Most Americans have no idea what the 4th of July is really about. They have no idea of the true history of the revolution or its aftermath. For most Americans, it's just a day to blow off some fireworks and rant about freedom. But the republic America's founders fought for died a long time ago and was replaced by an empire. Granted, there remains some vestiges of the true spirit of 1776, but they are generally reviled by much of the country. Low taxes, small government, individual liberty - most Americans are not interested in any of that. They'd rather have "safety" and "security" provided to them by big daddy government. And that goes for Republicans and Democrats. Neither of them are torchbearers for liberty except in the rare instances where liberty narrowly benefits them personally. So enjoy your fireworks and your false notions of freedom on this auspicious day. But don't fool yourselves into believing that you represent the true spirit of the revolution. Most of you have more in common with the Tories than with the patriots who liberated this country from the yoke of England. Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it. --John Adams
The ratification of the US constitution was the beginning of the end for the American republic. It was nothing more than a counter-revolution initiated by a nascent American aristocracy consisting of bankers, merchants, industrialists, and lawyers. Jefferson saw the writing on the wall during his retirement in 1825. Here is his description of the Hamiltonian faction of the day: ...who having nothing in them of the feelings or principles of ’76 now look to a single and splendid government of an Aristocracy, founded on banking institutions and monied in corporations under the guise and cloak of their favored branches of manufactures commerce and navigation, riding and ruling over the plundered ploughman and beggared yeomanry. this will be to them a next best blessing to the Monarchy of their first aim, and perhaps the surest stepping stone to it.
If you're gonna make that case... ...you're not gonna get it done with an 1825 quote from a guy who thrice recited an oath to uphold the charter you claim was the beginning of the end for the American republic - especially since earlier in the selfsame paragraph he wrote this: [T]ake together the decisions of the federal court, the doctrines of the President, and the misconstructions of the constitutional compact, acted on by the legislature of the federal branch and it is but too evident that the three ruling branches of that department are in combination to strip their Colleagues, the States authorities of the powers reserved by them and to exercise themselves all functions foreign and domestic.
He recited that oath years prior to making that statement. Jefferson was witnessing the downfall of the republic and basically said so. And it's because of the flaws inherent to the constitution, flaws which many patriots noted at the time of its ratification.
The constitution is nothing more than positive law. It has no inherent authority. And whenever the positive law conflicts with the natural law, the natural law takes priority. At present, the positive law of the constitution not only conflicts with the natural law, but wages an active war upon it.
Which might be interesting were there so much as a hint of criticism of the Constitution in that statement. Be that as it may... ...that's an inference you're welcome to, but you've presented no evidence Jefferson believed even that much, to say nothing of your outlandish claim that "[t]he ratification of the US constitution was the beginning of the end for the American republic." And the amendment which effected that change is...?
Though I think you are a bit premature in announcing the patient’s death, you’re spot on about Jefferson and the Constitution, and the fight. The Fourth belongs to Jefferson: https://fee.org/articles/why-the-fo...hF3vx1aPHKilBlX-Q3AcnDUXjp2Ejw&_hsmi=74380894
The republic is still imperfect. It always will be. It is governed by human beings. But if you live in the following states: Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota (west of the Mississippi River), North Dakota (most of it), South Dakota (almost all of it), New Mexico (northeastern part), or in portions of Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado that are east of the Continental Divide, or in Louisiana beyond the west bank of the Mississippi or beyond the west bank of the Pearl in the southernmost portion, you do not owe allegiance to France, England, or Spain because of Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark among many patriots. The United States of America has a splendid history (imperfect as that history is) and is the greatest country in the world.
