Topic: Common law, admiralty law, rights, priveleges, and your status
Edit: I wanted to add that I am a Canadian who has been doing research on the following information in the American system and will be continuing the research for the Canadian system with a colleague.
All terms in this post can be researched by looking in Black's Law Dictionary of any year.
I apologize for the size of this post.
216 years ago, with the encouragement of corporations, the Judiciary Act of 1789 was passed, and the rights of people could be taken away at the whim of a judge in court (depending on the judge's decision about whether the particular case fell into common law, admiralty law, or equity law). All district courts were made into admiralty courts. That is to say, courts of admiralty law (law of the sea), which is Statutory law (initially brought to England by Eleanor of Aquitaine at the time she was acting as regent for her son King Richard the Lionheart). EDIT: I originally made the mistake of confusing who authored the Constitution with Thomas Jefferson (Ya, I know, he wrote the Declaration of Independence). It was primarily authored by James Madison, but still influenced by Jefferson. Thanks morningsun76. The Constitution was written with common law in mind as the only means for trying people on land (in other words, the law of the land). With the Judiciary Act, people potentially lost all rights, as their rights were potentially converted to priveleges. Allow me to explain. Common law is set by precedent, called jurisprudence, and it requires an offended party. For example, a judge will make a ruling in a court case between two people based on the Bill of Rights (Edit: and the Constitution and prior jurisprudence--e.g. the adopted common law of england). Fred stole 5 dollars from Dave. That violates Dave's Constitutional pursuit of wealth and whatever other rights. So, the judge's ruling on that court case (eg. Stealing money is unconstitutional, and therefore illegal) becomes law. Get it? With Admiralty law, which is law designed for commerce on the high seas, statutes are set by legislation. A statute is a law, in Admiralty law terms. Congress can legislate, for example, that driving without a seat belt is illegal. That is a law that requires no offended party. Admiralty law allows this, common law doesn't, OK? So, by Admiralty law's very nature of "You can do this." "You can't do that" etc. people have ONLY priveleges, no rights, alright?
OK, so earlier I mentioned that corporations are to blame. Well, here's how it happened. Admiralty law was used on the high seas as commerce law when the masters of ships would sail into foreign ports and engage in trade/commerce. The admiralty laws (statutes) would act as a kind of insurance for the shipmaster against loss. Corporations saw the advantages admiralty law provided the shipmasters at sea, and wanted it for themselves so they 'endorsed' the passing of the Judiciary Act of 1789 to bring admiralty law on land.
"It is only with the extent of powers possessed by the district courts, acting as instance courts of admiralty, we are dealing. The Act of 1789 gives the entire Constitutional power to determine "all civil causes of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction," leaving the courts to ascertain its limits, as cases may arise." -- Waring ET AL,. v. Clarke, Howard 5 12 L. ed. 1847. (This was a court case).
Alright, so what are the implications for us when admiralty law (law of the sea, aka Federal law, aka Statutory law) is on land? Some rather serious ones, I'm afraid. Normally the Constitution prevents laws that are incompatible with the Constitution itself from becoming actual laws (under the Constitution such judgements or laws would be null and void), but there's that damn Judiciary Act. And common law was subverted in the case of Erie Railroad v. Tompkins. The case was originally brought under Pennsylvania common law. Tompkins, who had sustained an injury from a passing freight train, lost the case in Pennsylvania state court. He argued that Pennsylvania common law was inadequate and argued for the case to be tried under Federal law in a U.S. supreme court. The supreme court is the highest level where federal law only cases are handled. The supreme court overturned the Pennsylvania common law court decision. By the way, Black's Law Dictionary explicity equates federal law with admiralty law.
As I said, admiralty law is that law which governs commerce on the sea, where no nation of laws can exist. When people enter into contracts with the master of a ship or enclave they become subject to the Law of the Flag (which states that whosoever enters into contracts with the master of this ship or enclave is subject to his law), international law representative of admiralty law (which is the statutory law legislated by Congress. e.g. jay-walking is illegal) for vessels of the United States. To use an example: when the master of a ship sails into a port he must fly a flag with a yellow fringe, signifying to those in the port that they must abide by his law (admiralty law), should they enter into contracts with him. Because the ship is also an enclave, those that board the ship are also subject to admiralty law. "Pursuant to the "Law of the Flag", a military flag does result in jurisdictional implication when flown. The Plaintiff cites the following: "Under what is called international law, the Law of the Flag, a shipowner who sends his vessel into a foreign port gives notice by his flag to all who enter into contracts with the shipmaster that he intends the Law of the Flag to regulate those contracts with the shipmaster that he either submit to its operation or not contract with him or his agent at all." - Ruhstrat v. People, 57 N.E. 41, 45, 185 ILL. 133, 49 LRA 181, 76 AM. The system of justice protected the master at sea and his goods and contracts.
The following quote provides a clearer definition of the Law of the Flag: "...The agency of the master is devolved upon him by the Law of the Flag. The same law that confers his authority ascertains its limits, and the flag at the mast-head is notice to all the world of the extent of such power to bind the owners or freighters by his act. The foreigner who deals with this agent has notice of that law, and, if he be bound by it, there is not injustice. His notice is the national flag which is hoisted on every sea and under which the master sails into every port, and every circumstance that connects him with the vessel isolates that vessel in the eyes of the world, and demonstrates his relation to the owners and freighters as their agent for a specific purpose and with power well defined under the national maritime law." (Bouvier, J. (1914). Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Religion)
Edit: By the way, all district courts fly the Yellow Fringed Flag. The halls of Congress do as well. This means that by entering their enclave (i.e. crossing the bar in the courtroom that has this flag) you are subject to their law, which is whatever law the judge decides the case will be tried under. Poof, your rights are gone (if the judge decides admiralty law) when you cross that bar.
I know it looks like I got off track a bit with the definitions, but they're fundamental in understanding the simple fact that your rights have been lost. I want to say "you're probably wondering about how admiralty law really applies to you since it mostly applies to commerce (particularly corporations)," but it's so much information to take in that I'll settle with the fact that you're still reading. Alright, so specifically back to the implications for you. Well, a corporation is known as a legal entity, it is also a recognized person (by a trial in the 19th century, you'll have to look that one up for yourself). You, as a person, also have a 'legal entity,' also known as a corporation.
Black's Law Dictionary defines legal entity as: Legal existence. An entity, other than a natural person, who has sufficient existence in legal contemplation that it can function legally, be sued or sue and make decisions through agents as in the case of corporations.
How do you know you have a legal entity? The Straw man. Once again, Black's Law Dictionary from 1990 (the 1979 version has this as well, and probably the others) provides us with some light: "Straw man. A front; a third party who is put up in name only to take part in a transaction. Nominal party to a transaction; one who acts as an agent for another for the purpose of taking title to real property and executing whatever documents and instruments the principal may direct respecting the property. Person who purchases property for another to conceal identity of real purchaser, or to accomplish some purpose otherwise not allowed." (Black, 1990).
What is your legal entity? It is on all your bills and all your birthcertificates, drivers licenses, social security cards, bank cards, etc. It's your NAME, written in all capital letters. Hard to believe, huh? Well, Mr. Black comes to save the day again. This is the key, so it was hidden well (in latin), but it is still part of law and must therefore be documented.
Now for some examples from Black's Law Dictionary, 1979:
John Doe
Capitis Diminutio Minima
"The lowest or least comprehensive degree of loss of status. This occurred where a man’s family relations alone were changed. It happened upon the arrogation of a person who had been his own master (sui juris), or upon the emancipation of one who had been under the patria potestas. [parental authority] It left the rights of liberty and citizenship unaltered."
John DOE
Capitis Diminutio Media
"A lesser or medium loss of status. This occurred where a man loses his rights of citizenship, but without losing his liberty. It carried away also the family rights."
JOHN DOE
Capitis Diminutio Maxima
"The highest or most comprehensive loss of status. This occurred when a man’s condition was changed from one of freedom to one of bondage, when he became a slave. It swept away with it all rights of citizenship and all family rights."
In law, unequal entities are not allowed to enter into contracts with eachother. This means that a flesh and blood person (natural person) can not enter into contracts with corporations (legal entities ) or governments. I know you're saying "Wait! I have a birth certificate, and a credit card, and.... oh." The government also has a legal entity. Written as the UNITED STATES, amongst other variations, this corporation is what you deal with when you sign up for a birth certificate, pay your taxes, sign up for social security (sounding very matrix-like now, isn't it? This is what the movie was referring to, you know). Your legal entity, JOHN DOE, allows you to enter into contracts with other legal entities (like the New York Stock Exchange, aka NYSE). For example, your Social Security card is a license to work. It is your legal entity that allows you to work in another legal entity. Why are all corporations listed as a capitalized acronym? Convenience or...
There are two separate entities known as the United States. One is the federal government that is bound by the Constitution. The other is a corporation that exists in the District of Columbia. TITLE 28, PART VI, CHAPTER 176, SUBCHAPTER A, § 3002 definition 15 of U.S. Code is where it is stated that "United States" (note: not the United States) is a "Federal corporation" (US Code 28, http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html … 00-.html). It also states that the name United States can be applied to " an agency, department, commission, board, or other entity of the United States". EDIT: The District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871 changed things dramatically when it created a corporation called the United States, the venue of which would be D.C.:
http://www.liferepatterning.com/Distric … f_1871.htm
The usurpation of power in the united States of America has been multi-generational and covert. When taken in context, the changes that have occurred show a definite slide toward British statutory rule, where citizens are granted privileges rather than unalienable rights. If the reader has not by now asked who it has been that has brought Admiralty law on land so that Congress may legislate beyond the limits of the Constitution for the united States of America then know and consider this: In The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America (the Declaration of Independence) is written that "We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us."
And now, if I may explicitly speculate (without evidence, for once, whew): I believe that it is the Vatican acting in concert with the British Crown to extend the Holy Roman Empire over the world covertly, quietly making everyone slaves by setting up phony constitutions which are de-fanged by admiralty law. It's an extension of imperialism, which is an extension of feudalism, baby. What are the motivations? Religion, power, money. That's reason enough, and you should know it.

