Category Archives: James Madison

The Founding Fathers and the First Amendment

Posted on by June 16, 2017

Patrick Henry didn’t like the U.S. Constitution. He spoke out forcefully against its adoption in the Virginia Constitutional Convention. He spoke nearly every day –18 of the 23 days of the Convention, arguing against its adoption. Why didn’t he like it, you ask? It wasn’t because he was not a true patriot. He was known as America’s first patriot.

He didn’t like it because he thought it didn’t protect the citizens as well as it should. He thought America would descend into a monarchy just like Great Britain unless it provided more written proofs of the citizens’ rights. read more

Amendments to the Constitution

Posted on by June 14, 2017

Looking back on it, many would agree that the two Amendments to the U.S. Constitution which were both ratified in 1913, were the worst Amendments ever adopted (some say they weren’t actually properly ratified). Those were the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Amendments.

The Sixteenth is the one that approved the previously unwanted collection of an income tax (see discussions about this in our early history). For some reason, we, the people, approved this burdensome tax. That has been the subject of many disputations—and I won’t continue that here. read more

Founding Fathers as Christians

Posted on by June 11, 2017

Some have said that the Founding Fathers were not Christian. They haven’t read the words of these men themselves. They all left quotes and references that would convince most anyone otherwise..

Read George Washington’s Farewell address. Read Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. Read James Madison’s notes on the Constitutional Convention. Give yourself time to read Benjamin Franklin’s speeches at that same Convention.

Patrick Henry summed it up well in his last will and testament. “This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed. read more

Dolley Madison Speaks Her Mind

Posted on by June 2, 2017

Dolley Madison, who was married to James Madison, was raised a Quaker. She gave up her religion when her father was banished from the Quaker religion when he filed for bankruptcy as his starch making business failed. Dolley couldn’t get over that.

She was vivacious and outgoing and made a difference, a huge difference in the life of James Madison. The problem was that she usually said anything that popped into her head. Sometimes that wasn’t ‘politically correct’, even then.

Dolley called her husband ‘Jemmy’, as a term of endearment. Jemmy, a usually serious man, used to laugh at Dolley when she would just blurt something out. James kept much to himself, and he warned Dolley “In politics, think before you speak, and if you intend to say what you really mean, then think twice!” read more

The Founding Fathers and Faith

Posted on by May 25, 2017

I’ve read a lot about our Founding Fathers. They were men of great faith, and great action on that faith. I read the following quote and it reminded me of our Founding Fathers, especially George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and James Madison. Yes, and others. Here’s the quote:

“God blesses us according to our faith. Faith is the source of living with divine purpose and eternal perspective. Faith is a practical principle that inspires diligence. It is a vital, living force manifest in our positive attitude and desire to willingly do everything that God and Jesus Christ ask of us. It takes us to our knees to implore the Lord for guidance and to arise and act with confidence to achieve things consistent with His will.” (Ulisses Soares, Ensign magazine, May, 2017, page 34.) read more

The Ages of the Founding Fathers

Posted on by April 27, 2017

The Founding Fathers were industrious and positive thinking men. They lived not only fruitful lives, but lives full of activity, wisdom, leadership, and friendship.

Benjamin Franklin, who took part in most of the life changing events of his time, lived to be 84. He died in 1790.

George Washington, the indispensible man, our nation wouldn’t exist without his accomplishments, died at the age of 67. He died in December of 1799, just before the new century was rung in.

Patrick Henry also died in 1799. He was known as America’s noble patriot and the first national hero. He was only 63 when he left his family of 17 children. read more

The U. S. Constitution

Posted on by April 17, 2017

In this Easter season I’ve been posting about the Illegal Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It all began because all Hebrew authority was concentrated in their Great Sanhedrin (they were allowed to govern themselves as a ‘client state’ of Rome). There were no checks and balances. Christ was found guilty of blasphemy.

There was no death penalty allowed to be carried out by the Sanhedrin without the express approval of the Roman representative. Hence, the Chief Priests took their guilty subject to Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea as representative of Caesar. They wanted approval of their death penalty crime. It was granted. read more

The Christian Founding Fathers

Posted on by April 11, 2017

This week’s commemoration of Good Friday and then Easter Sunday is an important milestone in the Christian Religion. It was honored by our Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson said that the “Wee Little Book” he created is “proof positive that I am a real Christian . . . .”

Benjamin Franklin’s “Project for Moral Perfection” had him working on his character to imitate the humility of Jesus. George Washington paid for his own seat or booth at the Christian Church in Alexandria which was close to Mount Vernon. read more

Thomas Jefferson and the Crime Commission

Posted on by March 25, 2017

After reviewing some things I have in common with John Adams, I had to remember why I started studying the Founding Fathers anyway. As a young lawyer I was appointed by the mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, to be a member of his “Citizens Crime Commission,” a group of volunteers who met monthly and discussed methods the Mayor could use to alleviate crime in the City.

In those days, every major city in America had such a commission. There was a National Citizens Crime Commission. It was 1976, the Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence. The National Commission was holding its national convention in Philadelphia that year. I was elected to represent the Arizona Crime Commission at the national convention. What an honor. read more

The Founding Fathers and the Constitution

Posted on by March 22, 2017

James Madison, known as “The Father of the Constitution”, explained that those prominent men at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, wanted the Constitution to be understood by the American population..

Gouverneur Morris (yes, that was his name) was named as the scrivener, or the man to put the concepts that were agreed upon in the meetings, into final form. In plain English. It was his intention to write the new document so it could be easily understood by a person with an eighth grade, or similar, education. read more