Resolution of the Town of New Shoreham
A Resolution declaring the Town Council of the Town of New Shoreham in affirmation of, belief in, and support for the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and for the rights guaranteed therein to citizens and others.
WHEREAS, the United States of America, the State of Rhode Island, and the documents creating and limiting their governments, were conceived in the wake of conflicts whose oppressions were yet fresh in the minds of the people, the sovereign creators of all governments; and
WHEREAS, the majority of the original thirteen independent states, rightfully jealous of their newly won liberty and sovereignty, at the time of their adoption of the "Constitution for the United States," in order to prevent any misconstruction, abuse, or expansion of the proposed federal government's newly created powers, expressed a clear desire that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added to the Constitution in the form of a Bill of Rights; and,
WHEREAS, Article VI of the Constitution of the United States clearly states that only laws and treaties "made in pursuance" or in conformity with said Constitution shall be the "supreme law of the land"; and,
WHEREAS, in 1803 AD, the Supreme Court ruled in Marbury v. Madison, that "a law repugnant to the Constitution is void" from its inception; and,
WHEREAS, certain recent acts of the Congress including the USA Patriot Act, in part, and the acts of certain officials of the federal government have openly or covertly contradicted the sovereign rights reserved by and for the citizens in both State and Federal Constitutions and other founding documents; then,
Now, Therefore, be it resolved by the Town Council of the Town of New Shoreham that:
Section 1. The Town of New Shoreham supports all lawful and constitutional efforts to prevent and investigate terrorist or other criminal acts and to prosecute their perpetrators.
Section 2. The Town of New Shoreham believes that sufficient constitutionally acceptable tools existed, prior to the passage of the "USA Patriot Act" or other such restrictive acts, for law enforcement officers to accomplish their intended lawful purposes.
Section 3. The Town of New Shoreham believes that any act, enactment, order, or legislation, etc. that dilutes, weakens, or denies the State and/or Federal Constitutionally guaranteed rights of the citizens is void from its inception, is unenforceable in our jurisdiction, and should be quashed, repealed or found by a court of jurisdiction to be unconstitutional in part or in full, as appropriate, in order to protect the rights and freedom of the citizenry.
Section 4. The New Shoreham Town Council strongly encourages all citizens, organizations, and governmental legislative bodies to study the State and Federal Constitutions and their history, and especially the Bill of Rights and its history, so that they can recognize and resist attempts to undermine our constitutional republics and the system of government that has brought our civilization so much success.
Section 5. The Town of New Shoreham believes it is the duty of every citizen to protect and defend the State and Federal Constitutions from all enemies -foreign and domestic- and to demonstrate respect for the rights that have been paid for with the blood and sweat of the people of the United States throughout our history.