 |
 |
 |
 |
|
"From the day of the Declaration . . .they [the American people] were bound by the laws of God, which they all, and by the laws of the Gospel, which they nearly all, acknowledge as the rules of their conduct." - President John Adams
April 5, 2008
Laptop FREEMail... Cathechism on Constitution Class
America's first civics book back in print
Currently, we offer Laptop Americans 2-3 Daily Action Reports which are sent out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 1 Power Letter, that is sent out Thursday, Friday and Sunday. This leaves SATURDAY wide open for our Educational use. Therefore, in the interest of restoring our Glorious Republic, Laptop America will use Saturday’s Daily Action Report as our educational forum, giving you some information that will become useful and educational to restore our Constitutional Republic. Laptop wants to share some pieces that will help us all learn and understand WHY we have the government that we have. And what is this country’s "foundation and function". Elementary Catechism on the Constitution of the United States by Arthur J. Stansbury, 1828 Want to know the Constitution as taught to the FIRST generation who grew up in this land? According to an earlier 20th Century reprint of the text, the statement in its forward says that by 1839 this book was the standard textbook for learning the Constitution in American classrooms. Originally written as a "catechism" in question and answer format, the new larger edition is complete with notes and excerpts from Madison's Notes on the Constitutional Convention. The Catechism was first used in the early 1800's for school children but should be required reading in every school today. It is an excellent way to re-acquaint yourself with the nature and benefit of strict constitutional government. Those who are discovering their true heritage for the first time have asked for such material to begin their own studies. "Catechism" defined in Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary:
"An ignorant people are easily betrayed, and a wicked people can never be ruled by the mild influence of their own laws." - Arthur J. Stansbury Stansbury's original 1828 text was 100 pages with Introduction and Conclusion, including 332 Questions/Answers on the Constitution with step by step commentary on all of the important features of "a government of law and not of men." Excerpts from Stansbury's Introduction: "...remember that this precious Constitution, thus wise, thus just, is your birth-right. It has been earned for you by your fathers, who counseled much, labored long, and shed their dearest blood, to win it for their children. To them, it was the fruit of toil and danger ---to you, it is a gift. Do not slight it on that account, but prize it as you ought. It is yours, no human power can deprive you of it but your own folly and wickedness. To undervalue, is one of the surest ways to lose it. Take pains to know what the Constitution is ---the more you study, the higher you will esteem it. The better you understand your own rights, the more likely you will be to preserve and guard them. And, in the last place, my beloved young countrymen, your country's hope, her treasure, and one day to be her pride and her defence; remember that a constitution which gives to the people so much freedom, and entrusts them with so much power, rests for its permanency, on their knowledge and virtue... The virtuous citizen is the true noble. He who enlightens his understanding--controls his passions--feels for his country's honor--rejoices in her prosperity--steps forth to aid her in the hour of danger--devotes to her advancement the fruits of his mind, and consecrates to her cause, his time, his property, and his noblest powers, such a man is one of God's nobility... We have seen such men among us; we hope to see many more." Who is this guy Arthur Stansbury: Who is Arthur Stansbury you ask? According to www.famousamericans.com: STANSBURY, Arthur J., author, born in New York city in 1781 ; died about 1845. He was graduated at Columbia in 1799, and licensed to preach in 1810. Besides contributing to periodicals, he published several sermons and addresses, and was the author of "Elementary Catechism on the Constitution of the United States" (Boston, 1828) and a "Report of the Trial of Judge James H. Peck, or an impeachment by the House of Representatives of the United States" (1833). His reports of the debates in congress for twenty years are embodied in Joseph Gales's and William W. Seaton's " Register of Debates" (14 vols., Washington, 1825-'37). He also wrote and illustrated books for children. Remember, in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s a NEW Nation was BORN! Out of the agreement of 13 sovereign Nations (known to us as colonies) who were loosely aligned via a confederacy, men, women and children needed to know exactly what was this new nation, and what were all the educational foundational building blocks. Laptop America plans to spend these Saturday’s going through this book with you our dear Member, so we can all learn together. We will review and read the first 15 questions from this book to get things started this weekend and then continue every Saturday thereafter until we finish. OK, let’s get started…..And remember these were questions to teach the school children about their NEW country and style of government. Here is the third set of 15 questions so lets go thru them together: Q31. What was the change produced by the Revolution? A. The different Colonies became each a free STATE, having power to govern itself in any way it should think proper. Q32. Had not one state any power over the other? A. None at all - and the several states might have remained entirely distinct countries, as much as France and Spain. Q33. Did they? A. No. Having been led to be united together to help each other in the war, they soon began to find that it would be much better for each of them that they should all continue in its farther prosecution, and accordingly they entered into an agreement (which was called a Confederation) in which they made some laws which they all agreed to obey; but after their independence was obtained, finding the defects of this plan, they called a Convention in which they laid a complete plan for uniting all the states under on GENERAL GOVERNMENT - this plan is called THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. On this great plan, or Constitution the safety and happiness of the United States does, under Almighty God, mainly depend: all our laws are made by its direction or authority; whoever goes contrary to it injures and betrays his country, injures you, injures me, betrays us all, and is deserving of the heaviest punishment. Whoever, on the contrary, loves and keeps it sacred, is his country's friend, secures his own safety, and furthers the happiness of all around him. Let every American learn, from his earliest years, to love, cherish and obey the Constitution. Without this he can neither be a great or a good citizen; without this his name will never be engraved with honor in the pages of our history, nor transmitted, like that of Washington, with praises and blessings to a late posterity. Q34. You say that in a republic the laws are made by certain persons whom the people choose for that purpose: who make the laws in our republic? A. The laws which concern only one of the states are made by persons chosen by the people of that state, and who, when met, are called the Legislature, the General Assembly, or the General Court of that particular state. Those, for instance, who make laws which concern only the state of New York, are called the Legislature of the state of New York; those who make laws which concern only the state of Massachusetts, are called the General Court of Massachusetts. But laws which concern all the states or more states than one are made by the Congress of the United States. Q35. But if even the Congress itself should make law which is contrary to the Constitution, must the people obey it? A. No. Q36. Who is to determine whether any law is contrary to the Constitution or no, the people themselves? A. No: but certain persons whom they have appointed [called Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States.] Q37. Do the members of the Congress of the United States all meet together in one assembly, when they make the laws? A. No: they meet in two separate assemblies, one of which is called the Senate, and the other is called the House of Representatives.
A. The people of all the different states: because the laws of Congress concern all the states, and must be obeyed by all the people of this Republic. Q39. Have boys a right to choose them? A. No: boys are too young. Q40. Are any other persons unfit? A. Yes. Q41. How is it determined who may, and who may not choose them? A. By the laws of each state. Whoever is allowed to choose the members of the Legislature of any state is also allowed by the Constitution to choose members of the House of Representatives of the United States. Some states allow one class of persons to choose and other states allow a different class each state acts as it thinks best. This choice is called an Election. Q42. How is it conducted? A. On a day fixed before hand, and publicly known, the people who are to choose, and who are called voters, meet at certain places called the Polls: here persons sit called Inspectors, who have certain boxes called ballot boxes before them, and each person who votes puts into the hole in the top of these boxes a piece of paper with the names of the persons whom he chooses written or printed on it. These pieces of paper are afterwards examined and counted by the Inspectors, who keep a written account of the names voted for, and the number of votes given by the people for each. The persons having the greatest number of votes are chosen. There are some slight differences in the mode of holding elections in the different states, but it is the same in every important particular. Q43. Are the times, places, and manner of holding these elections fixed by Congress? A. No. They have, thus far, been left to be regulated by each state for itself, but Congress may fix them if it thinks fit. Q44. Suppose a dispute should arise concerning an election, and one person shall declare that he has been fairly chosen, while another denies it, and insists that he himself has been chosen; who has the power to settle the dispute? A. A dispute between persons who claim a seat in the House of Representatives can be determined only by the House of Representatives; a dispute between persons claiming a seat in the Senate can be settled by the Senate only. Such disputes frequently arise. Q45. When a person is chosen to be a Member of the House of Representatives, how long does he continue so? A. For two years. Many Laptoper's have wrote expressing their thanks for this service and wondering about keeping these lessons. While we at Laptop America are flattered, we would recommend that you purchase the actual book as it contains copies of the entire course and copies of numerous founding documents that should entertain you and your family for many years to come. Thus concludes our second Educational lesson from the fine work by Arthur Stansbury’s book: Elementary Catechism on the Constitution of the United States published in 1828. With your permission, we shall continue this reading and learning throughout this year on Saturday’s. Take Action Now ... Print this study off and discuss these questions with your family and friends! Get a Constitutional education and teach your friends and family. Click here to order the Cathechism on the Constitution! 
Read More... Education Secretary Margaret Spellings announced the change at a news conference at which a report was released showing that 17 of the nation's 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent. Read More... After three years of clandestine development, a Georgia company is now going public with a simple, natural way to convert anything that grows out of the Earth into oil. As always, if you enjoy the material you are receiving from Laptop, please forward this to your friends and family. Sincerely, Bryan Malatesta bryanm@laptopamerica.net Executive Director Laptop America
To Unsubscribe click here  ©2007 Laptop Activist, LLC | 152 W. Main St. Westminster, MD 21157
|
