"Constitutional Observations"©

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This Month’s Issue: The Founding Father’s (FF’s) Goal # 3 - Principle # 4 - to "insure domestic Tranquility."

Question # 1: What do these Preamble words "insure domestic Tranquility" mean?

Answer: Tranquility, a noun, means the quality or state of being tranquil. Tranquil, an adjective, is defined as "freedom from agitation of mind or spirit, or free from disturbance or turmoil." Powerful words for the FF’s to use as part of their mission (preamble) statement, especially considering no other nation had ever established domestic Tranquility as a priority goal.

Question # 2: Why would the Founding Father’s want to "insure domestic Tranquility?"

Answer: Because they were "anticipating" a better type of government, a government of "We the People," a government where "domestic tranquility" could be insured, or become a goal to the nation reach for. And a government of "we the people" needs to "insure or have domestic Tranquility" or it will not long exist. A deserving goal for their preamble. <>The words "insure domestic Tranquility" are unusual words and are not found in the annuals of any of the then existing world governments. In fact, there were no written constitutions for the FF’s to use as a pattern. It is interesting to note that existing governments in the summer of 1787 were ruled by kings and queens (Great Britain, France, Spain), czars (Russia), sultans (Middles Eastern nations), shoguns (Japan), and those who ruled by right of birth, or by the might of the sword - including tribal governments - no democracies. These governments were not concerned with "insuring domestic Tranquility," only with keeping their subjects in check, using whatever means required. <>The FF’s were well read. Their strong beliefs included: 1. Governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their actions in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good of society; 2. No government can exist in peace (domestic tranquility), except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life; 3. All governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people; and 4. Laws are for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty and should be respected — for without them peace and harmony (again domestic tranquility) would be supplanted by anarchy or tyranny — laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man. Powerful action orientated beliefs. In 1776 America was being treated as a step-child by the British and the colonists had lived through many periods of domestic unrest, and they yearned for "domestic Tranquility."

Question # 3: Where did the pattern for these beliefs and words come from?

Answer: The pattern for this new type of "We the people" government, according to the FF’s, came from a number of historical sources, including Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Blackstone, Locke, Hume, and others of equal stature, but of equal importance was that over a third of their pattern came from the writings of Moses (the FF’s were all students of the Bible) especially Moses’ words in Exodus 18, where Jethro counseled Moses to "Be thou for the people ... and thou shall teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, ... hundreds, ... fifties and rulers of tens." In Deut 4:7-8, they read: "For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things, that we call upon him for? And what nation is there, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day." These words struck a chord, a powerful chord, with the FF’s — they felt these words were written directly to them with a special mission to incorporate what James called "the perfect laws of liberty" into their new Constitution. Moses’ "statutes and judgments" would become their primary pattern, laws received by Moses from God on Mt Sinai for the Israelites centuries before. A secondary pattern for the new constitution were the Articles of Confederation the FF’s had crafted and adopted on November 15, 1777 — and had lived precariously under for 10 years. The FF’s were well aware of the weaknesses in the Articles, and worked hard to overcome those weaknesses when drafting the new Constitution in the summer of 1787, but they provided a useful pattern to follow.

Question # 4: How does the Constitution "insure domestic Tranquility?

Answer: It’s difficult, and must be worked on continuously. The FF’s had a vision. They had just lived through the near collapse of the Articles of Confederation and they could foresee future problems - like the Civil War, the wars with Native Americans, the veteran’s problems following World War I, the civil rights challenges of the 1960s and 70s carried over from the Civil War days, the riots of the 1970s, the opposition to the Vietnam War, and the many other societal conflicts that touch American lives over their lifetime. Even as I write this newsletter Benton Harbor, Michigan is facing a "domestic Tranquility" issue - with a firm hand. The FF’s had to have had the Wisdom of Solomon to have included "insure domestic Tranquility" as a major goal in their preamble, but with all their wisdom they had to also have had a very liberal sprinkling of the "Diamond Dust of Heaven" sprinkled down upon their heads and hearts. Self government is not easy, but it beats the anarchy and tyranny that still rules millions of people worldwide even today.

A meaningful quote: Jefferson said on this subject: "The mobs of great cities add just so much to the support of pure government as sores do to the strength of the human body."

Have you missed an issue of Constitutional Observations? All former issues are now posted on www.cacp.info . Part of this newsletter was edited from the writings of W. Cleon Skousen with permission. For those interested in obtaining Cleon Skousen’s book "The Making of America," or the video, "A More Perfect Union," go to www.nccs.net to browse, or call 1-800 388-4512 to order (after 10 a.m. EST) . Thanks to those who have ordered this video and have given it to their local school system. Now, become an e-multiplier and forward this newsletter to your e-address list.. The more enlightened people there are on the Constitution, the better we all are. Thank you. Now, until August 1, 2003. DSC