A reader posted a comment in my previous post that deserves a thoughtful reply.  In his comment, he pointed out that I am actually making the case that the North was and remains in the wrong for its aggression against the South in the War of Northern Aggression (i.e. Civil War).  He is correct: the North initiated force, therefore, according to the principles of Natural Law, the North was in the wrong.  And since the War of Norther Aggression nullified the Constitution (at least in spirit), the North remains in the wrong today.  However, if the South were to suddenly take up arms against the North, it would then be in the wrong, as well.  This is because the South would be violating the principle of self-defense and that is lawlessness.  However, if the South were to first secede — an action that is permitted by both the Constitution and Natural Law — and the North again initiated force against the South, then the South would be justified in defending itself — because it would be acting in accord with the Natural Right of self-defense.

Now, I understand that there are many who take issue with my position about the initiation of force.  More than one reader tried to tell me I was wrong in the comments of my last post.  But I would ask them to study the founders a lot more closely.  Our founders never acted lawlessly.  They clung to the law every step of the way because they knew they had to if they were to hold the moral high ground.  And although the Crown claimed the Colonists were in rebellion to the law — as with the federal government today — it was the Crown and Parliament who were acting lawlessly.  the Colonies were created by Charter with the King, which meant Parliament had no authority over and no place seeking authority over the Colonies.  The Charters were contracts between the Colonies and the King, and as such, they granted both sides certain rights.  The King repeatedly violated the terms of these Charters, placing him in the wrong.  But even when the British dissolved the Colonial governments, the Colonies continued to do everything they could to seek redress of the wrongs done to them by using the law!  And when they were finally pushed to declare independence, how did they do it?  By first forming State governments which then authorized delegates to act on their behalf in the drafting of eventually became the Declaration of Independence.

Now, let’s look at another aspect of how our founders dealt with an oppressive government.  The Boston Tea Party was lawless in that it destroyed property, but it did not attack the British with force of arms.  The Boston Massacre was the result of another act of civil disobedience, only, this time, the British killed several Colonists.  There were many such incidences where the British killed or executed individuals, but the founders did not use these events as an excuse to act in a lawless manner and retaliate.  They understood the difference between vigilante actions and true justice.  It is why, when all other recourse had been exhausted, the appealed their case to the Highest Court in the universe:

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Notice what the founders did and how they did it.  Even though they no longer had access to British courts, they were still seeking a legal redress, so they appealed to the Highest Court known to man — the Creator.  And even then, they first formed legitimate governments so they could legally act in the name of the people.

Now look at how this played out leading up to the Revolution.  When the British murdered Colonists in Boston or executed them in other cities, the Colonists did not respond with war.  This is because, even though they are wrong and lawless, acts against an individual do not legally justify war between nations.  However, when the British fired on the militia, a duly authorized representative of that State, then the Colonists did respond with force — because now they were legally authorized to defend themselves as a community or State.  they were an organized body acting under the direction of a legitimate representative authority.

So, taking this to America today: if individuals take it upon themselves to attack the government, then they act lawlessly.  We still have legitimate governing bodies to fall back on before we devolve into Anarchy.  I concede that the States are no longer bound to obey the Federal government.  It has violated its part of the Social Contract known as the Constitution.  But the Constitution is between the Federal and State governments, not the American People in general.  So long as the States retain authority over their land and people, then the people are bound to obey the States.  If the people were to attack the Federal government without the authorization of their State, they would be acting lawlessly — period!  And lawlessness is never justified.

This is why we must do everything we can to keep individuals from taking things into their own hands.  If this happens, then the Federal government can claim authority to put down the rebellion in that State or States — and it will.  When this happens, man will lose his last grip on liberty forever.  Instead, do everything you can to put pressure on your State government, and encourage everyone you know to do the same.  Explain this to them: make sure they understand why they must seek redress in this way.  Make sure you tell everyone you know that we must cling to the law because — eventually — we may have to appeal to the Supreme Judge of this world.  If that time comes, and we are not in line with His Natural Law, then — as Perfect Justice — we will not be happy with His verdict.  You see, God is on no one’s side but His own.  It is up to us to get on His side, and that means we must remain lawful.

Many of you may have read those words before, but have you ever read the greater context of the quote from which they come?

What country before ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.

–Thomas Jefferson

It’s true: free men must ever be ready to take up arms in defense of their liberty — especially against their own government. However, this does not mean we can start the shooting.  Our founders did not start the shooting in the American Revolution.  The truth is, many Patriots died before the first Red Coat was killed, and when it happened, it was clearly an act of self-defense.  This is because our founders understood Natural Law.  So, in waking and preparing ourselves for what must soon come to America once again, we must also remind ourselves that the cause of righteousness can never initiate the use force, it can only resort to it as a means of self-defense — and even then, only as  a last resort.

When you start the war, the world will see you as the aggressor — because you are.  This is why those who call the Civil War the War of Norther Aggression are correct: the North started the hostilities — not the South.  Natural Law dictates that all who seek the use of force to win their cause will fall to those who hold the same world view.  It is what these words actually mean:

“If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword.”

This is because those who use force are saying that ‘might makes right.’  If you believe might makes right, you will always find someone who is either stronger than you or more clever in his application of force.  They will defeat you.  So this means that those who believe might makes right reject the notion of a lasting idea of what is right and what is wrong.  For them, right and wrong change according to whoever has the ability to force their will on others.  Civilized people call this by many names, but the two most prominent are slavery and tyranny.

But for those who build their case on the cause of righteousness, no matter what happens to them, they can always appeal their case to the Source of all righteousness.  And the Source of all righteousness, the same Source that tells us we must not live by the sword, is also the Source who told His apostles to sell their cloak and buy a sword at the Last Supper.  But note: when He was told that the apostles had two swords, Christ said they were enough.  This tells us that we can sometimes justify defending ourselves, but we can never justify attacking others first.  The righteous use of force must always be in self-defense.

So, to all of you I hear calling for Patriots to take up arms against our government, please, hear me.  You must not call for the side of righteousness to take the first shot.  If you do, you will destroy our cause before it begins.  If you are a Patriot, and you truly believe in the cause, then you must follow Christ’s example; the example of His early disciples; the example of Gandhi and MLK.  You must speak out and tell the tyrant he is wrong, even if he jails or kills you.  Yes, you can justify defending yourselves, but only after you have completely exhausted all peaceful recourse, and even then, only after the tyrant starts shooting first.  This is what the founders did at Concord: they simply stood in the way of the tyrant and waited, offering themselves as sacrifices in a greater battle.  That’s because they understood they were not playing their role for men, but for the Supreme Judge of this universe.  If we wish to restore the promise and blessings of this land, then we must follow the founders example now.

So, do not call for and do not allow anyone calling themselves a Patriot to fire the first shot.  So long as we have any peaceful means of resistance available to us, and we are not openly being slaughtered in the streets, do not let anyone use force against the tyrants.  Do everything you can to stop them. Remember, and teach others, that we are not trying to serve ourselves, or act for the sake of men.  We are trying to serve the Creator of this universe, so we must act to gain His approval.  Play your role in this great play with this in mind.  For it is only if and when we behave in this manner, which will require a humble and contrite heart, that we stand any chance of succeeding in restoring liberty to this great land.