Soul of Democracy
The term "democracy" is much debased of late, and this is a space to celebrate the cause. I love liberty, I love the democratic idea. You are welcome to peruse this list, and hopefully learn a thing or three. These are pieces that have come to my attention, either by pursuit, supervention or kismet. Parts of this will see frequent rewriting and better linkage, so check back often.
Beginnings:
Junius Brutus, 1579, A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants.
Pre-Revolution:
Assortment of Early North American Charters: Many to read through, and not cherry-picked as some other lists are. In particular, compare and contrast these three: 1619/1620, Petition for a Charter of New England by the Northern Company of Adventurers; 1620, the Mayflower Compact; and 1621, Charter of the Dutch West India Company. The important thing to notice is that America was not a "Christian Nation" any more than Europe was at that time. We're talking a simple extension of Western Civilization here; Christianity is a mere detail of this extension ... not the extension itself. America was, by majority, a grab for resources. Power and wealth was sought, not salvation.
Roger Williams, 1644, "The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution, for the Cause of Conscience." Background. Sequel.
The Story of Bacon's Rebellion, 1675. Bacon's Epitaph.
Samuel Sewall, 1700, "The Selling of Joseph." One of the earliest published pieces against slavery, Sewall was also involved in the Salem Witch Trials.
Reverend John Wise, 1717, "A Vindication of the Government of New England Churches." There is more, but this is as much as I can get you at present.
Reverend Jonathan Mayhew, 1750, "A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers." Again, if I can find a more complete version, I'll exchange this.
John Woolman, 1720-1772, The Journal of John Woolman.
The Iroquois Confederacy influences on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. More. Even more.
James Otis, 1761, "Against Writs of Assistance." 1763, "The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved." Full text of a biography, "The Pre-Revolutionist." I'm looking for full-text on "Rights of British Colonies", above, and "Vindication of the House of Representatives". Stay tuned.
More to come.
