By Anna Von Reitz
The following is a repost of a thread in a email forum involving Ron Vrooman, Dr. Cordero, and others; we don't have explicit permission to repost, but it was the express wish of the author that everyone on the thread familiarize themselves with the historical documents and in particular the meaning of the words in those documents circa the time of their creation. We are including all of you in the thread -- for your own good and the good of posterity.
One of the things that impairs our understanding of our government is the evolution of the words themselves. Over time, the original meaning can be obscured so that we no longer properly interpret the intent of the original authors. We can overcome this by paying attention to the definitions that were in use at the time. For example, Webster's 1824 informs us that the word "federal" was at that time a synonym for "contract".
Federal Government equals Contract Government. Who knew?
Other words are equally important to understand within the context of the original documents. This reposting allows you all to examine the documents as they were published at the time, and to examine the meaning of the words at the time. It's well-organized and a rare treat for everyone to have such an examination made so accessible.
Before plunging in, however, note that the main references concern the British Territorial contract known as The Constitution for the United States of America, though many of the words will be the same for the Roman Municipal version known as The Constitution of the United States.
Many thanks to the online Dictionary resources that make it possible for us to do this work and for the etymologists worldwide who illuminate the origins and meanings of words and their development over time.
1776 - Declaration of Independence
In Congress, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to (1) dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to (2) assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should (3) declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. . . .
[Please note that in the very beginning and for several years thereafter many names were used for the former United Colonies, including "the United States" and "the United States of America" and "the united States of America", which were used as "doing business as" names of the original Union States joined together in mutual pursuits. Over time, the words "United States" and "United States of America" and "States of America" would come to have different meanings and be associated with multiple entities. It is interesting to note that "States of America" was the first "doing business as" name that the States used; later, in 1781, they applied it to their Confederation of States. In 1861 when the Confederation failed and The Constitution for the united States of America went dormant, this original Confederation had been doing business as the States of America for eighty years, and both the Federation of States and the Union States had been in operation for 85 years.]
Samuel Johnson's 1773 Dictionary
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
1787 – Constitution of the United States
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Article. I.
Section. 1.
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Section. 8.
. . . To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;—And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Samuel Johnson's 1773 Dictionary
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
What follows may be accessed at https://theultimateweapons.blogspot.com/2020/10/for-purpose-of-education-and-governance.html#_edn1
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia, upon publication, had a comma after the "WE".
The Pennsylvania Packer - https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/publishing-the-constitution.htm
The Virginia - edu.lva.virginia.gov – The link shows "Not Found".
That which is shown in the NATIONAL ARCHIVES CATALOG has a specific "pica" and no comma after "We". From https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution
