[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 94 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. J. RES. 94
Whereas there is no greater expression of freedom and liberty than the
defense of the God-given right of an individual to hold, possess, and
use private property.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 23, 2008
Mr. Broun of Georgia introduced the following joint resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
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JOINT RESOLUTION
Whereas there is no greater expression of freedom and liberty than the
defense of the God-given right of an individual to hold, possess, and
use private property.
Whereas John Locke, the great political philosopher lauded by so many of the
Founders of this Nation, stated that ``the preservation of property [is
the reason] for which men enter into society'' and that ``no
[government] hath a right to take their [property], or any part of it,
without their own consent, for this would be in effect to leave them no
property at all.'';
Whereas William Blackstone, whose lectures shaped and helped found the
Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and primal laws of America,
wrote: ``So great moreover is the regard of the law for private
property, that it will not authorize the least violation of it; no, not
even for the general good of the whole community.'';
Whereas Samuel Adams, the political writer, statesman, and signer of the
Declaration of Independence, declared that our rights included ``First,
a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together
with the right to support and defend them'';
Whereas John Adams, diplomat, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and
President of the United States, firmly proclaimed that ``The moment the
idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the
laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to
protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.'' and that ``Property is
surely a right of mankind as really as liberty.'';
Whereas John Adams also affirmed that ``Property must be secured or liberty
cannot exist.'';
Whereas James Madison, author of the Constitution, and President of the United
States, announced that ``Government is instituted to protect property. .
. . This being the end of government, that alone is a just government,
which impartially secures to every man, whatever is his own.'';
Whereas John Dickinson, signer of the Constitution, stated: ``Let these truths
be indelibly impressed on our minds: (1) that we cannot be happy without
being free; (2) that we cannot be free, without being secure in our
property; (3) that we cannot be secure in our property, if, without our
consent, others may, as by right, take it away'';
Whereas Thomas Jefferson, the mind behind the Declaration of Independence,
wrote: ``The true foundation of republican government is the equal right
of every citizen in his person and property and in their management.''
and ``The first foundations of the social compact would be broken up
were we definitely to refuse to its members the protection of their
persons and property while in their lawful pursuits.'';
Whereas Thomas Jefferson also affirmed that when ``Charged with the care of the
general interest of the nation, and among these with the preservation of
their lands from intrusion, I exercised, on their behalf, a right given
by nature to all men, individual or associated, that of rescuing their
own property wrongfully taken.'';
Whereas Noah Webster, the ``Father of American Scholarship and Education'',
stated: ``It is admitted that all men have an equal right to the
enjoyment of their life, property and personal security; and it is the
duty as it is the object, of government to protect every man in this
enjoyment.'';
Whereas John Jay opined, ``that no power on earth has a right to take our
property from us without our consent''; and
Whereas Fisher Ames, Framer of the Bill of Rights and Massachusetts
Representative to the first four Congresses, said, ``The chief duty and
care of all governments is to protect the rights of property'': Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That--
(1) these ideals did advocate and defend the
penning of article 1, section 8 of the United States
Constitution, which states that it is Congress's
responsibility ``to promote the Progress of Science and
useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors
and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective
Writings and Discoveries'', and the writing of the 5th
amendment to our Constitution, which clearly states
that ``No person shall be . . . deprived of life,
liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor
shall private property be taken for public use, without
just compensation.'';
(2) since every Member of this body has sworn or
affirmed to both support and defend the entire
Constitution and ``to bear true faith and allegiance to
the same'', any act not in accordance to that oath is
both a betrayal of the United States Constitution and a
violation of Federal law; and
(3) in the constant pursuit of a ``more perfect
union'', all citizens of the United States should
remain secure in the possession of private property and
no court, legislature, or executive shall, by predatory
law or tyrannical force, obtain the property of any
citizen of the United States for the benefit of another
private citizen or corporation.
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