"Though written constitutions may be violated in moments of passion or delusion, yet they furnish a text to which those who are watchful may again rally and recall the people. They fix, too, for the people the principles of their political creed." --Thomas Jefferson

"....But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.".... --Declaration of Independence, 1776

There is a lot of tea talk these days. It is welcome though there is something about tea that needs careful preparation to fit the most ardent devotee's taste scrutiny.

Such has been the case here at the Georgia Heritage Council website. We've been brewing tea for the last six or seven years. Those who go back with us will remember what some called 'grassroots organizing.'

While others make a lot noise rustling their tea bags they should look at who delivered the training sessions for grass roots, the creation and passage of legislation in Georgia more favorable to the proud heritage of Georgians along with protection for their monuments and memorials and perpetual recognition of Confederate Heritage Month. Even more, we have kept the real patriots and conservatives informed of the dangers of those who diminish our liberty and smear our patriots (e.g., the demagogues and frauds at SPLC) by our Hate Watch resource on our web site.

We long ago recognized the absence of adequate sources and education for real American history. Excellent writers regularly comment on our history with complete documentation that detractors wish to ignore. Discussion of the Founding Principles places emphasis on our responsibilities as well as rights.

We initially recognized the need to grow fertile tea is to include a touch of humor or satire in our cultivation process. The X-Files are widely accepted in Georgia political circles and throughout the Internet as among the very best catalysts for a real tea party.

Without a bias in any political direction, we remained non-partisan so we could expose those of the major parties whom we felt abused their privilege to serve and violated their constitutional oaths of office.

If there is one website in Georgia known for exposing governmental abuse and corruption, it has to be the GHC site.

We have never bought the partisan propaganda that is designed to cloud the brew of quality tea we enjoy but also recommend to our thousands of readers, without charge. [Tips in the form of donations are accepted!]

We have our critics who don't believe our strong basis for constitutional liberty is akin to the tap root of a tea plant. They don't appreciate good tea and see no future in it. They aren't exactly thrilled about its past either.

In that connection, we are criticized because we truly believe and advocate the virtues of the Founders and the Founding Principles articulated by folks like Jefferson, Adams, Washington, Franklin, Madison and Mason. The principles they professed were and are as vital in the years following our initial independence, including the second controversy over the independence of the states which carries us over to the tea parties of today.

If you carefully observe what is taking place in our Republic today you will notice a well organized force ---from both ends of the ideological spectrum and both major parties----that has little use for the consent of the governed. They have removed in their minds the Tenth Amendment in hopes it will disappear from your minds as well.

They place their patriotic emphasis on a contrived myth that the Republic was saved by Lincoln who of necessity trashed the parts of the Constitution that didn't suit his (and their) vision of a national government (empire).

They falsely claim Lincoln's devout Christianity when real history and his behavior reveals that his use of Bibical language was merely a tool of persuasion and convenient PR front. They talk about his "charity for all and malice toward none". GHC has done a pretty good job of revealing hundreds of cases of atrocities, some from Lincoln's direct orders that either killed or imprisoned thousands of people in both the North and the South.

We need to spend more time on the direct orders to the Dahlgren Raiders to assassinate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet. Their mission was foiled, but the orders through Lincoln's Secretary of War were captured.

They conveniently make up the history our kids are taught in school that he freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation. In an effort to demean the most patriotic believers in our founding principles they continually refer to Southerners as 'traitors' who are second class citizens and need to be ignored or held in captivity by such things as extending the Voting Rights Act restricting the constitutional authority of the southern states to establish their own rules for elections. The horrible period known as Reconstruction hasn't yet ended -- second class statehood continues.

We're proud of our tea party that has been going for some time. We hope you like the brew we have concocted. We warn you, be careful of imitators who will serve you dishwater and call it tea. Beware of pretend patriots and imitation (neocon) conservatives who want to hijack the Tea Party movement to their own big government globalist ends.

"[Samuel] Adams in his essays and Jefferson in the Declaration state that it is our Duty to "throw off" such a government that fails to protect our inalienable rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness or which wields unjust powers without the consent of the governed. The question remains, do we have the "fortitude, perseverance and resolve" to win back our rights and liberties and to maintain them against the relentless stealth and stalking of tyranny? Or will we bear "an everlasting mark of infamy" in the minds of "millions yet unborn" who will share the misery of our failure?"
--Steve Scroggins, from the Slavery, Apologies and Duty, 3/16/07

"The liberties of our Country, the freedom of our civil constitution are worth defending at all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have receiv'd them as a fair Inheritance from our worthy Ancestors: They purchas'd them for us with toil and danger and expence of treasure and blood; and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle; or be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men. Of the latter we are in most danger at present: Let us therefore be aware of it. Let us contemplate our forefathers and posterity; and resolve to maintain the rights bequeath'd to us from the former, for the sake of the latter. — Instead of sitting down satisfied with the efforts we have already made, which is the wish of our enemies, the necessity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmost circumspection, deliberation, fortitude, and perseverance. Let us remember that 'if we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom.' It is a very serious consideration, which should deeply impress our minds, that millions yet unborn may be the miserable sharers of the event."
---Samuel Adams (From The Rights of the Colonists, page 419) [Bold emphasis is ours]