The Five Truths Of The Declaration Of Independence

One of my passions as a conservative, is reading the textbooks used by our Framers and Founders as they attempted to form this imperfect Republic. Fortunately, all the textbooks have been translated to English during the past 250 years, if not, I would have had a limited selection, as many of the Founders were fluent in three to four different languages.

In reading the writings of many, it is interesting that the use of footnotes and references was limited. It was as if ideas were borrowed and incorporated with new ideas and thoughts of the current generation at the time. Over the millennia from Cicero to Aquinas to Locke, this practice created a Classical Liberal truth, one based on what was to be called Natural Law.

What is Natural Law? It is simply that man lives best in harmony with nature. Unlike animals who have instinct, man has reason and thought, which must come from a higher power. When man uses the tools of reason and thought in harmony with the Laws of Nature, the consequence is wisdom and order. On these lay the foundation of justice, which the human race shares with the Creator.

The Founders and Framers of this Nation believed in Natural Law. They studied Natural Law. They understood the differences between Natural Law and Common Law. As stated, in Natural Law, our rights come from God and are permanent, while in Common Law, our rights come from the whim of the monarch and are subject to change.

One of the best-known students of Natural Law was Thomas Jefferson, a brilliant, gifted and flawed individual. In a moment of “divine intervention”, Jefferson was asked to be the principal architect of the Declaration of Independence, a statement defining the reasons why the Colonies required the formation of a new Nation.

The Declaration of Independence is a simple breakup letter with a significant other.

The first section discusses why there needs to be a breakup, very general but it provides the basic governing reason, that is, you do not believe in the same principles as I do.

The second section states five specific truths that should govern the relationship, but which were never present.

The third section lists issues in the relationship that required attention, where a resolution was demanded and never satisfied.

The fourth section states that continued attempts were made to improve the relationship, but to no avail, as all requests were ignored.

And finally, the fifth section states that relationship is over and that there will be no reconciliation.

The Colonies chose Natural Law, while the British Empire maintained Common Law. That difference could never be resolved because the precepts of Natural Law, the Truths outlined in the second section of the Declaration, were totally incompatible with Common Law and remain incompatible today.

What are these Truths?

First, “that all men are created equal”. As one explores the concepts of Natural Law, that means that a man is subject to the same laws as all men. There is no special law, it is uniform.

Second, “that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights”. There are many unalienable rights – the right of movement, of thought, of friendships, to name a few. One of the greatest Natural Rights is the right to fail, because it allows us to learn and improve.

Third, more specifically, “that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. Life versus death, Liberty versus slavery, enjoying the fruits of one’s labor versus surrendering those fruits to someone else by government decree.

Fourth, “that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”. The words are simple, the government works for the people, not the other way around. There are certain limited powers given to the government, but only a few; the People retain most of the power.

Fifth, “that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness”. Historically, this truth has been satisfied by the privilege of voting in a fair and controlled process. When the people are upset, they vote for a change – that is a Natural Law!!

The five truths of the Declaration begin with the word “that”. The truths of the Declaration state the basis of Natural Law as it applies to this Nation. The truths note that any form of government is possible, provided the form of government fulfills its obligations to the people! Indeed, the Declaration of Independence set the foundation for the Constitution.

The truths of Natural Law are passed to each of us from a much higher source of power than a king, a President or a tyrant. They are passed by the Creator. As such, these five truths of Natural Law emanate from within the being of the person, from within the conscience of the person, not from the government.

That is why the POWER is within the people. As the cornerstone of our Founding, as the keystone that supports our form of government, the people are the source of the power.

Re-read the five truths.

Can a Nation survive when everyone may have a different idea regarding the meaning of those God given rights? Yes, because Natural Law applies to individuals as individuals, not groups. That implies that government must pass Laws based on wisdom and justice for all men. That creates order within which, all men prosper, and a commonwealth is created among men. The alternative thought is the creation of Laws that are not based on equality, but on group demands. That process creates chaos and chaos creates unhappiness, for the Law is not equal among men.

Give it some thought….

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