Politicians have been complicit in Yuba-Sutter Health Officer Phuong Luu’s prohibition of public gatherings to suppress freedom. Good communists justify stopping meetings and dissent by saying it is for your own good or the good of others.
That has always been the case in troubling times. Prior to technological advances social and political movements survived on gatherings. In colonial times the venue was the church, inn or pub. The persecuted early church used homes.
In the ramp-up to the Revolutionary War, patriots moved their Second Virginia Convention from the capitol of Williamsburg to avoid harassment from pro-British Virginia Governor John Murray Earl of Dunmore. The gathering was relocated March 20, 1775 to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond.
Delegate Patrick Henry, a lawyer and farmer, presented resolutions to establish a militia in every county for a defense of the colony. Henry's opponents urged caution and patience until the British Crown replied to Congress' latest petition for reconciliation.
After Henry’s plea for a militia, on April 20, 1775, one day after the Battles of Lexington and Concord (and well before news of those events reached Virginia), Governor Lord Dunmore ordered the removal of the gunpowder from the armory in Williamsburg to a Royal Navy ship.
This action sparked local push-back, and militias began mustering throughout the colony. Patrick Henry led a small company toward Williamsburg to force return of the gunpowder to the colony's control. The matter was resolved without conflict when a payment of £330 was made to Henry for the powder. Dunmore, fearing for his life, later retreated to a naval vessel, ending royal control of the colony.
Dunmore’s gunpowder move was similar to the current democrat-communist promise to remove guns after taking office. It caused Henry’s militias to quickly form a defense of the colony. Read excerpts from Henry’s convention plea to fight below:
“Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation? There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending, if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
It is time for militias in every county.
(Get Lou’s podcast at “No Hostages Radio” and his articles at nohostagesradio.com)
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