Principal 1-The Only Reliable Basis for Sound Government and Just Human Relations is Natural Law.Examples of Natural Law:
It may be surprising, even to Americans, to discover how much of their Constitution and their life-style is based on principles of Natural Law.
The Creators order of things is called Natural Law – a fundamental presupposition of natural law is that man’s reasoning power is a special dispensation of the creator and is closely akin to the rational or reasoning power of the Creator Himself – in other words man shares with his creator this quality of utilizing a rational approach to solving problems and the reasoning of the mind will generally lead to common sense conclusions based on what Jefferson called the laws of nature and natures god.
Natural law is eternal and universal - Cicero defined it as true law. “True law is right reason in agreement with nature ; it is of universal application, unchanging and everlasting; it summons to duty by its commands, and averts from wrongdoing by its prohibitions. And it does not lay its commands or prohibitions upon good men in vain, though neither have any effect on the wicked. It is a sin to try to alter this law, nor is it allowable to attempt to repeal any part of it, and it is impossible to abolish it entirely… And there will not be different laws now and in the future, but one eternal and unchangeable law will be valid for all nations and all times, and there will be one master and ruler, that is, God, over us all, for he is the author of this law, its promulgator, and its enforcing judge. Whoever is disobedient is fleeing from himself and denying his human nature, and by reason of this very fact he will suffer the worst penalties, even if he escapes what is commonly considered punishment.” Cicero (106-43 BCE)
Natural Law is:
- Eternal in its basic goodness
- universal in its application
- a code of right reason from the Creator Himself
- it can not be altered
- it can not be repealed
- it can not be abandonded by legislators or the people themselves
- deals with factors of absolute reality
- it is basic in its principals
- comprehensive to the human mind
- totally correct and morally right in its general operation
Natural Law, when perfectly understood is called wisdom; when applied by Government in regulating human relations is called justice – when people unite together in a covenant or compact under this law they become a true commonwealth
Unalienable Rights:
The following are some of Unalienable Rights the Founders knew existed but did not enumerate in the Declaration of Independence:
The right of self-government.
The right to bear arms for self-defense.
The right to own, develop and dispose of property.
The right to make personal choices.
The right of free conscience.
The right to choose a profession.
The right to choose a mate.
The right to beget one’s kind.
The right to assemble.
The right to petition.
The right to free speech.
The right to a free press.
The right to enjoy the fruits of one’s labors.
The right to improve one’s position through barter and sale.
The right to contrive and invent.
The right to explore the natural resources of the earth.
The right to privacy.
The right to provide personal security.
The right to provide nature’s necessities – air, food, water, clothing and shelter.
The right to a fair trial.
The right of free association.
The right to contract.
Unalienable Duties:
Here are some of the more important responsibilities imposed on every human being of normal mental capacity:
The duty to honor the supremacy of the Creator and his laws.
The duty not to take the life of another except in self-defense.
The duty not to steal or destroy the property of another.
The duty to be honest in all transactions with others.
The duty of children to honor and obey their parents and elders.
The duty of parents and elders to protect, teach, feed, clothe, and provide shelter for children.
The duty to support law and order and keep the peace.
The duty not to contrive through a covetous heart to despoil another.
The duty to provide insofar as possible for the needs of the helpless – the sick, the crippled, the injured, the poverty-stricken.
The duty to honorably perform contracts and covenants both with God and man.
The duty to be temperate.
The duty to become economically self-sufficient.
The duty not to tresspass on the property or privacy of another.
The duty to maintain the integrity of the family structure.
The duty to perpetuate the race.
The duty not to promote or participate in the vices which destroy personal and community live.
The duty to perform civic responsibilities – vote, assist public officials, serve in official capacities when called upon, stay informed on public issues, volunteer when needed.
The duty not to aid and abet those involved in criminal or anti-social activities.
The duty to support personal and public standards of common decency.
The duty to follow rules of moral rectitude.
The following are also based on Natural Law:
The concept of HABEAS CORPUS.
The concept of LIMITED GOVERNMENT.
The concept of SEPARATION OF POWERS.
The concept of CHECKS AND BALANCES to correct abuses by peaceful means.
The right of SELF-PRESERVATION.
The right to CONTRACT.
Laws protecting the FAMILY and the INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE.
The right to BEAR ARMS.
The concept of JUSTICE BY REPARATION or paying for damages.
The principle of NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.