Today in History - January 2, 1776 - Tory Act Gets Published
Here is a little bit of info on the Tory Act:On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress passed the infamous (but often forgotten) Tory Act. The act was designed to reveal with citizens, particularly those of prominence, still remained loyal to Great Britain and King George III. The bill also called for the disarming of any and all citizens loyal to the British crown, and even suggested that individuals of "particular prominence" be imprisoned (which is what happened to Benjamin Franklin's son William).http://americanrevolutionblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/congress-passes-tory-act.html
Here is the story from www.history.com:
The Continental Congress publishes the "Tory Act" resolution on this day in 1776, which describes how colonies should handle those Americans who remain loyal to the British and King George.
The act called on colonial committees to indoctrinate those "honest and well-meaning, but uninformed people" by enlightening them as to the "origin, nature and extent of the present controversy." The Congress remained "fully persuaded that the more our right to the enjoyment of our ancient liberties and privileges is examined, the more just and necessary our present opposition to ministerial tyranny will appear."
However, those "unworthy Americans," who had "taken part with our oppressors" with the aim of gathering "ignominious rewards," were left to the relevant bodies, some ominously named "councils of safety," to decide their fate. Congress merely offered its "opinion" that dedicated Tories "ought to be disarmed, and the more dangerous among them either kept in safe custody, or bound with sufficient sureties to their good behavior."
Read more at: www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-publishes-the-tory-act
Congress merely offered its "opinion" that dedicated Tories "ought to be disarmed, . . . ."
ReplyDeleteThe colonial legislatures acted on "The Tory Act" by enacting statutes by means of which to disarm the Tories.
Also per the Continental Congress, the colonies also enacted statutes disarming those who failed or refused to sign their "oath of loyalty to the Cause," such statutes termed in short, "Test":
"Continental Congress, March 14, 1776
"Resolved, That it be recommended to the several assemblies, conventions, and
councils or committees of safety of the United Colonies, immediately to cause
all persons to be disarmed within their respective colonies, who are notoriously
disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and shall
refuse to associate, to defend, by arms, these United Colonies, against the
hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies; and to apply the arms taken
from such persons in each respective colony, in the first place to the arming
the continental troops raised in said colony; in the next, to the arming such
troops as are raised by the colony for its own defence, and the residue to be
applied to the arming the associators; that the arms when taken be appraised by
indifferent persons, and such as are applied to the arming the continental
troops, be paid for by Congress, and the residue by the respective assemblies,
conventions, or councils, or committees of safety."
The word "associate" in the phrase "have not associated, and shall refuse to associate" meant a person had not or refused to sign the loyalty oath.
Thus any and all assertions by the NRA and its dupes that the Founders were opposed to gun control is flat out false, even ordinary circumstances. They weren't insane, therefore knew that no sane society leaves dangerous substances and objects lying around unregulated.
As for the quote attributed to Jefferson,
ReplyDelete"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; When the government fears the people there is liberty."
Jefferson was known for overstating. That particular comment is irrelevant and doesn't apply to our system of laws, because We the people are the gov't.
Jefferson in fact contradicted that statement in the "Declaration of Independence," where he wrote, as a complaint against King George III, that --
"[King George III] has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power."
The Founders -- including Jefferson -- were PRO-gov't. That is easily determined by noting the fact that they founded gov'ts. Moreover, the "Declaration" was a declaration of independence FROM BRITAIN; they never declared independence from the colony gov'ts because they controlled the colony gov'ts.
That they controlled those gov'ts is made obvious by the fact that, in addition to establishing the Continental Congress, and sending delegates thereto from the colonies, the colony legislatures did as legislatures do, throughout the "revolution": they enacted laws, including acts sneding their delegates to the Continental Congress.