The Unanimous Declaration

of the Thirteen United States of America

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to 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 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 to 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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

        

By Zebulon Pike | July 3, 2009



Bobby Jindal and Mitt Romney are the only two 2009 Republican Presidential Candidates left standing!?!?

OR is this step numero uno for a 2012 campaign???


Stay tuned....




CNN.com: WASHINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) - "Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will resign this month and will not run for re-election as governor, CNN reported on Friday."

        

Matt Rooney | July 3, 2009



Learn about New Jersey's five signers of the Declaration of Independence, courtesy of the Independence Hall Association based in Philadelphia:

• Abraham Clark	• John Hart
• Francis Hopkinson	• Richard Stockton
• John Witherspoon

        

Changing their license plates to New Jersey?


Larry Wallace | July 3, 2009
gloucovoices@gmail.com


Guess there's not much going on with the 3th district Legislative Candidates?  That would be Lee Lucas of Gibbstown and Dr.  Robert Villare of West Deptford (or is it Delaware?).  They've been so quiet you probably didn't know who was running on the Republican ticket in the fall. 

With all of the ugly news coming out of Trenton (higher taxes, corruption, business fleeing, etc, etc, etc) one would think the LD3 candidates would be salivating at all the juicy issues they could be slamming the Dem candidates with.  The other LD district candidates have been speaking out, issuing press releases and appear to be actually talking about this dismal state our elected officials have handed taxpayers in the county and state.  Could it be that Dr. Villare is busy trying to figure out if he can actually be seated, if elected?  Or that Lee Lucas can't seem to figure out how to bash more poor or "hopeless" folks?

If this is an early indication of their respective campaigns, Democrats John Burzichelli and Celeste Riley won't have to do anything except mail out a few flyers in October to ensure an easy re-election in November.

Memo to Lucas and Villare:  if you can't make a campaign out of the dismal state we're all in, please do everyone a favor and drop out.  Give someone else a fighting chance and the rest of us hope for victory with Chris Christy.  It's probably the best chance Republicans have had in years!

Wake up folks!  Time to start a Revolution in Jersey!

        

It's even better to be a Republican turned Democrat!

Larry Wallace | July 3, 2009


Today, the Gloucester County Times reported that Logan Township Mayor Frank Minor was given a job at the Delaware River and Port Authority (DRPA).  Minor orginally started his political career as a Republican but switched parties in 2007.  Minor will go from a taxpayer paid salary of $40,364 to a whopping $160,000 annual salary plus those "only in Jersey" benefits.  At least the DRPA is denying him the use of a company car.  Now that's progress!

Jim Hogan, DRPA Commission Chairman and current Gloucester County Clerk (who gave him the job) also started his career as a Republican.  The Sweeny-Norcross machine rewards flip-floppers very handsomely to join their team!

In addition, it was reported that, despite editorials and the public speaking out against another unethical appointment, Steve Sweeney's baby bro, Richard was confirmed by the State Senate as DRPA commissioner.  It's upaid, but if anyone thinks it's not a great stepping stone to future lucrative taxpayer paid positions, I have a few bridges to sell ya.  Like I said, it's good to be a flip-flopper in Gloucester County and it certainly doesn't hurt to be Sweeney's baby bro.  Remember, if you want to be in politics or goverment, it's not WHAT you know...it's WHO you know that matters. 

Wake up folks!  It's time to start a Save Jersey Revolution!  What a great weekend to kick it off!

        

By Zebulon Pike | July 3, 2009




Is Save Jersey is a news outlet or a soapbox?

It's a very important question these days. The answer may determine whether blogs like ours are protected by state courts from defamation suits:

"A judge in Freehold ruled today that a Washington State blogger whoposted comments about the pornography industry is not covered by shieldlaws that protect newspaper reporters and can be sued for defamation.

Acknowledging that he was wading into largely uncharted legalwaters, Superior Court Judge Louis Locascio said Shellee Hale's messageboard postings last year about a Freehold-based computer softwarecompany were nothing more than the rants of "private person withunexplained motives for her postings" and cannot be given the sameprotections as information compiled though the process of newsgathering.

"The rate at which the internet has grown andevolved into a universal source of news and information has left thelegal community in its dust," Locascio wrote in his 19-page opinion."The time has come for the law to begin establishing its place in thisvast abyss."

I appreciate the distinction between news gathering and pure opinion, and I'm not familiar with the facts of this case. However, it's pretty hard to ignore how this legal distinction could be used to selectively protect some media outlets while throwing other journalists to the wolves. Will reporters working on ABC's "The Note" receive protections not afforded to Michelle Malkin? Curious stuff...

        

Matt Rooney | July 2, 2009

        

Baba O'Riley | July 2, 2009



In my last post about analyzing Chris Christie's LG possibilities, I had investigated Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno as a pick, and then came to the conclusion that she was an "unlikely choice".

This was based off strictly my assumption that two law enforcement type candidates on one ticket would be a non-starter. While impressing many, Sheriff Guadagno is still in her first term and has no elected office experience before her term as Sheriff, although she was a Monmouth Beach Commissioner.

It appears however, that the magic 8 ball of Baba may be a bit dusty. Because of recent speculation courtesy of PolitickerNJ, More Monmouth Musings, and some well placed insider sources - let's move Sheriff Guadagno to the "likely choices" column.

Attribute the rising stock of Guadagno to her personality and her ability to win and fundraise in the toughest of races. In 2007 she was heavely contested by a popular Belmar former police cheif named Jack Hill, who was widely expected to win the race for Sheriff. She suprised pundits, polls, and others with a hard fought win that showcased her gritty campaign skills. Art from More Monmouth Musings describes her as "tough without being derisive" and notes she has a "genuinely friendly and humble good nature" with "keen intellect."

Christie has already suprised a few with the naming of Conservative Assemblyman Jay Webber as the new State GOP Chair. While the typical names mentioned for LG have consisted of Diane Allen or Kathleen Donovan, it would not be a complete shock to see Christie "shake it up" and go with a dark horse pick like Guadagno. Because of her implication of the 287 (g) program, she appeals well to the more conservative base of the NJ GOP and those who supported Lonegan in the primary. They believe she is a  strong conservative, although I'm still not sure how anyone can actually determine her ideology on issues outside of law enforcement.

A Guadagno pick could turn the ticket into the ultimate "Trenton Outsider" statement and Chris could easily run a campaign against the nature of Trenton, as Corzine is very likely to go with a state legislator for LG (COUGH Weinberg COUGH).

It would also deliver a huge plurality out of the shore area and Monmouth County for Christie, something that could help him given that it's likely the race will be close in North Jersey, specifically Bergen County.

The movement of Sheriff Guadagno to the likely choices leaves the LG standings as so:
Likely Choices: Beck, Bramnick, Guadagno, Donovan, Allen, LoBiondo, Kyrillos
Unlikely Choices: Ferguson, Schundler, Leiter, Baroni, Soaries, Handlin (Baba's Wildcard pick), and Cunningham (Baba's Wildcard pick #2) 
Still unsure: Leonard Coleman

With the conservative fallout over his vote for the cap and trade bill, look for Congressman LoBiondo to wind up in the unlikely choices area. It's likely that hardcore conservatives will groan about Chris's pick anyway (especially if its Allen or Donovan), but the anger level directed towards LoBiondo right now by the right wing is at very high levels and Christie may want to avoid that.

For more check out parts one and two of my analysis.

        

Matt Rooney | July 2, 2009


A 16-year old high school girl, armed with her parents' VISA credit card, possesses more fiscal restraint than the congressional Democratic caucus wielding your money:


"The spending on overseas travel is up almost tenfold since 1995, and has nearly tripled since 2001, according to the Journal analysis of 60,000 travel records. Hundreds of lawmakers traveled overseas in 2008 at a cost of about $13 million. That's a 50% jump since Democrats took control of Congress two years ago. The cost of so-called congressional delegations, known among lawmakers as "codels," has risen nearly 70% since 2005, when an influence-peddling scandal led to a ban on travel funded by lobbyists, according to the data"


Okay. So the money is at least being spent on legitimate diplomatic or fact-finding missions... right?

WRONG:


"In mid-June, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D., Hawaii) led a group of a half-dozen senators and their spouses on a four-day trip to France for the biennial Paris Air Show. An itinerary for the event shows that lawmakers flew on the Air Force's version of the Boeing 737, which costs $5,700 an hour to operate. They stayed at the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand Hotel, which advertises rooms from $460 a night. The lawmakers were invited to a dinner party at the U.S. Embassy and had cocktails at a private party at the Eiffel Tower. Mr. Inouye attended a dinner sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association, a U.S. trade group. Another senator on the trip, Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, took a cruise on the River Seine with defense-industry executives and elected officials from Alabama, Mississippi and Florida."

        

Matt Rooney | July 2, 2009


Burlington County Freeholder candidates Bruce Garganio (R) and Mary Ann O’Brien (R) have grand plans to get their South Jersey county moving again despite Jon Corzine's crippling new taxes and habitual mismanagement. The pair released their extensive plan to restructure county government earlier today. At the center of the proposal is an insistence on new negotiations with the CWA.

Wow. New Jersey politicians who take their fiduciary duty to the taxpayers seriously. What a concept! Corzine should take notes...




THE PLAN

1.   Conduct an Independent Operational Audit of County Government.

        

Matt Rooney | July 2, 2009


I'm sick and tired of listening to Jon Corzine lie to taxpayers. He insists that New Jersey is somehow "better prepared to confront the recession" because of his administration. Oh really?

The Star-Ledger is running a story today that completely obliterates Corzine's major rationale for reelection:

"The average small-business employee's annual paycheck in New Jersey shrank 4.3 percent in the first half of the year, according to a study released yesterday.The rate of decline, while in line with the national trend, substantially outpaced other states, including New York (-2 percent), Pennsylvania (-2.4 percent) and California (-1.3 percent), according to the SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard. The average Garden State salary is now $35,081, compared with the national average of $30,243."

Repetition can't change reality, Mr. Governor. No matter how much money you spend to convince voters that this state is performing better economically than other states, our resident business owners won't be fooled into complacency this November. They live with your failures every day and so do their employees. 

How many more Garden State lives have to be destroyed before this governor realizes the error of his ways?

        

Matt Rooney | July 2, 2009



America is an "experiment" among nations. Experiments are anything but inevitable by definition so, as such, the American right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is no exception to a typically fatal rule. The American Experiment even came very close to failure during the days of the Articles of Confederation, in the midst of the Civil War and throughout the trials of the Great Depression. In order to create "a more perfect union," the American people have had to aggressively defend their democratic franchise from hostile forces both foreign and domestic. Nothing good comes easy, Save Jerseyans!

Once again, the United States is threatened; freedom is at stake from within. This Fourth of July, we need to remind ourselves and others that the founding generation risked everything to secure this grand American experiment. Will we be ready to lay down everything if called upon to preserve the Union? Understanding the supreme sacrifices of the men of '76 is the only way to preserve mankind's last, best hope for another 233 years....

There's no better way to appreciate the founders than to recall a famous speech delivered by Rush Limbaugh's father at a Missouri Republican dinner. Help your country - forward this incredible address to friends and family. And most of all, please be grateful for our freedom and have a safe Independence Day!

Our Lives, Our Fortunes, Our Sacred Honor

Rush H. Limbaugh, Jr.

It was a glorious morning. The sun was shining and thewind was from the southeast. Up especially early, a tallbony, redheaded young Virginian found time to buy anew thermometer, for which he paid three pounds,fifteen shillings. He also bought gloves for Martha, hiswife, who was ill at home.

Thomas Jefferson arrived early at the statehouse. Thetemperature was 72.5 degrees and the horsefliesweren't nearly so bad at that hour. It was a lovelyroom, very large, with gleaming white walls. The chairswere comfortable. Facing the single door were two brassfireplaces, but they would not be used today.

The moment the door was shut, and it was always keptlocked, the room became an oven. The tall windowswere shut, so that loud quarreling voices could not beheard by passersby. Small openings atop the windowsallowed a slight stir of air, and also a large number ofhorseflies. Jefferson records that "the horseflies weredexterous in finding necks, and the silk of stocking wasnothing to them." All discussion was punctuated by theslap of hands on necks.

On the wall at the back, facing the President's desk,was a panoply-consisting of a drum, swords, andbanners seized from Fort Ticonderoga the previous year.Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold had captured the place,shouting that they were taking it "in the name of theGreat Jehovah and the Continental Congress!"

Now Congress got to work, promptly taking up anemergency measure about which there was discussionbut no dissention. "Resolved: That an application bemade to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania for asupply of flints for the troops at New York."

Then Congress transformed itself into a committee ofthe whole. The Declaration of Independence was readaloud once more, and debate resumed. Though Jeffersonwas the best writer of all of them, he had beensomewhat verbose. Congress hacked the excess away.They did a good job, as a side-by-side comparison ofthe rough draft and the final text shows. They cut thephrase "by a self-assumed power." "Climb" was replacedby "must read," then "must" was eliminated, then thewhole sentence, and soon the whole paragraph was cut.Jefferson groaned as they continued what he latercalled "their depredations." "Inherent and inalienablerights" came out "certain unalienable rights," and to thisday no one knows who suggested the elegant change.

A total of 86 alterations were made. Almost 500 wordswere eliminated, leaving 1,337. At last, after three daysof wrangling, the document was put to a vote.

Here in this hall Patrick Henry had once thundered: " Iam no longer a Virginian, Sir, but an American." Buttoday the loud, sometimes bitter argument stilled, andwithout fanfare the vote was taken from north to southby colonies, as was the custom. On July 4, 1776, theDeclaration of Independence was adopted.

There were no trumpets blown. No one stood on hischair and cheered. The afternoon was waning andCongress had no thought of delaying the full calendar ofroutine business on its hands. For several hours theyworked on many other problems before adjourning forthe day.

Much To Lose

What kind of men were the 56 signers who adopted theDeclaration of Independence and who, by their signing,committed an act of treason against the crown? Toeach of you the names Franklin, Adams, Hancock, andJefferson are almost as familiar as household words.Most of us, however, know nothing of the other signers.Who were they? What happened to them?

I imagine that many of you are somewhat surprised atthe names not there: George Washington, AlexanderHamilton, Patrick Henry. All were elsewhere.

Ben Franklin was the only really old man. Eighteen wereunder 40; three were in their 20s. Of the 56 almost half-24- were judges and lawyers. Eleven were merchants,9 were landowners and farmers, and the remaining 12were doctors, ministers, and politicians.

With only a few exceptions, such as Samuel Adams ofMassachusetts, these were men of substantial property.All but two had families. The vast majority were men ofeducation and standing in their communities. They hadeconomic security as few men had in the 18th century.

Each had more to lose from revolution than he had togain by it. John Hancock, one of the richest men inAmerica, already had a price of 500 pounds on his head.He signed in enormous letters so "that his Majesty couldnow read his name without glasses and could nowdouble the reward." Ben Franklin wryly noted: "Indeedwe must all hang together, otherwise we shall mostassuredly hang separately." Fat Benjamin Harrison ofVirginia told tiny Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts: "Withme it will all be over in a minute, but you , you will bedancing on air an hour after I am gone.

These men knew what they risked. The penalty fortreason was death by hanging. And remember: a greatBritish fleet was already at anchor in New York Harbor.

They were sober men. There were no dreamy-eyedintellectuals or draft card burners here. They were farfrom hot-eyed fanatics, yammering for an explosion.They simply asked for the status quo. It was changethey resisted. It was equality with the mother countrythey desired. It was taxation with representation theysought. They were all conservatives, yet they rebelled.

It was principle, not property, that had brought thesemen to Philadelphia. Two of them became presidents ofthe United States. Seven of them became stategovernors. One died in office as vice president of theUnited States. Several would go on to be U.S. Senators.One, the richest man in America, in 1828 founded theBaltimore and Ohio Railroad. One, a delegate fromPhiladelphia, was the only real poet, musician andphilosopher of the signers (it was he, Francis Hopkinson- not Betsy Ross who designed the United States flag).

Richard Henry Lee, A delegate from Virginia, hadintroduced the resolution to adopt the Declaration ofIndependence in June of 1776. He was prophetic in hisconcluding remarks:

"Why then sir, why do we longer delay? Why stilldeliberate? Let this happy day give birth to an AmericanRepublic. Let her arise not to devastate and to conquerbut to reestablish the reign of peace and law. The eyesof Europe are fixed upon us. She demands of us a livingexample of freedom that may exhibit a contrast in thefelicity of the citizen to the ever increasing tyrannywhich desolates her polluted shores. She invites us toprepare an asylum where the unhappy may find solace,and the persecuted repost. If we are not this daywanting in our duty, the names of the AmericanLegislatures of 1776 will be placed by posterity at theside of all of those whose memory has been and everwill be dear to virtuous men and good citizens."

Though the resolution was formally adopted July 4, itwas not until July 8 that two of the states authorizedtheir delegates to sign, and it was not until August 2that the signers met at Philadelphia to actually put theirnames to the Declaration.

William Ellery, delegate from Rhode Island, was curiousto see the signers' faces as they committed thissupreme act of personal courage. He saw some men signquickly, "but in no face was he able to discern real fear."Stephan Hopkins, Ellery's colleague from Rhode Island,was a man past 60. As he signed with a shaking pen, hedeclared: "My hand trembles, but my heart does not."

"Most glorious service"

Even before the list was published, the British markeddown every member of Congress suspected of havingput his name to treason. All of them became the objectsof vicious manhunts. Some were taken. Some, likeJefferson, had narrow escapes. All who had property orfamilies near British strongholds suffered.

- Francis Lewis, New York delegate saw his homeplundered and his estates in what is now Harlem,completely destroyed by British soldiers. Mrs. Lewis wascaptured and treated with great brutality. Though shewas later exchanged for two British prisoners through theefforts of Congress, she died from the effects of herabuse.

- William Floyd, another New York delegate, was able toescape with his wife and children across Long IslandSound to Connecticut, where they lived as refugeeswithout income for seven years. When they came homethey found a devastated ruin.

- Philips Livingstone had all his great holdings in NewYork confiscated and his family driven out of their home.Livingstone died in 1778 still working in Congress for thecause.

- Louis Morris, the fourth New York delegate, saw all histimber, crops, and livestock taken. For seven years hewas barred from his home and family.

- John Hart of Trenton, New Jersey, risked his life toreturn home to see his dying wife. Hessian soldiers rodeafter him, and he escaped in the woods. While his wifelay on her deathbed, the soldiers ruined his farm andwrecked his homestead. Hart, 65, slept in caves andwoods as he was hunted across the countryside. Whenat long last, emaciated by hardship, he was able tosneak home, he found his wife had already been buried,and his 13 children taken away. He never saw themagain. He died a broken man in 1779, without everfinding his family.

- Dr. John Witherspoon, signer, was president of theCollege of New Jersey, later called Princeton. The Britishoccupied the town of Princeton, and billeted troops inthe college. They trampled and burned the finest collegelibrary in the country.

- Judge Richard Stockton, another New Jersey delegatesigner, had rushed back to his estate in an effort toevacuate his wife and children. The family found refugewith friends, but a Tory sympathizer betrayed them.Judge Stockton was pulled from bed in the night andbrutally beaten by the arresting soldiers. Thrown into acommon jail, he was deliberately starved. Congressfinally arranged for Stockton's parole, but his health wasruined. The judge was released as an invalid, when hecould no longer harm the British cause. He returnedhome to find his estate looted and did not live to seethe triumph of the revolution. His family was forced tolive off charity.

- Robert Morris, merchant prince of Philadelphia,delegate and signer, met Washington's appeals andpleas for money year after year. He made and raisedarms and provisions which made it possible forWashington to cross the Delaware at Trenton. In theprocess he lost 150 ships at sea, bleeding his ownfortune and credit almost dry.

- George Clymer, Pennsylvania signer, escaped with hisfamily from their home, but their property wascompletely destroyed by the British in the Germantownand Brandywine campaigns.

- Dr. Benjamin Rush, also from Pennsylvania, was forcedto flee to Maryland. As a heroic surgeon with the army,Rush had several narrow escapes.

- John Martin, a Tory in his views previous to thedebate, lived in a strongly loyalist area of Pennsylvania.When he came out for independence, most of hisneighbors and even some of his relatives ostracized him.He was a sensitive and troubled man, and many believedthis action killed him. When he died in 1777, his lastwords to his tormentors were: "Tell them that they willlive to see the hour when they shall acknowledge it [thesigning] to have been the most glorious service that Ihave ever rendered to my country."

- William Ellery, Rhode Island delegate, saw his propertyand home burned to the ground.

- Thomas Lynch, Jr., South Carolina delegate, had hishealth broken from privation and exposures while servingas a company commander in the military. His doctorsordered him to seek a cure in the West Indies and onthe voyage he and his young bride were drowned atsea.

- Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and ThomasHeyward, Jr., the other three South Carolina signers,were taken by the British in the siege of Charleston.They were carried as prisoners of war to St. Augustine,Florida, where they were singled out for indignities. Theywere exchanged at the end of the war, the British in themeantime having completely devastated their largelandholdings and estates.

- Thomas Nelson, signer of Virginia, was at the front incommand of the Virginia military forces. With BritishGeneral Charles Cornwallis in Yorktown, fire from 70heavy American guns began to destroy Yorktown pieceby piece. Lord Cornwallis and his staff moved theirheadquarters into Nelson's palatial home. While Americancannonballs were making a shambles of the town, thehouse of Governor Nelson remained untouched. Nelsonturned in rage to the American gunners and asked, "Whydo you spare my home?" They replied, "Sir, out ofrespect to you." Nelson cried, "Give me the cannon!"and fired on his magnificent home himself, smashing it tobits. But Nelson's sacrifice was not quite over. He hadraised $2 million for the Revolutionary cause by pledginghis own estates. When the loans came due, a newerpeacetime Congress refused to honor them, and Nelson'sproperty was forfeited. He was never reimbursed. Hedied, impoverished, a few years later at the age of 50.

Lives, fortunes, honorOf those 56 who signed the Declaration ofIndependence, nine died of wounds or hardships duringthe war. Five were captured and imprisoned, in eachcase with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons orentire families. One lost his 13 children. Two wives werebrutally treated. All were at one time or another thevictims of manhunts and driven from their homes.Twelve signers had their homes completely burned.Seventeen lost everything they owned. Yet not onedefected or went back on his pledged word. Their honor,and the nation they sacrificed so much to create is stillintact.

And, finally, there is the New Jersey Signer, AbrahamClark.

He gave two sons to the officer corps in theRevolutionary Army. They were captured and sent tothat infamous British prison hulk afloat in New YorkHarbor known as the hell ship "Jersey," where 11,000American captives were to die. The younger Clarks weretreated with a special brutality because of their father.One was put in solitary and given no food. With the endalmost in sight with the war almost won, no one couldhave blamed Abraham Clark for acceding to the Britishrequest when they offered him his sons' lives if he wouldrecant and come out for the King and Parliament. Theutter despair in this man's heart, the anguish in his verysoul, must reach out to each and every one of us downthrough 200 years with the answer: "No."

The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independenceproved by their every deed that they made no idle boastwhen they composed the most magnificent curtain linein history. "And for the support of this Declaration with afirm reliance on the protection of divine providence, wemutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes,and our sacred honor."

        

Matt Rooney | July 2, 2009



So many of our country's problems relate directly to the shortcomings of the urban education system. There isn't a magic elixir to solve urban America's woes, but we can turn the tide immediately by introducing competition and accountability to urban school districts. An entire generation is counting on us to rescue their shot at the American Dream. If we act now, school choice reforms could lead to a rebirth of America's cities. There's no time to waste, Save Jerseyans.

Head over to Newark @ noon and express your support for this all-important issue!!!




When:            Thursday, July 2, 2009

                        12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

 
Where:          Essex County Courthouse

                       50 West Market Street

                       Newark, New Jersey 07102

        

Matt Rooney | July 2, 2009



Here's the final two installments of my exclusive interview with conservative New Jersey icon Mayor Bret Schundler.

The Mayor and I discussed Jon Corzine's failures and what the N.J. GOP should do in 2009. I also tried to find out whether Bret was in the mix to serve as Chris Christie's lieutenant governor running mate....

Also take some time listen to Bret talk about Steve Lonegan (Part One), marketing conservative ideas (Part Two) and winning in "blue" New Jersey (Part Three).



PART IV: How Would N.J. Be Different Today Had Bret Won in 2001?

 



PART V: What Should the N.J. GOP Do in 2009? And Will Mayor Schundler Serve As Chris Christie's Lieutenant Governor?

        

Matt Rooney | July 2, 2009


Have you had a chance to check out Chris Daggett's website, Save Jerseyans?

It's one of the strangest things I've ever seen! Neon green, black background, and some kind of weird "i" symbol. Is Chris campaigning for N.J. governor or Batman super villain of the month?

The "Riddler" theme is appropriate. The biggest riddle of 2009 is why this guy is even running ....





Mr. Daggett hasn't picked a running mate yet. In order to aid his selection, here's some options that would be consistent with his message:




Experience/charisma    Appeals to Hispanic Vote  ...Female/Leather Vote    Law enforcement credentials

        

Alex Smith | July 1, 2009

The political world is breathlessly abuzz with the report that President Obama will be coming to the Garden State to campaign for Governor Corzine:

Exhibit A:

"Obama Goes Jersey" - MSNBC (7/1/09)

Exhibit B:

"President Barack Obama is lending some support to embattled Gov. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.), who is facing a tough reelection campaign against Republican Chris Christie this year." - Politico (7/1/09)

Exhibit C:

"Campaigner-In-Chief to team up with Corzine" - CNN (7/1/09)

***

There's an audible cheer coming from the mainstream media, describing the scene as a Superman Obama coming into save the poor, defenseless Corzine.

BUT, lest we forget to read the fine print in these stories:

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine is telling supporters that President Barack Obama will campaign with him.

In an e-mail to supporters Wednesday, Corzine says Obama would appear at a campaign event at Rutgers University in New Brunswick on July 16. (The Philadelphia Inquirer 7/1/09)

***

We were told constantly throughout the campaign of President Obama's love of email and his Blackberry.  He's sent out emails to his supporters on key initiatives, health care, and he promptly sent one to his Virginia supporters upon Creigh Deeds nomination in the gubernatorial primary.

So, despite Governor Corzine's supposed political pick-me-up, let us not forget, Save Jerseyans:

...The Governor couldn't get the Blackberry President to send the email himself.



TO: "Joe Biden"
CC: "Rahm Emanuel"
FROM: "The President"
SUBJECT: FWD: SOS!

Joe--

Can you deal with this loser?

Thanks

----------Original Message-------------

TO: "The President"
CC: "Rahm Emanuel"
FROM: "Jon S. Corzine"
SUBJECT: SOS!

We'll. Take. Anything.

        

Matt Rooney | July 1, 2009


It's questionable, Save Jerseyans. Check this out:

"Project Porchlight New Jersey has announced that its staff and volunteers will deliver one million free ENERGY STAR-qualified compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs to households across New Jersey. Project Porchlight is an award-winning energy-efficiency initiative of One Change, a not-for-profit organization, funded by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP) as part of the Green New Jersey Resource Team. ...

Sheila Foreman, the Campaign Manager, says, "When it comes to protecting our environment, simple actions really do matter. Even something as simple as changing a light bulb can make a huge difference. What’s great about our campaign is that the CFL bulb becomes a catalyst for individuals to make better energy saving decisions. In a huge world with large, complex problems, Project Porchlight is empowering everyday people to know that their simple actions matter."

I repeat: THERE IS NO ENERGY "EFFICIENCY" CRISIS. What we really have is an energy capacity problem throughout the U.S. This capacity issue was created and exacerbated by the same environmental loons currently handing out free light bulbs.

I'm tired of repeating myself for these people. Read my explanation here, delivered in response to Rep. LoBiondo's vote for the cap and trade bill.

        

Matt Rooney | July 1, 2009


Obama is (finally) showing up to defend his most dysfunctional Democratic governor.

Here's my question, Save Jerseyans: will a major union threaten to protest the rally, and will Jon Corzine respond by giving the union however much taxpayer cash its "negotiators" demand?

He did it once. Why wouldn't he do it again?

UPDATE:     Senator Marcia Karrow just issued a statement asking the same question....  "I hope the state employee unions don't threaten to picket during Obama's visit, because who knows what Corzine will give them. New Jersey taxpayers just can't afford any more visits from Washington to bail out Governor Corzine."