It gets worse. They promised
“to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.”Notice that they were promising to submit and obey to the agreement, not to the king and his parliament. They were going to “enact” the laws they felt were “most meet.” They were not going to go to the king with hat in hand saying, “Massa, please.” Just who did they think they were?
They were the beginning of what we call Americans. They were binding themselves to the rule of law, agreed upon by the governed, not imposed by the crown.
It was a beginning.
homo unius libri
Despite being a bit of a history buff, I'd never given this subject a lot of thought. Thanks for doing these pieces.
ReplyDeleteWe read the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. That was a bit of a catalyst for me to consider these documents. That and the fact that the Supreme Court seems to have forgotten they exist.
ReplyDeleteGrace and peace.