Did You Know?
7-27-2010
By Wally Rayl
Did you know that every law that exists is the legislation of morality? Those who keep repeating the old mantra of “you can’t legislate morality” simply don’t know what they are talking about. John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence, had this to say:
“[C]onsider all morality in general as conformity to a law.”
So, in reality, it is not a matter of if morality can be legislated; rather the issue is whose morality will be legislated. David Barton says “that the founding fathers believed the Bible to be the perfect example of moral legislation and the source of what they called ‘the moral laws.’ For nearly 150 years, the Courts relied on that moral law as the basis for our civil laws.”
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1815 ruled: [A]lthough every immoral act, such as lying, etc., is not indictable, yet where the offence charged is destructive of morality in general…it is punishable at common law. The destruction of morality renders the power of the government invalid…The corruption of the public mind, in general, and debauching the manners of youth in particular, by lewd and obscene pictures exhibited to view, must necessarily be attended with the most injurious consequences…No man is permitted to corrupt the morals of the people; secret poison cannot be thus disseminated.”
The US Supreme Court agreed n 1890: “Bigamy and polygamy are crimes by the laws of all civilized and Christian countries….”
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Did You Know?
7-22-2010
By Wally Rayl
Today's History Lesson
Did you know that we have taken freedom of the press far beyond the intentions of the Founding Fathers?Jefferson found a restriction on the Federal Government to control the press. “While we deny that [the federal] Congress have a right to control the freedom of the press, we have ever asserted the right of the States, and their exclusive right, to do so.”
The media would have a ‘hissy fit” if someone would dare to mention such a thing. The problem of the press comes to the balance between freedom of the press and responsibility of the press. Printer and publisher Benjamin Franklin explained:
“If by liberty of the press were understood merely the liberty of discussing the propriety of public measures and political opinions, let us have as much of it as you please; but if it means the liberty of affronting, calumniating [falsely accusing], and defaming one another, I, for my part…[am] willing to part with my share of it whenever our legislators shall please so to alter the law, and shall cheerfully consent to exchange my liberty of abusing others for the privilege of not being abused myself.”
Justice James Wilson had this to say; “What is meant by the liberty of the press is that there should be no antecedent restraint upon it; but that every author is responsible when he attacks the security or welfare of the government, or the safety, character, and property of the individual.”
Is it any wonder that the media is the only collective group that has a lower favorable rating than Congress!
Quotes as quoted in Original Intent by David Barton.
Did You Know?
7-19-2010
By Wally Rayl
Did you know that until the 20th century, the Supreme Court, as well as lower courts, repeatedly declared the United States of America a Christian Nation? A pastor recently made the statement that we are not a Christian nation and never have been. I beg to differ!
Supreme Court, 1892 – “[No] purpose of action against religion can be imputed to any legislation, State or national, because this is a religious people…. [T]his is a Christian nation.”
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1824, “Thus this wise legislature framed this great body of laws for a Christian country and Christian people…”
Supreme Court of New York, 1811 – “[W]e are a Christian people and the morality of the country is deeply engrafted upon Christianity and not upon the doctrines or worship of those impostors [other religions]…”
Supreme Court, 1844 – “Such a case is not to be presumed to exist in a Christian country.”
Supreme Court of Maryland, 1799 – Not only did Maryland declare their Christianity, they evidently required it as a requirement for naturalization. “I, Samuel Chase, Chief Judge of the State of Maryland, do hereby certify all whom it may concern that…personally appeared before me Thomas M’Creery and did repeat and subscribe a declaration of his belief in the Christian Religion and take the oath required by the Act of Assembly of this State entitled ‘An Act for Naturalization.’” – as quoted in Original Intent by David Barton.