The Declaration of Independence is often misunderstood, which I wrote about here. One of the most important, yet overlooked, sections of the document is the list of indictments against King George III. The indictments are further evidence that the Declaration was never meant to be a revolutionary statement. From the Magna Carta to the colonial constitutions, George III was indicted for violating existing laws. Jefferson listed a total of 27 indictments against the King. Throughout February, we’re going to look at one indictment a day, why it was levied, and why it is still relevant.
Indictment #10 reads as follows:
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
Why was the indictment levied: The 1765 Stamp Act placed officers (Stamp Masters) in every colonial port to collect revenue. In 1766, the office of Collectors of the Customs was added. In 1767, a board of commissioners was added. In 1768, Admiral and Vice-Admiral courts were added. Like any “swarm,” these offices expanded exponentially from their origins.
As these offices grew, the colonist’s responsibility to pay their salaries also grew. Notice how a frequent theme of these indictments is that the crown would pay salaries when it benefited them, and only forced the colonists to pay salaries when it crippled them. “Harassing our people” to “eat out their substance.”
Why is this important today: In 2021, a declaration by the Capitol Police (of D.C.) was made to expand their jurisdiction into California and Florida. This was in an effort to investigate alleged threats on members of Congress. They established “Dignitary Protection Divisions” to get to the bottom of these issues. “If” successful, they plan on expanding into other states.
National police forces are a feature, not a bug, of third world dictators. Why would the “Capitol” police, whose jurisdiction is the “Capitol,” police outside of their jurisdiction? Good question. Congress members are paid, by taxpayers, very well. They have more than enough money to hire private security if they deem that the tax dollars that we already allocate towards their security, are insufficient.
Today, it’s a “Dignitary Protection Division,” tomorrow, your local police force is answering to another branch of the FBI or NSA. This removes the accountability of officers from the people. And the budget for protecting Congress members in California will “harass…the people” of Kansas, or Missouri, or Virginia, etc. and “eat out their substance.” Our own Federal government is sending “swarms to harass us” and Jefferson indicted King George III for identical abuses.