My next few blog posts are going to be about the Constitution. I want to try to convey the original intent of the founders as I understand it. I will begin with the Preamble.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
These 52 words comprise the Preamble to the Constitution. The Preamble explains the purpose of the Constitution and the powers of the new government.
We the People of the United States: The people of the United States created the federal government. They elected the delegates and the delegates were framing the new constitution. The American people had the choice to either accept or reject this document.
in order to form a more perfect Union: At this time, America was in turmoil. The Congress under the Articles of Confederation was unable to impose taxes to provide a military to protect the United States from outside or inside powers such as Shay’s Rebellion. (see here for more information on Shays’ Rebellion – Conservapedia)
establish Justice: This part of the Preamble was designed so that Federal government would regulate just trade laws between the states.
insure domestic Tranquility: This was established so that the states would not invade or attack each other, but settle their disputes at the federal level.
provide for the common defense: It was intended that the federal government would protect the United States from inside and outside powers.
promote the general Welfare: This clause of the Preamble is the most perverted part of the Constitution. It is often misused so that the federal government may usurp power, all for the supposed “good of the general Welfare” . However most fail to recognize it says to promote not provide as in the “provide for the common defense” What it really means is the federal government is responsible for keeping our country safe and free so that it’s citizens can have the opportunity to pursue “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.”
James Madison, father of the constitution, concerning “the general welfare clause” stated…
“If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare,
they may take the care of religion into their own hands; they may appoint teachers in every State, county and parish and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the education of children…they may assume the provision of the poor; they may undertake the regulation of all roads other than post-roads; in short, every thing, from the highest object of state legislation down to the most minute object of police, would be thrown under the power of Congress…. Were the power of Congress to be established in the latitude contended for, it would subvert the very foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited Government established by the people of America.”
source: http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/James.Madison.Quote.3254
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity: This means that the Constitution has secured to us and our decedents (if they obey it) the great blessings of Liberty.
According to the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary: Liberty is an exemption from the unrestrained and oppressive will of others, which exemption is secured by established laws, which restrain every man from injuring or controlling another. Hence the restraints of law are essential to liberty. A restraint of natural liberty, not necessary or practical for the public, is tyranny or oppression. source http://1828.mshaffer.com
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.: The federal government was restrained to provide only the above services.
Stay tuned for Part 2: The history of the Constitution.
