Securing Liberty and Happiness (Who to Trust in Public Office)

by Susan Snelling

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2

Who can be trusted to public office in America? Although the Founding Fathers warned that there must be a degree of distrust with all public servants since power can lead to corruption, there are safe guards in place to reduce that possibility; a virtuous people who choose wise leaders that promote the virtues of America. Without either of those the Constitution cannot secure liberty or happiness for the people.

You need look no further than what is occurring in America today with a lawless administration and the weaponization of the government against those who disagree with it. Where did America go wrong? What kind of leaders did the people elect? Who, by the way, are responsible for appointing others like certainbureaucrats and judges to office. Elect the wrong people and our liberty is at risk. This is important with elections coming up this November. Who do we trust to public office?

Samuel Adams answered the question regarding who Americans should elect to office when he wrote: Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man. 

We must not conclude merely upon a man’s haranguing upon liberty, and using the charming sound, that he is fit to be trusted with the liberties of his country. It is not unfrequent to hear men declaim loudly upon liberty, who, if we may judge by the whole tenor of their actions, mean nothing else by it but their own liberty, — to oppress without control or the restraint of laws all who are poorer or weaker than themselves. 

It is not, I say, unfrequent to see such instances, though at the same time I esteem it a justice due to my country to say that it is not without shining examples of the contrary kind; — examples of men of a distinguished attachment to this same liberty I have been describing; whom no hopes could draw, no terrors could drive, from steadily pursuing, in their sphere, the true interests of their country; whose fidelity has been tried in the nicest and tenderest manner, and has been ever firm and unshaken.

Based on Samuel Adam’s assessment, it does not matter about the Constitution when the people, who are the fount of power in America, are corrupt. A corrupt people are not apt to choose wise and virtuous leaders and if they do, the peoples’ own corruption will do in a free nation. The issue of virtue comes up over and over again in the Founding documents and the Constitution is based on the people being virtuous. A representative republic is only for a virtuous people. A virtuous people love their country and embrace its founding principles.

Just saying the right things as happens in political theater does not mean the person is the right one for the job. Their talk of liberty must be seen in their actions. It must be more than just talk and it must not be a front to get elected and then oppress the people. Adams realizes mistakes are made and people fall for someone who has deceived them in this way but virtuous and moral citizens must do their best to elect the wise to office.

The only person who can be trusted for public office are those as Adam’s wrote who pursue “the true interests of their country; whose fidelity has been tried” and who have been proven to be “firm and unshaken.” That should be the standard for who we can trust. With We the People as the fount of power in America it is paramount that we are a moral people. Our Republic is fit for no other kind of people. Even with good leaders a corrupt people will destroy liberty. With a corrupt people it is difficult to end up with moral leaders. We see what happens when “the wicked rule,” when evil people are in power. May righteousness be restored in America.