[BOTTOM]
[HOMEPAGE].
[NRA v. Reno (July, 2000)]
[US v. Emerson PAGE]
[Printz and Mack PAGE]
[US v. Lopez PAGE]
[ARCHIVE]. Potowmack Institute Files
[RESOURCES]. Newspaper, magazine, journal articles, books, links

[PotowmackForum], Interactive Posting

A.B.C.D.E.F.G.

When I consider what a dismal Scene of Blood and Desolation hath appeared upon the Theatre of Europe during the Growth and Progress of the French Power, I cannot sufficiently applaud and admire our thrice happy Situation, by which we have long enjoyed an uninterrupted course of Peace and Prosperity, whilst our Neighboring Nations have been miserably harassed by perpetual War: For lying open to continual Invasion, they can never enjoy Quiet and Security, nor take a sound Sleep, but, Hercules like, with Clubs in their hands: So that these Halcyon Days which we enjoy amidst such an universal Hurricane, must be solely attributed to our Tutelar God Neptune, who with a Guard of winged Coursers so strongly intrenches us, that we may be said to be media insuperabiles unda, and not unfitly compared to the Earth, which stands fixed and immoveable, and never to be shaken but by an internal Convulsion. And as Nature has been thus liberal to us in our Situation, so the Luxuriancy of our Soil makes it productive of numerous Commodities

fit for Trade and Commerce: And as this Trade renders us Masters of the Silver and Gold of the East and West without our toiling in the Mine, so it breeds us multitudes of able-bodied and skillful Seamen to defend the Treasures they bring home, that even Luxury itself which has been the Bane and Destruction of most Countries where it has been predominant, may in some measure be esteemed our Preservation, by breeding up a Race of Men among us, whose manner of Life will never suffer them to be debauched, or enervated with Ease or Idleness. But we have one thing more to boast of besides all these Felicities, and that is, of being Freemen and not Slaves in this unhappy Age, when an universal Deluge of Tyranny has overspread the face of the whole Earth; so that this is the Ark out of which if the Dove be sent forth, she will find no resting place till her Return.

this Boat of our Commonwealth, and to screen the People against the Insults of the Prince, and the Prince against the Popularity of the Commons, since if either Extreme prevail so far as to oppress the other, they are sure to he overwhelmed in their Ruin. And the meeting of these three States in Parliament is what we call our Government: for without all their Consents no Law can be made, nor a Penny of Money levied upon the Subjects; so that the King's Necessities do often oblige him to summon this Court, which is the Grand Inquest of the Kingdom, where the People speak boldly their Grievances, and call to account overgrown Criminals, who are above the reach of ordinary Justice: so that the Excellence of this Government consists in the due balance of the several constituent Parts of it, for if either one of them should be too hard for the other two, there is an actual Dissolution of the Constitution; but whilst we can continue in our present Condition, we may without Vanity reckon ourselves the happiest People in the World.

of Burden, and barely kept alive to support the Luxury and Prodigality of their Masters.

appear, that no Nation ever preserved its Liberty, that maintained an Army otherwise constituted within the Seat of their Government: and let us flatter ourselves as much as we please, what happened yesterday, will come to pass again; and the same causes will produce like Effects in all Ages.

And tho we are secure from any Attempts of this kind during the Reign of a Prince who hath reduced us from a Captivity equal to what Moses redeemed the People of Israel from; A Prince whose Life is so necessary to the Preservation of Europe, that both Protestant and Popish Princes have forgot their ancient Maxims, and laid aside their innate Animosities, and made it their common interest to choose him their Patron and Protector: A Prince in whom we know no Vices but what have been esteemed Virtues in others, viz., his undeserved clemency to his Enemies, and his exposing too much that Life upon which depends not only our Safety, but the Liberties of all Europe, and the Protestant Religion through the World: I say, was this most excellent Prince to be immortal (as his Great and Glorious Actions) we ought in common Prudence to abandon all thoughts of Self-preservation, and wholly to rely on his Care and Conduct. But since no Virtue nor pitch of Glory will exempt him from paying the common Debt to Nature, but Death hath a Sythe which cuts off the most noble Lives; we ought not to intrust any Power with him, which we don't think proper to be continued to his Successors: and doubtless our great Benefactor will not regret this, or anything else that can reasonably be demanded in order to complete that Deliverance so far advanced by his invincible Courage and Conduct for to let us, like Moses, within view of the promised Land, with a ne plus ultra, is the greatest of all Human Infelicities, and such that always take our Case to be, whilst a standing Army must be kept up to prey upon our Entrails, and which must in the hands of an ill Prince (which we have the misfortune frequently to meet with) infallibly destroy our Constitution. And this is so evident and important a Truth, that no Legislator ever founded a free Government, but avoided this Caribdis, as a Rock against which his Commonwealth must certainly be shipwrecked, as the Israelites, Athenians, Corinthians,

Archaians, Lacedemonians, Thebans, Samnites, and Romans; none of which Nations whilst they kept their Liberty were ever known to maintain any Soldiers in constant Pay within their Cities, or ever suffered any of their Subject to make War their Profession well knowing that the Sword and Sovereignty will march hand in hand, and therefore they trained their own Citizens and the Territories about them perpetually in Arms, and their whole Commonwealths by this means became so many several formed Militias: A general Exercise of the best of their People in the use of Arms, was the only Bulwark of their Liberties; this was reckoned the surest way to preserve them both at home and abroad, the People being secured thereby as well against the Domestic Affronts of any of their own citizens, as against the Foreign Invasions of ambitious and unruly Neighbors. Their Arms were never lodged in the hands of any who had not an Interest in preserving the public Peace, who sought pro aris & focis, and thought themselves, sufficiently paid by repelling Invaders, that they might with freedom return to their own Affairs. In those days there was no difference between the Citizen, the Soldier, and the Husbandman, for all promiscuously rook Arms when the publick Safety required it, and afterwards laid them down with more Alacrity than they took them up: So that we find amongst the Romans the best and bravest of their Generals came from the Plough, contentedly returning when the Work was over, and never demanded their Triumphs till they had laid down their Commands, and reduced themselves to the state of private Men. Nor do we find that this famous Commonwealth ever permitted a Deposition of their Arms in any other hands, till their Empire increasing, Necessity constrained them to erect a constant stipendiary Soldiery abroad in Foreign Parts, either for the holding or winning of Provinces: Then Luxury increasing with Dominion, the strict Rule and Discipline

of Freedom soon abated, and Forces were kept up at home, which soon proved of such dangerous Consequence, that the People were forced to make a Law to employ them at a convenient distance; which was, that if any General marched over the River Rubicon, he should be declared a publick Enemy : and in the Passage of that River this following inscription was erected Imperator sive miles, sive Tyannus armatus quisquis sistito, vexillumq; armaq; deponiso, nec citra hunc amnem trajicito: and this made Cesar when he had presumed to pass this River, to think of nothing but pressing on to the total Oppression of the Empire, which he shortly after obtained.

continues him, five Years in his Command, which gave him such opportunity to insinuate, and gain an Interest in their Army, that he oppressed their Liberty: and to this were owing all the Miseries, Massacres, and Ruins which that City suffered under him and Sylla, who made the best Blood in the World run like Water in the Streets of Rome, and turned the whole City into a Shambles of the Nobility, Gentry and People.

Venice, or the great Towns of the United Provinces; but they defend these by their own Burghers, and quarter their Mercenaries in their conquered Countries, viz. the Venetians in Greece, and the Continent of Italy, and the Dutch in Brabant and Flanders; and the Situation of these States makes their Armies, so posted, not dangerous to them; for the Venetians cannot be attacked without a Fleet, nor the Dutch be conquered by their own forces, their Country being so full of strong Towns, fortified both by Art and Nature, and defended by their own Citizens, that it would be a fruitless Attempt for their own Armies to invade them; for if they should march against any of their Cities, 'tis but shutting up their Gates, and the Design is spoiled.

them? and the Solution of that Preliminary Question resolves the Doubt: as we see in China, India, Tartary, Persia, Ethiopia, Turkey, Morocco, Moscovy, Austria, France, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Tuscany, and all the little Principalities of Germany and Italy, where the People live in the most abandoned Slavery and in Countries where no Armies are kept within the Seat of their Government, the People are free, as Poland, Biscay, Switzerland, the Grisons, Venice, Holland, Genoa, Ragusa, Algeria, Tunis, Hamborg, Lubeck, all the free Towns in Germany, and England and Scotland before the late Reigns. This Truth is so obvious, that the most barefaced Advocates for an Army do not directly deny it, but qualify the matter by telling us, that a Number not exceeding fifteen or twenty thousand Men are a handful to so populous a Nation as this: Now I think that Number will bring as certain Ruin upon us, as if they were as many Millions,. and I will give my Reasons for it,

as the Disease and if we have not a Power within ourselves to defend our Laws, we are no Government.

since in a tedious and chargeable War, at the vast expense of Blood and Treasure, to avoid that Captivity they had prepared for us: I say, if any one considers this, he will be convinced that we have enough to do to guard ourselves against the Power of the Court, without having an Army thrown into the Scale against us: and we have found oftner than once by too fatal Experience the truth of this; for if we look back to the late Reigns, we shall see this Nation brought to the brink of Destruction, and breathing out the last Gasp of their Liberty; and it is more owing to our good Fortune, than to any effort we were able to make, that we escaped the fatal Blow.

Revolutions of the Roman and Ottoman Empires since were caused by the Pretorian Bands, and the Court-Janizaries; the former of which never exceeded eight, nor the latter twelve thousand Men: And if no greater Numbers could make such Disturbances in those vast Empires, what will double the Force do with us? And they themselves confess it, when they argue for an Army; for they tell us we may be surprised with ten or fifteen thousand Men from France, and having no regular Force to oppose them, they will overrun the Kingdom. Now if so small a Force can oppose the King, the Militia, with the united Power of the Nobility, Gentry and Commons, what will an equal Power do againft the People, when supported by the Royal Authority, and a never-failing Interest that will attend it, except when it acts for the Publick Good?

will grow stronger, and we shall be told we must increase our Number: but if there should be such a turn of Affairs in the World, that we were no longer in apprehension of the French Power, they may be kept up without our Assistance; nay, the very Discontents they may create shall be made an Argument for the continuing of them. But, if they should be kept from oppressing the People, in a little time they will grow habitual to us, and almost become a part of our Constitution, and by degrees we shall be brought to believe them not only not dangerous, but necessary; for everybody sees, but few understand, and those few will never be able to persuade the Multitude that there is any danger in those Men they have lived quietly with for some Years, especially when the disbanding them will) as they will be made believe) cost them more Money out of their own Pockets to maintain a Militia, and of this we have had already an unhappy Experience. For Charles the Second being connived at in keeping a few Guards (which were the first ever known to an English King besides his Pentioners, and his Beef-eaters) he sensibly increased their Number, till he left a body of Men to his Successor great enough to tell the Parliament, he would be no longer bound by the Laws he had sworn to; and under the Shelter and Protection of these he raised an Army; that had put a Period to our Government, if a Complication of Causes (which may never happen again) had not presented the Prince of Orange with a Conjuncture to assert his own and the Nation's Rights. And tho we have so lately escaped this Precipice, yet Habit has made Soldiers so familiar to us, that some Will pretend to be zealous for Liberty, speak of it as a Hardship to his present Majesty, to refuse him as many Men as his Predecessors, not Considering that the raising them then was a Violation of our Laws, and that his Government is built upon the Destruction of theirs, and can no more

stand upon the same Rubbish, than the Kingdom of Heaven be founded in Unrighteousness.

with Children and mad Men, that is, take away all Weapons by which they may do either themselves or others an Injury: As I think the Sheep in Boccaline made a prudent Address to Apollo, when they desired, that for the future Wolves might have no Teeth.

embarked but eighteen thousand, he will be assured that no Invasion can be so sudden upon us, but we shall have time to get ready our whole Fleet, bring some Forces from Scotland and Ireland, and prepared our own Militia if there shall be occasion for it; especially in times Peace, when we shall have the liberty of all Ports of France, and shall or may have Intelligence from every one of them.

Enemies in eight Years War could not get one Opportunity of invading our Country.

and Keepers assigned them? And why may they not defend them with as much Vigor and Courage as Mercenaries who have nothing to lose, nor any other Tie to engage their Fidelity, than the inconsiderable Pay of Six-pence a day, which they may have from the Conqueror?

I say, these and other like things may be done, and some of them are done in our own Plantations, and the Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, as also in Poland, Switzerland, and the Country of the Grisons which are Nations much less considerable than England,. have as formidable Neighbors, no Sea nor Fleet to defend them, nothing but a Militia to defend upon, and yet no one dares attack them: And we have seen as great Performances done formerly by the Apprentices of London, and in the late War by the Vandois in Savoy, the Miquelets in Catalonia, and the Militia in Ireland, as can be paralleled in History:

And so it would be with us, if the Court would give their hearty Assistance in promoting this Design; if the King would appear in Person at the Head of them, and give Rewards and Honor to such as deserve them, we should quickly see the young Nobility and Gentry appear magnificent in Arms and Equipage, show a generous Emulation in outvying one another in Military Exercises, and place a noble Ambition in making themselves serviceable to their Country as anciently the Achaians and Thebans from being the most contemptible Nations in Greece, by the Conduct of Pelopidas, Eparminondas, and Philopemen, came to have the disciplined Troops and most excellent Soldiers in the World.

Nay, the Pensioner-Parliament themselves turned short upon the Court, when they expected them to give the finishing stroke to our Ruin.

several Chapters to prove, that no Prince or State ought to suffer any of their Subjects to make War their Profession, and that no Nation can be secure with any other Forces than a settled Militia. My Lord Bacon in several places bears his Testimony against a Standing Army, and particularly he tells us, that a Mercenary Army is first to invade a Country, but a Militia to defend it; because the first have Estates to get, and the latter to protect. Mr. Harrington hath founded his whole Oceana upon a trained Militia; and I have lately read a French Book, called a History of the Politicks of France, which says, Enfin si on veut ruiner Les Anglois il suffit de les obliger a tener des Troupes sur pied Nay, I believe no Author ever treated of a Free Government, that did not express his Abhorrence of an Army; for (as my Lord Bacon says) whoever does use them, tho he may spread his Feathers for a time, he will mew them soon after; and raise them with what Design you please, yet, like the West India Dogs in Boccaline, in a little time they will certainly turn Sheep-biters.

the keeping standing Forces is necessary to make a good Ingineer.

People (who received her in Crowds with repeated Acclamations) These, said she, my Lord, are my Guards; These have their Hands, their Hearts, and their Purses always ready at my Command: and these were Guards indeed, who defended her through a long and successful Reign of forty four Years against all the Machinations of Rome, the Power of Spain, a disputed Title, and the perpetual Conspiracies of her own Popish subjects; a Security the Roman Emperors could not boast of with their Pretorian Bands, and their Eastern and Western Armies.

Were not the French as powerful in Charles the Second and King James his time, as they are after this long and destructive War, and a less alliance to oppose them? Any yet we then thought a much less army than is now contended for, a most insupportable Grievance; insomuch that in Charles the Second's Reign the Grand-Jury presented them, and the Pensioners Parliament voted them to be Nuisance, sent Sir Jos. W— son to the Tower for saying, the King might keep Guards for the Defense of his Person, and addressed to have them, disbanded. And now our Apostates would make their Court by doing what the worst Parliament ever England saw could not think of without Horror and Confusion. They say the King of France was in League with our late Kings, so he is with us; and he would have broke it then, if he had thought it safe, and for his Interest as much as now. But they say we have more disaffected persons to join with him; which I must deny, for I believe no King of England in any Ages had deservedly more Interest than the Present; and if during such an expensive War, in which we have consumed so much Blood and Treasure, paid such vast and unequal Taxes, lost so many thousand ships and bore a Shock by recoining our Money, which would have torn up another Nation from its foundation, and reduced it to its

ancient Chaos, when most countries would have sunk under the misfortune, and repined at their Deliverance (as Men in Sickness commonly quarrel with their dearest Friends) I say, if at that time he had so great and universal an Interest, there can be no doubt but in times of Peace, when the People reap the Fruits of that Courage and Conduct he hath shown in their Defense, he will be the most Beloved and Glorious Prince that every filled the English Throne.

of Examples of this kind: but we need not go any farther than our own Country, where we have but twice kept Armies in times of Peace, and both times they turned out their own Masters. The first under Cromwell, expelled that Parliament under which they had fought successfully for many Years; afterwards under General Monk they destroyed the Government they before set up, and brought back Charles the Second and he afterwards disbanded them lest they might have turned him out again. These other Instance is fresh in every one's memory, how King James's Army joined with the Prince of Orange, now our Rightful and Lawful King. And what could have been expected otherwise from Men of dissolute and debauched Principles, who call themselves Soldiers of Fortune? who make Murder their Profession, and enquire no farther into the Justice of the Cause, than how they shall be paid; who must be false rapacious and cruel in their own Defense. For having no other Profession or Subsistence to depend upon, they are forced to stir up the Ambition of Princes, and engage them in perpetual Quarrels, that they may share of the Spoils they make. Such Men, like some sort of ravenous Fish, fare best in a Storm; and therefore we may reasonably suppose they will be better pleased with the Tyrannical Government of the late King, than the mild and gracious Administration of this Present Majesty, who came over to England to rescue us from Oppression, and he has done it, and triumphs in it in spight of his Enemies,

Quarters the rendering so many Men useless to labor, and almost Propagation, together with a much greater Destruction of them, by taking them from a laborious way of living to a loose idle Life; and before this, the Insolence of the 0fficers, and the Debaucheries that are committed both by them and their Soldiers in all the Towns they come in, to the ruin of multitudes of Women, Dishonor of the Families, and ill Example to others; and a numerous train of Mischiefs besides, almost endless to enumerate. These are trivial as well as particular Grievances in respect to those I have treated about, which strike at the Heart's-blood of our Constitution, and therefore I thought these not considerable enough to bear a part in a Discourse of this nature: Besides they often procure their own Remedy, working Miracles, and making some Men see that were born blind, and impregnable against all the Artillery of Reason; for experience is the only Mistress of Fools: A wise Man will know a Pike will bite when he sees his Teeth, which another will not make discovery of but by the loss of a Finger.

they have procured for their Country; and I doubt not but the Generosity and Gratitude of the parliament will give them a Donative equal to their Commissions, which, when the Foreigners are paid and sent home, will amount to no extraordinary Sum; at most 'tis but supposing the War to have six months longer continuance, which is an easy Composition for the Charge of keeping them. But if there are any gentlemen amongst them who think we can no otherwise express our Gratitude, but by signing the sealing our own Ruin, I hope we shall disappoint their Expectations, and not give the world occasion to tell so foolish a story of us, as they we turned to grass one of the most powerful Monarchs in the World for breaking our Laws, that we have maintained an eight Years War at the Expense of forty Millions of money, and the Blood of three hundred thousand Men, to justify the glorious Actions we have done; that by it we preserved all Europe besides, and lost our own Liberties; at least I hope it shall not be said we consented to it.

[TOP]
[HOMEPAGE].
[NRA v. Reno (July, 2000)]
[US v. Emerson PAGE]
[Printz and Mack PAGE]
[US v. Lopez PAGE]
[ARCHIVE]. Potowmack Institute Files
[RESOURCES]. Newspaper, magazine, journal articles, books, links