The
Grange
137 Years of Service
to Rural America!
The
National Grange is the nation's oldest national agricultural organization,
with grassroots units established in 3,600 local communities in 37 states.
Its 300,000 members provide service to agriculture and rural areas on
a wide variety of issues, including economic development, education,
family endeavors, and legislation designed to assure a strong and viable
Rural America. It was formed in the years following the American Civil
War to unite private citizens in improving the economic and social position
of the nation's farm population. Over the past 137 years, it has evolved
to include non-farm rural families and communities.
The Grange
is also a fraternal order known as the Order of Patrons of Husbandry,
hence the "P of H" on the organization's logo. Founding members
determined that a fraternal organization would be best able to combine
loyalty and democratic ideals to provide service to others. The National
Grange was one of the first formal groups to admit women to membership
on the basis of equality with men. It remains so today.
The
11-story landmark National Grange headquarters building in Washington,
D.C. was dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 29, 1960,
and is the only private edifice in a federal block across from the White
House. It serves as a non-governmental headquarters for agricultural
and rural families. A professional staff administers policies established
annually by democratic Grange processes at local county, and state levels.
National
Grange Headquarters Building • 1616 H St. NW • Washington,
DC 20006. Built in 1957 - The original headquarters was located on Lafayette
Park.
Each year,
a listing of more than 1,400 issues of concern is published and distributed
by the National Grange.
Grange
Resolutions
The
US~Observer will be publishing a series of resolutions that have been
adopted by the Oregon State Grange. Starting with “The right of
the people to keep and bear arms (below). Unlike many organizations
that compromise and sell out their original intentions and goals to
special interests, politics and green-backs, the Grange has remained
true to its roots.
Since 1956 William “Bill” Waggoner has been a member of
the Grange.
The
following resolution was drafted by William Waggoner, “Master”
and adopted by Deer Creek Grange #371 at its regular meeting held on
April 12, 2004. It was subsequently adopted by the Oregon State Grange
at its 131st annual session held on June 21-25 at Joseph, Oregon.
Subject: The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be
infringed.
Whereas:
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state,
the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed
(U.S. Constitution – 2nd Amendment).
Whereas:
The National Guard of each state isn’t the militia. The National
Guard is bought and paid for by the U.S. government and is on loan to
the states during times of peace. The militia is under the control of
the State Governor and consists of the people of the state. The reason
for the use of the militia in each state was to prevent the establishment
of a standing army.
Whereas:
“I ask sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except
for a few public officials.” – George Mason
Whereas:
Per the U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 2, Paragraph 2, the President,
with advice and consent of the U.S. Senate, appoints Judges of the Supreme
Court and etc. Article III, section 1, states: the Judges, both of the
supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior.
Whereas:
On December 5th 2002, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco,
by a three-judge panel’s vote ruled that the Second Amendment
to the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee individuals the right to
bear arms.
Whereas:
This anti-gun ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would
place the American citizens at the mercy of terrorists, common criminals,
invading foreign powers, Police State and a tyrannical government.
Whereas:
The historical records of 200-plus years pertaining to the forming of
U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights prove that Amendments 1 thru 10
are sovereign rights that belong to the American people.
Whereas:
The following listed states had arms-rights provisions in their state
constitutions for their people prior to adoption of the U.S. Constitution
and Bill of Rights: Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North
Carolina, Vermont, Massachusettes, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode
Island.
Whereas:
“The constitutions of most of our states (and of the United States)
assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise
it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times
armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion,
freedom of property and of the press.” - Thomas Jefferson
Whereas:
“The constitution shall never be construed…to prevent the
people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping
their own arms.” – Samuel Adams
Whereas:
“The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that
they be properly armed.” – Alexander Hamilton
Whereas:
“The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is
able may have a gun.” – Patrick Henry
Whereas:
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained
to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country…”
– James Madison
Whereas:
“Our safety, our liberty depends upon preserving the Constitution
of the United States as our fathers made it inviolate. The people of
the United States are the rightful masters of both Congress and the
Courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men
who pervert the Constitution.” – Abraham Lincoln
Whereas:
“On every question of construction (of the Constitution) let us
carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted,
recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying
what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it,
conform to the probable one in which it was passed.” – Thomas
Jefferson
Whereas:
“To consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional
questions is a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place
us under the despotism of an oligarchy.” – Thomas Jefferson
Therefore
be it resolved: That the Oregon State Grange supports the U.S. Constitution
and Bill of Rights. In view of the historical facts, our forefathers
stated the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Two judges of the 9th Circuit Court have put themselves above the U.S.
Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land for which they took
an oath to support. We therefore ask the United States Congress to start
impeachment proceedings on these judges per Article II Section 4 of
the U.S. Constitution for the violation of Article III, Section 1, for
bad behavior, and Article VI, Sections 2 and 3, for violation of their
oath of office per their court ruling to overthrow the people’s
2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. This court ruling is a usurpation
of the sovereignty of the people, and if not stopped, could bring about
judicial dictatorship.
This
document was signed by William D. Waggoner, Master and Delaine Sherman,
Secretary.
Editor’s
Note: Next edition we will publish the Grange’s resolution on
(NAFTA) North American Free Trade Agreement, (CAFTA) Central America
Free Trade Agreement, and (FTAA) Free Trade Area of the America’s.
Contact
William D. Waggoner, Deer Creek Grange Master #371 at 1920 Thompson
Creek Road, Selma, Oregon 97538.