Why Your Governor is now Your Former Governor
Why Your Governor is now Your Former Governor
by Michael Peroutka
Saturday, May 30, 2020
The Constitution is not a self-enforcing document.
The words of the Constitution cannot and will not leap off the page and protect you and me from overreaching, tyrannical government. In order to achieve its noble purpose, the constitution requires the people to be its champion.
And that is why I am pleased to be with you today because you are the champions of the Constitution.
Please repeat after me:
There is a Creator God…
Our rights come from Him…
The purpose of civil government…
Is to protect God-given rights…
This is the American philosophy of law and government. It is stated concisely and precisely in the Declaration of Independence
The purpose of government is NOT to…make sure your seat belt is buckled… or that you eat your vegetables… or to redistribute your wealth…OR TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH…
Rather, the purpose of government is to protect your liberty so that you can protect your health.
There is NO right way to do a wrong thing. So, when government officials do something that they do not have authority to do, it never turns out well. It is always a failure. It cannot be anything BUT a failure.
And Governor Hogan’s unauthorized interference in the economy, and in health care, and his misuse of the police powers are no exception.
Fidelity to The Constitution Is one of the two ways we judge whether the actions of civil government are lawful or are “pretended legislation”. We call this the temporal (or earthly) standard.
The other standard used to judge whether enactments of civil government are lawful is God’s Word. The purposes and the methods of government must not violate the moral law. This is the eternal standard.
OUR HERITAGE
In 1776, the American argument for liberty from English tyranny rested squarely on these two standards. The Declaration of Independence contains a list of 27 grievances against the King, including his misuse of police powers against the people.
After presenting the evidence supporting those grievances, they reasoned that George III was unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Their logical and legal conclusion was that King George III, by his persistent and continued violations of their colonial charters, and his arbitrary and capricious actions, had “unkinged” himself.
His repeated violations of the compact - the contract-that had previously bound him to the people, necessarily resulted in the dissolution of that compact.
And so, by this declaration to the world, along with examples of his conduct to back it up, they were justified to declare that they were no longer bound to him and that he was no longer their king.
They then called upon the Supreme Judge of the Universe to bless their efforts as they pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor in support of this cause.
OUR CHALLANGE
So, applying this historical record to our present situation, the parallels are clear.
Governor Hogan has openly and notoriously violated The Constitution of Maryland, and his oath to protect, it in at least the following ways:
Article 1. That all Government of right originates from the People, is founded in compact only, and instituted solely for the good of the whole.
By means of lockdowns, house arrest and closing of churches and businesses, Mr. Hogan has broken contract with the people of Maryland.
Art. 4. That the People of this State have the sole and exclusive right of regulating the internal government and police thereof, as a free, sovereign, and independent State.
Mr. Hogan has commandeered and misused police to enforce his unlawful edicts and orders. They are not his police. The police power derives from “we, the people”.
Art. 8. That the Legislative, Executive and Judicial powers of Government ought to be forever separate and distinct from each other; and no person exercising the functions of one of said Departments shall assume or discharge the duties of any other.
Mr. Hogan has violated the separation of powers by pretending to make law by means of edicts, orders and proclamations.
Art. 24. That no man ought to be taken or imprisoned or disseized of his freehold, liberties or privileges, or outlawed, or exiled, or, in any manner, destroyed, or deprived of his life, liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or by the Law of the land
By pronouncing that some businesses are “non-essential” Mr. Hogan has deprived citizens of their property and their liberty without due process of law.
Art. 36. That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore, no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate, on account of his religious persuasion, or profession, or for his religious practice
Mr. Hogan has unlawfully closed churches and has misused the police power to molest citizens desiring to exercise their religious liberty.
Art. 44. That the provisions of the Constitution of the United States, and of this State, apply, as well in time of war, as in time of peace; and any departure therefrom, or violation thereof, under the plea of necessity, or any other plea, is subversive of good Government, and tends to anarchy and despotism.
Mr. Hogan has falsely exercised authority under the plea of necessity. He has done precisely what the law forbids.
OUR CONCLUSION
Therefore, by breaking the contract with the people from whom all governmental authority originates, Mr. Hogan has rendered Himself unfit to be the representative of the people of Maryland.
Just like George III “unkinged” himself, Mr. Hogan has “unGovernored” himself.
By misusing the police power which originates in the people, and by suspending the constitution which binds him to us and us to him, he has suspended his own office.
Let us be clear what we are saying here…
We are not here to remove Larry Hogan from the office of Governor.
We are here to collectively recognize, to mutually comprehend and to definitively declare that Larry Hogan has removed himself from the office of Governor.
These are his actions. These are his consequences.
We also gather here to call on other magistrates such a sheriffs, police, legislators, and appointed government officials, all of those who have taken an oath to protect and defend the Constitution.
We are here to call on them to face these issues squarely and honestly, to view the evidence in a clear, unbiased way…
OUR APPEAL TO LESSER MAGISTRATES
If I had the blessing of being able to address a gathering of law enforcement professionals, (peacekeeping professionals), if I could somehow be able to speak openly and directly to these fellow Americans, I think I should be careful not to falsely appeal to their pride; but rather, earnestly appeal to their intellectual honesty and their demonstrated decency, and say something like this:
“Respectfully, sir or madam, when you took your oath of office, as a Sheriff, police, or other law enforcement official, you swore obedience and fidelity to the United States Constitution and the Constitution of this State.
You did not swear allegiance to a county executive, or a governor or a health department official…
Right now, I am encouraging you to remember that solemn promise and to live up to its terms.
Because right now, as your country and your state are in peril, it is especially crucial that you rededicate yourself to this noble calling and duty.
Your fidelity to your oath and to the rule of law requires you to abstain from enforcing any edict or order from a Governor, or any executive, which lacks constitutional authority.
Moreover, your duty requires that you resist such edicts and orders and that you use the police power that comes to you from we the people so as to shelter and protect the citizenry from all acts of lawlessness, even and especially when they originate from civil authorities.”
I think I might say something like that.
And to everyone else I would add that if it were not for the courageous commitment and righteous action of our countrymen over two centuries ago, you and I would not be standing on this lawn today.
As you look around this scene, please consider that our commitment will enable our great grandchildren to stand here, on this lawn, a century or two from now as free men and free women in the FREE STATE of Maryland.
Thank you,
Michael Anthony Peroutka
Institute on the Constitution