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| The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. |
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Further – “effects” as used above, is defined by Webster in 1828 (i.e. contemporary with the drafting of the amendment) –
“… … 8. In the plural, effects are goods; movables, personal estate. The people escaped from the town with their effects,” (emphasis is mine)
The wisdom of the founders is shown here. They knew nothing of e-mail, cell phones, online pictures and the like. All that is included in “effects”.
Now we are beginning to hear of secret court rulings that the Administration has violated the 4th Amendment with its sweep of all the electronic data available on virtually every American citizen!
We are being told, “Nothing to see here.”, “This is done for your protection.”, “Trust us, we are working for you.” This view I repudiate. Either we are a nation of laws, or we are not. Either we are free men who have created a civil-government to protect and preserve our individual liberty, operating WITHIN THE LIMITS we have designated in OUR CONSTITUTION, or we have become “subjects” of that Administration.
Some say, we are experiencing a “silent coup”.
A coup d’état …, also known as a coup, a putsch, or an overthrow, is the sudden deposition of a government, … usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to depose the extant government and replace it with another body, civil or military. A coup d’état is considered successful when the usurpers establish their dominance. When the coup neither fails completely nor succeeds, a civil war is a likely consequence. [Wikipedia]
It would not appear (today) that the U.S. Military force is actively involved. – but – Recent news stories about the addition of thousands of employees within government agencies (i.e. bureaucrats) DHS, IRS, EPA, etc., coupled with vast purchases of arms and ammunition for them, is disturbing!
Should such events be occurring, it is reasonable to expect the Administration to move to stifle citizen communication (radio talk shows, internet communication e-mail and the like) in an effort to prevent unified push back. Our money will be useless. Our focus will shift to personal survival. Our state National Guard (originally called “state militias”) will be overwhelmed by armed bureaucrats and anarchical mobs. Lawlessness will prevail for a time.
Not a pretty picture! Patrick Henry (1736 – 1799) has some advice for us —
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. [2nd Virginia Convention, March 20, 1775, at Richmond–in what is now called St. John’s Church]
The present danger to our peace and security is NOT from overseas. It is within. “Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.”
What are “those means”? England had dissolved all contracts between the colonists in North America and the “mother country”. American colonists were now without a government, standing firm upon their understanding that men were to be free and independent under their Creator. True: There were differences and objectors, as there must always be. Those who unified around Biblical principles of government prevailed. They went on to create a civil structure that stunned and encouraged the rest of the world.
Those principles are still valid and available to each of us. Acting within those principles – in humble submission to the God of heaven’s armies, we have nothing to fear but ignorance and apathy!
My passion is to share “Principles of American Government”. The next online course begins on September 9th. If several wish to make a summer class, please phone right away.
Let us join one of our “founding fathers” – Patrick Henry
“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
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