The blood of patriots and tyrants

April 4, 12:19 AMColumbia Conservative ExaminerAnthony G. Martin

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"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. ... God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion; 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." -- Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787

The above quote has become known in recent years as 'Jefferson's reset button,' meaning that Jefferson and most of the Framers of the Constitution believed that since government--any government--has the tendency to become oppressive as time progresses, true patriots must be willing to engage in the tactic of last resort in order to preserve liberty.

That 'last resort,' of course, is deadly force.

Americans in recent years have become too comfortable and satisfied in their ignorance to recognize that sentiment as one of the most cherished and truly American concepts we have.  Most Americans may even be shocked to discover that Thomas Jefferson said such a thing and consider such a notion to be 'treasonous.'

Yet the Founders believed that traitors and tyrants have a penchant for slithering into positions in government unnoticed.  There they engage in a covert, patient, and insidious course of action to gradually shift the government away from its core Constitutional principles.

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined." -- Patrick Henry, Virginia's Ratification convention, 1788

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." -- Samuel Adams

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." -- Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, September 23, 1800.  Inscribed in the Jefferson Memorial.

"The right to revolt has sources deep in our history." -- Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas

Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience." -- John Locke, 1690

This is one of the reasons the Founders insisted on an armed citizenry as a means of keeping government power in check.

Increasingly I hear more and more voices insisting that Barack Obama and his administration, along with his enablers in Congress, are pushing patriots in the heartland closer to the brink of the type of resistance depicted above in the timeless words of great men.

Perhaps it is time for the arrogant ones in government to back off, step back, take a deep breath, and carefully consider the consequences that their actions and statements may well produce among concerned citizens.

For further commentary, please visit my blog, updated daily, at The Liberty Sphere.