permanent resources or those accessed from the department nationally. Our elected scoundrels and DS can afford to hire 87,000 agents of oppression with the IRS, but not a tenth of that number to help our nation avoid massive destruction and loss of life from wildfires. They spend hundreds of billions to fight a proxy war in Ukraine in support of Nazis along with about as much for the cost of 20+ million illegal invaders coming across the border. But time after time they have proven they do not give a damn about the needs of We the People.
This country is in a mess because traitors, seditionists, incompetents and other sundry criminals have been in positions of authority and service for far too long. In my next part I will discuss where I believe it all leads from here.
May God protect and bring peace to America and its citizens..
Just a personal author’s note before getting started. The provided links are supporting evidence of my opinions and claims. Rest assured there are many, many more in each subject I discuss if you should choose to verify or seek more information.
Why Stories About Fire?
I am focusing my efforts in these American Stories on revealing conditions that are optimum for the long running globullist criminal cabal to execute plans to achieve their world domination goals. Currently I am drilling down on the subject of their use of fire. The Great Chicago Fire led off in Part I. A fraud perpetrated on Americans that continues to this day. With this part we will take a look at a couple of different types of fire – oil field fires and wildfires. There are a significant number of links to peruse that are integral to the theme of the story. As with most things to do with the globullist criminal cabal, nothing is as it appears.
With the recent work of A Midwestern Doctor on substack concerning the Lahaina, Maui fires from his somewhat unique medical background perspective, I will not be addressing it unless additional disclosure is needed. With the tools we all have available now, any of us could choose to follow the story closely and observe what happens to Lahaina and its residents over the coming years. The globullist criminals do not really care if we know what they do anyway. With uncontrolled power that has corrupted the American governmental and economic systems, they fear no repercussions. Below is a link to his story.
It makes me sick to my stomach when I open our honeymoon photo album and remember our outings in Lahaina nearly 40 years ago. I feel so bad for the people who live there and especially for those who lost their homes, businesses and/or loved ones. We offer special prayers for those affected in the spirit of mahalo. The world lost a unique community and centuries of history that the native Hawaiians shared with everyone who visited that special place.
Moving forward for purposes of this story, when did you last hear about a major oilfield fire that was not connected to acts of war and/or sabotage? You probably cannot recall any of note because they are not common place. Starting with the early days of the wildcatters; over time the industry developed, improved safety techniques were employed, and innovative equipment was introduced to reduce chances of blow outs and accidental fires. The reported major fires we read or hear about today usually involve above ground facilities, transport, etc.; which are easier for saboteurs to access or for real accidents to occur. The most dangerous that involve the wells associated with underground oil reserves, well, not so much.
The most celebrated American oil field fire fighter, the legendary Red Adair, handled a couple thousand during his 50 years in the business; although some major ones in his latter years of life were war related such as in Kuwait during the first Iraq War. He even consulted for a movie called Hellfighters that involved oil field fire fighting that starred John Wayne. The media and entertainment industry incorporated the theme of uncontrolled disastrous fires into their fare as the years rolled by.
Shifting to wildfires, to connect and amplify we can go with a current television show to help fuel the fires of emotions to normalize the fearful expectations of wildfires with viewers.
Building on themes such as that, they use DC media propagandists to tie oil field fires and wildfires together…
The truth is that for the most part, oil field fires are a rarity and above ground incidents are generally well contained. As you can see the propagandists still attempt to tie them together as threats to humanity. So, what is the real plan that incorporates all of the attention and hype?
Why, “Climate Change” Of Course!
They always provide sheeple an explanation that fits the narrative…
Except, CNN, arson and accidents caused by humans are the primary causes per government data. But let’s not confuse the issue with facts. Yet, here is another from our nazi government…
At least the NPS leaves out climate change speculation on their web page below. They also state up front that nearly 85% of all wildland fires in America are started by humans. Truth coming from a federal government agency? To borrow a phrase, “What’s up with that?”
They must not have received the globullist memo about climate change being the real cause behind it all. However, that does not stop more scammers in need of research funding from indirectly blaming war on climate change.
The government even has this mapping to help us. Turns out there are several of these mapping sites from various orgs and government entities and you will one see later in this story.
Notice the ring of fire in the west along with fires in Alaska? I guess those fires are never extinguished because I have not seen them change in quite some time. 😀
What Gives?!
Oil Field Fires, Wildfires, Wars – our world is burning down because of… climate change?
OK, for fun –
That song is not that far off, is it? Stress points across the board stirring fears and distracting the masses from what is really going on in the belly of the beast; which is the creating and conducting of a fire sale of America and its assets and resources to the globullist criminals while the deplorable weirdo people are focused elsewhere on the destruction and loss of life. They create the stress points that promote fear porn with the propagandist media and “entertainment industry” fanning the flames while deep state bureaucrats quietly add restrictive regulations on private property behind the scenes to increase costs to the point of making it nearly impossible to privately own property unless your name is BlackRock.
One big, deadly pysop. Rinse and repeat, again and again and again.
The Scam
The ramp up and rally around climate change endangering the world has been around as a scare tactic for the greedy power seeking criminals for a very long time, however, it began in earnest in America when Slick Clinton went into office. Al Gore took the lead as most know. Our Gail Combs has more than ably covered the reality of the climate debate in our world in a thread available on The QTree. As is the case with most things presented by the “experts” in America and the rest of the world, you can be assured that the opposite view from what they present will likely be the most truthful. Gail proves that statement accurate with data and facts. The change we need to prepare for in this climate cycle is actually global cooling. Yes, global cooling cycles are a thing and have been recorded and theorized about throughout history.
For some reason (😂) Mother Nature does not read the globullist created fake data, charts and analysis. She does not get the memo. She does what she does for reasons that are quite scientific, but, unacceptable to the desires of the narrative builders. Mother Nature tends do her own thing by ignoring calendars and working without regard to man’s desires and the recording of time. Thankfully.
Will end this scam discussion with the following. Does the use of fire by the globullist criminals correspond with the climate change scam in an attempt to divert observance of the significant benefits that carbon dioxide and the greening of the world provides? If so, that would also seem to indicate that droughts and desert conditions must work in the favor of the globullist criminals.
Barren, dry areas produce very little of significant value for mankind on their surfaces, which is why people do not cluster within them very often. Mankind needs God given natural resources to survive and even thrive. Barren, dry areas push population toward areas with more natural resources, housing, jobs, and recreational opportunities. Clustering then occurs. The value to the globullist criminals is that their totalitarian goals are much easier to accomplish when the people are clustered together.
It is not what is above the surface they seek in those barren areas. They seek what is underground, which will be addressed in the Reality section below. This scam can all be reduced to this very simple principle. You own it, they want it, and they will do whatever they need to do to take it from you as inexpensively as possible.
Reality
Fire has proven to be a great thing for humanity. Living well has depended upon it since the first fire was built by ancients to cook what they hunted as well as to stay warm in cold conditions.
Fire is also used to put out fire, to remove the fuel that wildfires must have to continue burning. Fires conducted in controlled situations are beneficial to the environment. Living near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park we experience the use of fire for that purpose annually in sections of the Park. It helps remove scrub and dying vegetation while providing nutrients to the soil to assist the growth of native grasses, plants and trees that are beneficial to wildlife.
If fire is not used for wicked purposes it is simply a tool for good. Yet, the globullist criminal cabal wants you to focus on its destructive elements. That makes fear of oil field fires and wildfires a useful tool to exploit people by increasing anxiety and even depression leading to an easier sale of climate change. When the population of the world buys into climate change it increases the wealth and world control of those who promote it. As a reminder, the latter are not nice people who care about the needs of others.
In reality, a growing number of people now understand that the climate change movement (religion) has been a corrupted tool to effect certain human behaviors that lead people to believe and do the will of the globullist criminals. What they sell, order and mandate others to do; they do not do themselves. They view human life as livestock. In their minds you exist because they allow you to exist for their purposes.
If they can use fire to influence people to believe in climate change and the dangers of fossil fuels, many people will give in to what they want. In so doing they can then successfully enslave the population to help achieve their longer term goals.
Let us assume a wildfire has indeed ravaged an area. What happens afterwards generally also reveals who benefits most from the disaster. For many people there are insufficient funds to rebuild even if treated fairly by insurers or through government financial assistance. For others the losses endured are simply too much to overcome emotionally to return to an area. In other instances the land or infrastructure itself has been too damaged to safely rebuild in a reasonable period of time. One needs only watch the hot, fire producing lava on Hilo flow and completely change the topography to know – nope – not going back even if one wanted to do so.
The globullists know all of that. They can acquire an affected property for a small fraction of the previous value if it sits near the disaster area, even if it was not damaged. They observe the behavior of the people who have endured the hardships and then influence the negativity to be worse than reality through fear porn, anxiety, angst, etc. ginned up through the propagandist media and influencers in the communities who receive compensation for services rendered. They have pre-event access to triggers (arsonists, planned “accidents”, etc.) that cause many of the fires; deep pockets to capitalize on the events; and the government nazis to back their efforts with excessive regulations, red tape and purchased opposition.
Have you ever noticed how relief funds and insurance settlements are nearly always delayed for long periods to residents and small business owners, yet, the bureaucrats can flush out billions to fight proxy wars and fund foreign interests in seconds? They know that many will grow weary, accept less than what is due or just walk away. These vultures are poised to pounce at all times and consider it great fun to take advantage of the misery.
Within the boundaries of America exists many of the most valuable natural resources for energy, research, manufacturing, timber and agriculture per square inch than anywhere else on earth. When included with neighboring Canada, the abundance is astonishing. We have enough to share with the world to enhance all lives.
Which is why we are being infiltrated, invaded as well as abused by our own government. The globullist criminals do not believe in sharing the wealth, they want to control it all. Klaus Scwab and WEF have already informed the world of exactly that intention. The catastrophic events and actions are used to push the population away from areas they want to control. They want the resources that they know to exist above and below ground for their purposes. Where these random appearing, destructive fires are located reveals many areas they highly covet. If you see no reasons above ground they would want it, rest assured there are reasons below ground.
They have illustrated this vividly throughout history and is why I started with The Great Chicago Fire and mention the recent Maui fire. Both of those were for above ground reasons. The wildfires potentially affecting oilfields in the links are obvious. What you may not notice are the wildfires in remote areas, particularly in the western U. S. However, those areas have been geologically researched for decades and are known to hold huge mineral and fossil fuel reserves for scientific research, manufacturing and energy production purposes.
Perhaps you missed the latest news on a large lithium discovery. Ever wonder why the leftists hate fracking in PA? Clue, other than seeking to induce more misery on the region’s population, it has very little to do with natural gas production. Read the following,
If as much as 30% of our nation’s anticipated lithium needs can be met by extracting it from wastewater associated with existing fracking operations in that one state, why would leftists object to this obviously environmentally friendlier activity than mining since they are the ones pushing the Green New Deal and EV’s that use lithium batteries?
Well, it could be that many of them are investors or receive lobbyist bribes from other competing energy and manufacturing sectors. In addition some are also probably investors in the companies who hold rights to lithium deposits found in the links below.
Notice where this lithium deposit was found; in the dry, scrub land of native Americans in northern NV at Thacker Pass. Notice that ACME Lithium is one of the companies that holds rights and is active in both America and Canada. Consider this statement I found on Yahoo! Finance:
Canadian government just announced $4Billion in funding to Canadian mining projects specializing in critical minerals. “Critical minerals present a Generational opportunity in many areas…this federal government is committed to seizing this opportunity that will benefit every region across the nation and throughout the world”- Jonathan Wilkinson, Canadian Minister of Natural resources, Friday Dec 9,2022.
Then there is this one in the same area with Lithium Americas;
Might want to bet on this company since GM invested $650 million into it. With a known 46 years of lithium deposits available in just this one area it is going to be around for awhile.
Economic Realities For MAGA – Bonus Content
Will you consider a fellow QTreeper’s economic advice? I propose a quick detour from the fires.
First, President Trump knows about the lithium in the wastewater of fracking operations in PA. As a result, PA and America will experience a huge economic boost if he goes back in as POTUS. One of the reasons he is working that state so hard beyond needing it to comfortably win the election is that it fits his overall economic recovery plan for our nation. The NV mines will also be another large source of lithium to make America totally independent in meeting the growing needs for the mineral. That PA fracking provides an on-going dependable source of low cost natural gas as a source of energy for homes, businesses and industry in the region is just icing on the cake.
Second, I am not yet an EV fan. However, the commitment made by both political parties plus major international corporations indicates that we all might as well get used to the idea as it is here to stay and will be a growing segment. Most rational people realize it will be just one segment of several and not be a complete conversion. We will have a choice for the foreseeable future. As range and features improve more folks will warm up to them. Until then expect to see a growing number of charging stations installed nationwide as well as universal engineering and technology standards emerge from manufacturers. We see the charging stations going in our grocery store parking lots in rural east TN now. You will see the expansion of EV purchases in fleets of autos as well as short range commercial trucks. This will drive the scale needed for production while gradually lowering production costs to make them more affordable for the public without needing government subsidies. Elon knows this with Tesla. Who supports lithium discoveries in America and has aligned with President Trump? Yeah, that guy. It is not the only reason, but it is a major one.
Third, GM is diving in head first. They have invested big in the lithium mining, own lithium battery manufacturing plants with LG Energy Solutions, and invested big into charging stations nationwide with Berkshire (Warren Buffett) owned Pilot Flying J travel centers as I previously discussed in a BIMD story. I doubt any of these corporate giants will be backing away any time soon from the now hundreds of billions of investment collectively into the EV sector. Which tells me that their research and development is indicating sizable gains in range and shortened recharging times in the future. With scale and more units sold, prices will trend down on the vehicles, parts, and batteries packs. It will not eliminate gas and diesel fueled vehicles. However, it will reduce some capital investment into those types of vehicles. EV’s and combustion engine driven vehicles can and should coexist. Becoming totally dependent on any one industry or product is never a smart idea.
Finally, South Korea headquartered LG’s investment into the lithium batteries with GM tells you this will continue to be an international push. South Korea based Hyundai and Kia have invested big into EVs. Honda of Japan is doing likewise. European automakers entered the market years ago. China is already flooding the world with cheap, disposable crap EVs. Sort of like this relic of yesteryear.
Anybody for a Yugo?
The primary complication for full scale acceptance will continue to be electricity generation. With EV’s growing in usage and AI on the horizon, the need for electricity in America will blow past current capacity rapidly. So look for a massive investment into power generation, which will drive manufacturing growth and AI implementation. Customers will not like the massive rate increases needed, so the feds are going to need to step in to make it all happen with tax dollar subsidies and incentives to the producers of power. Expect huge changes in the electricity generation industry with a continued resurgence in nuclear and backing off from killing coal and natural gas usage.
As an example, remember the MO bootheel aluminum smelting mill closure story in BIMD, the one that supplied about a quarter of our domestic demand? The same one that is now closed that countered the Chinese smelted aluminum that goes into the manufacture of electric transformers used in power generation? The same mill that used a huge amount of electrical power generation for production in a state that acquiesced to the closure of coal fired electric power plants? It would not surprise me at all to see that mill crank back up with new investment and tax incentives after the election with PDT’s emphasis on domestic manufacturing. Missouri will probably grant a stay on the closure of those coal fired power plants and push for more natural gas and nuclear. America needs to produce its own electrical generation product necessities and not depend on buying from people who hate us on the other side of the planet. That aluminum smelting mill would help that happen.
I have now informed readers about some good industries and companies to invest in over the long term. If PDT wins the economic gains will be off the charts. If the Dems pull off another steal, this process will still continue albeit with stronger international globullist criminal involvement and emphasis. With PDT winning the smart investment play will be to go with stock picks and mutual funds that focus on domestic energy, manufacturing and distribution. If the steal happens, go international with picks and funds that have a strong concentration of stocks in these sectors. This latter international investment will still produce gains even if Trump wins because a rising sea level (or tide if you prefer) lifts all boats and America is still the sea (tide) – for now. PDT wants the petro dollar to remain the world’s currency. The globullists would prefer it as well.
Back To Fires
I will start this section with a discussion about…Ted Turner. Wut?!
One of the best business investment lessons I ever heard in person as a young business banker was while attending a Chamber event with Ted Turner as speaker. I despise the guy, but he knew how to make a lot of money. He said he made his big move in business as a young man in the billboards industry, taking over his father’s business after he committed suicide. Living and working in the growing southeastern U. S. region he noted the rapidly increasing population and traffic on the highway and interstate system. From past experience he knew billboards were highly regulated within larger city limits in various areas. Very few new structures were being permitted as well as the costs for land purchases and leases were too high to justify those that could be permitted. So he invested big in building and leasing them in the surrounding suburbs and highway systems where people were moving to live as they would be commuting into town to work along with the usual commercial and tourist traffic passing through the areas. Many times he was able to buy the land on which the structures sat. Every time the costs got too high or the cities and counties became too regulation happy he would move farther out, buy more land and build more billboards. He always went where the fast growing bedroom communities were located and he knew they would continue to expand their borders and increase business. The structures his father and he previously built that he still owned were grandfathered in the regulations and as a result became more and more valuable as time passed with the growing number of eyes on them from the increasing traffic. Eventually they became so valuable he sold many of them. Sometimes he retained the land and leased the related land parcel to the buyer of the structure if it was a good property investment with upside. Many times the land would later go on to become parts of large shopping complexes or industrial parks. He used the funding from the various sales to get into media and the television industry. The rest is history.
And yes, I shook the capitalist commie’s hand and thanked him for speaking after the event. I then went to the restroom and washed my hands. It helped inform me about the industry as I had financed small time billboard owners in the past. More importantly it gave me great insight into how some of the globullist criminals think as well as their methods of operation. With that in mind please review the FEMA map linked below;
Thacker Pass, NV is in the northern area toward the Oregon border. However, the lithium mineral reserves that have been discovered also extend south and east of the pass. The mining and extraction of lithium is water dependent and the Humboldt provides same. This area just happens to be somewhat near the large wildfires that have have been a recurring feature in the northeastern as well as the central eastern parts of NV.
Does the following look like a place where people would desire to live or supporting businesses of mines locate? How many buildings do you see?
That’s Thacker Pass, NV; the center of the lithium deposit reserves.
The wildfires are occurring east, southeast of this area in more forested, habitable areas that are more suitable and attractive to housing people and operating businesses. That area is directly en route to Salt Lake City, Utah. The Humboldt River runs east to west through the region. The town of Elko located along the river east of Thacker Pass and at the base of the Ruby Mountains is less than one hour from the eastern most point of the lithium find and two hours from the above referenced site. Elko already serves the NV gold mining industry and has been a bit of a boom or bust town historically with casinos and legal prostitution. It is a strong culture fit for what is coming. The area around it would be a logical area for new mining related support businesses to locate, which would lead to residential growth after state and local infrastructure investment. This area just so happens to be where wildfires have been burning north and south of Elko per the above referenced map.
How convenient for the wealthy to buy fire affected property at lower prices just in time for the boom to come while still selling that the wildfires contribute to the dreaded climate change. They will push the use of EV’s and their lithium battery packs to counter it. A real twofer for globullists criminals. They then go on to employ similar Ted Turner investment principles and build a gateway all the way to Salt Lake City, a distance of just 230 miles approximately, while using state and federal tax dollars to fund the infrastructure as politicians sell jobs, jobs, jobs to the unwitting NV and Utah voters.
Yup.
Do we spot more investment opportunities in this discussion? Do we know of a large cult in the region parading in the mainstream of politics who may be interested and involved?
Conclusion
Climate change is noise meant to distract you from seeing what the criminals are really doing and want from you. The wildfires and threats of oil field fires are meant to drive you from the lands they affect. The decision to stay and fight, fight, fight or go is yours alone.
As for me and my house we will do our best to live the way God intended for all of us and it will work out in accordance with His perfect will. The criminals will have a fight on their hands with us.
In FIRE Part III, I will conclude comments on this climate change push and discuss a tragic wildfire that significantly impacted our lives in east TN.
