Comments on: The Declaration of Independence http://www.redstate.com/josh_painter/2009/07/03/the-declaration-of-independence/ Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:24:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: givemeliberty http://www.redstate.com/josh_painter/2009/07/03/the-declaration-of-independence/#comment-6293 givemeliberty Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:53:17 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/josh_painter/?p=1479#comment-6293 I read the book American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence for a class and it gave me a whole new understanding of the document. It gave detailed explanations of why certain words and phrases were included and some left out. The phrase "we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor" carried serious weight. If the war had been unsuccessful these men realized that they would be treated as traitors. At the time a traitor would have been executed, his property would have been confiscated from his family, and he would have suffered public shame.These men knew what they were doing and and what they had at stake. It is for this reason that I have such profound respect for these men. I read the book American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence for a class and it gave me a whole new understanding of the document. It gave detailed explanations of why certain words and phrases were included and some left out. The phrase “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor” carried serious weight. If the war had been unsuccessful these men realized that they would be treated as traitors. At the time a traitor would have been executed, his property would have been confiscated from his family, and he would have suffered public shame.These men knew what they were doing and and what they had at stake. It is for this reason that I have such profound respect for these men.

]]> By: Belle http://www.redstate.com/josh_painter/2009/07/03/the-declaration-of-independence/#comment-6162 Belle Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:05:54 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/josh_painter/?p=1479#comment-6162 stand the test of time. Over two-hundred years later they are still relevant. What amazes me is that most people never had read it. Little tidbit my many great-grandfater was Robert Morris. I feel extra attached to the Declaration because of that. stand the test of time. Over two-hundred years later they are still relevant. What amazes me is that most people never had read it.

Little tidbit my many great-grandfater was Robert Morris. I feel extra attached to the Declaration because of that.

]]> By: sublight68 http://www.redstate.com/josh_painter/2009/07/03/the-declaration-of-independence/#comment-6160 sublight68 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:12:09 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/josh_painter/?p=1479#comment-6160 What continually amazes me is the conciseness and power of the Founding Documents. In just a few clearly stated pages we declared independence from one government, constituted another and articulated our God-given rights. Contrast that to today where seldom-read, impossible-to-understand-without-a-law-degree, 1,000+ page Bills are churned out as a matter of course. It takes a 500 page Ag Bill to set forth a corn subsidy. Of course today's brightest congressperson would barely qualify as stableboy to the least of the Founding Fathers. What continually amazes me is the conciseness and power of the Founding Documents. In just a few clearly stated pages we declared independence from one government, constituted another and articulated our God-given rights.

Contrast that to today where seldom-read, impossible-to-understand-without-a-law-degree, 1,000+ page Bills are churned out as a matter of course. It takes a 500 page Ag Bill to set forth a corn subsidy.

Of course today’s brightest congressperson would barely qualify as stableboy to the least of the Founding Fathers.

]]> By: Kenny Solomon http://www.redstate.com/josh_painter/2009/07/03/the-declaration-of-independence/#comment-6157 Kenny Solomon Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:53:20 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/josh_painter/?p=1479#comment-6157 Culled from several verified sources, including historical websites and several books I have here at the house............. There's a listing running around the 'net, so I'll keep that order and those men. Adams and Jefferson began to actually like each other. Really. A few of the books I have say so..... They were constantly communicating their ideas and thoughts of what took place, why and how. I'd have loved to have met them both. Five signers were captured by the British and charged as traitors..... Four during military operations (Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward and George Walton) and the fifth (Richard Stockton) solely because of signing the document. Richard Stockton also violated his signing for independence by securing his release through signing a new oath of allegiance to King George of England. John Witherspoon lost his son serving in the Revolutionary Army, Abraham Clark had two sons taken prisoner. Button Gwinnett died from a duel..... as in "pistols at 10 paces". he was a serving officer and another officer challenged him - reasons unclear/unverified. Carter Braxton of Virginia, inherited his fortune, made it bigger, lost it, made it again, lost it again and so on. As happened with many homes, farms and businesses throughout the colonies, vandals and/or soldiers looted the properties of Ellery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton. Contrary to popular beliefs, Thomas Nelson, Jr's house was not destroyed supposedly under his own call for fire.... The place still stands in Yorktown VA..... I know.... I've been there (on a "I'll find it myself" history tour). Shortly after the Declaration was signed, Francis Lewis of New York had his home and properties raided by The British. His wife was arrested after her and many others refused the order to evacuate the area where they lived. John Hart's farm was raided and he had to remain incognito for a little over a year. He then served two terms in the Continental Congress. Lewis Morris's farm was seized and taken over by The British. After the war, his land was returned. Phillip Livingston had property seized and sold off others. He died in 1778. --------------------- <b>The next thing I want to see is...... "Where did they come from", regarding us common folk who WILL take our nation back from the brink she teeters on this day.</b> Happy Independence Day. Culled from several verified sources, including historical websites and several books I have here at the house………….

There’s a listing running around the ‘net, so I’ll keep that order and those men.

Adams and Jefferson began to actually like each other. Really. A few of the books I have say so….. They were constantly communicating their ideas and thoughts of what took place, why and how. I’d have loved to have met them both.

Five signers were captured by the British and charged as traitors….. Four during military operations (Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward and George Walton) and the fifth (Richard Stockton) solely because of signing the document.

Richard Stockton also violated his signing for independence by securing his release through signing a new oath of allegiance to King George of England.

John Witherspoon lost his son serving in the Revolutionary Army, Abraham Clark had two sons taken prisoner.

Button Gwinnett died from a duel….. as in “pistols at 10 paces”. he was a serving officer and another officer challenged him - reasons unclear/unverified.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, inherited his fortune, made it bigger, lost it, made it again, lost it again and so on.

As happened with many homes, farms and businesses throughout the colonies, vandals and/or soldiers looted the properties of Ellery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton.

Contrary to popular beliefs, Thomas Nelson, Jr’s house was not destroyed supposedly under his own call for fire…. The place still stands in Yorktown VA….. I know…. I’ve been there (on a “I’ll find it myself” history tour).

Shortly after the Declaration was signed, Francis Lewis of New York had his home and properties raided by The British. His wife was arrested after her and many others refused the order to evacuate the area where they lived.

John Hart’s farm was raided and he had to remain incognito for a little over a year. He then served two terms in the Continental Congress.

Lewis Morris’s farm was seized and taken over by The British. After the war, his land was returned.

Phillip Livingston had property seized and sold off others. He died in 1778.

———————

The next thing I want to see is…… “Where did they come from”, regarding us common folk who WILL take our nation back from the brink she teeters on this day.

Happy Independence Day.

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