Key point: Virginia is at a crossroads. I believe the upcoming statewide election on November 4, 2025 offers a choice between stability and liberty, or ultimately, tyranny and chaos. If you’re a Virginia voter, choose wisely.
I have long believed that the wisdom of America’s Founding Fathers and early leaders have much to teach us today, even about contemporary events. In this post I want to highlight six quotes from Daniel Webster, a respected American statesman who lived from 1782-1852, and apply these insights to the upcoming statewide election in the Commonwealth of Virginia. While early voting already is occurring, the election will officially take place on November 4, 2025.
Daniel Webster was involved in public service in several capacities, including serving as a member of the US House of Representatives, as a US Senator, and as Secretary of State under three presidents. He also was a lawyer and orator.
The Proper Function of Government
Let’s note first that Webster observed, “The proper function of a government is to make it easy for the people to do good, and difficult for them to do evil.”
The proper function of a government is to make it easy for the people to do good, and difficult for them to do evil.
—Daniel Webster—
Significantly, Webster was echoing exactly what Scripture teaches about the purpose of government. Relevant passages are Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17, and 1 Timothy 2:1-4. These portions of Scripture can be summarized in this way: The Bible gives government the primary responsibility of maintaining order in society by punishing those who do wrong and commending or rewarding those who do what is right. The “right” and “wrong” to which we are referring here (and the “good” and “evil” about which Webster spoke in his statement), refer to God’s unchanging moral and ethical standards set forth in Scripture — not man’s.
The Bible gives government the primary responsibility of maintaining order in society by punishing those who do wrong and commending or rewarding those who do right. The “right” and “wrong” to which we are referring here (and the “good” and “evil” about which Webster spoke in his statement) refer to God’s unchanging moral and ethical standards set forth in Scripture — not man’s.
In other words, the job of government is to dispense justice by rendering to people what they genuinely deserve, according to God’s righteous law.
Significantly, the Founders of the United States of America expressed this same idea in the Declaration of Independence, although from a different angle. They declared (note the portion in bold),
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Remember that Thomas Jefferson, a Virginian himself, was the principal writer of the Declaration. You can read his original draft of America’s founding document here. It is noteworthy that the thrust and meaning of Jefferson’s draft were fully preserved in the final document. Carefully consider these two insights:
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- Unalienable, God-given rights are not services performed for you or assets given to you by the government or any other entity or individual. They are your inherent freedoms to act upon on your own, for your own benefit or for the benefit of others. Appropriately, the document that explicitly speaks of God-given rights is the Declaration of Independence, not the Declaration of Dependence.
- When government does what the declaration states it has been instituted to do — when it protects or “secures” the inherent, God-given rights of its citizens — it necessarily does so by doing exactly what Bible indicates God established it to do; it accomplishes this task by punishing those who do wrong and commending or affirming those who do right,
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Today in certain places in our country, and in certain situations — even many — our government is doing its God-given job, although not as constantly, as thoroughly, or as effectively as it has in the past. Here are two situations in which it has acted appropriately.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, an election for state officials — including governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general — is imminent. Strong evidence has arisen that has made many people wonder if the Democrats are elected, if they really will exercise true justice, appropriately commending those who do good and punishing those who do evil.
Specifically, it recently came to light that in 2022, Jay Jones, the Democrat candidate for attorney general, sent text messages in which he fantasized shooting and killing former Republican Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Todd Gilbert. Moreover, he also sent texts alluding to his wish that Todd’s and his wife Jennifer’s young children would die. What was Jones’s reason for his death wish? “Todd and Jennifer are evil” and are “breeding little fascists,” he wrote. He also stated his belief that “only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”
“Todd and Jennifer are evil” and are “breeding little fascists,” Jay Jones wrote. He also stated his belief that “only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”
Even though all the races for elected offices in Virginia are important, this article focuses on how these events are affecting the race for governor between Democrat Abigail Spanberger and the current Lieutenant Governor, Winsome Earle-Sears.
While “Democratic leaders across Virginia responded [to the news of Jones’s texts] with near-universal disgust,” they also “stopped short of demanding Jones end his campaign.” Why won’t Democrats, including Democrat gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, call on Jay Jones to leave the race for attorney general? This is just about as serious as it gets short of actual homicide! Again, Jones fantasized murdering his political opponent, and then he doubled down, insisting that he would be pleased if the Republican leader’s children would die!
One can hardly be blamed for wondering if those who are refusing to call on Jones to drop out of the race actually agree with the views he expressed in his vile messages. Alarmingly, a recent survey revealed that “93% of Virginia Democrats Approve of Their Candidates Calling for the Murder of Republicans and Children Dying in Their Mothers’ Arms.”
Abigail Spanberger actually “Says it’s ‘Horrifying’ That Crossing the Border Illegally is Considered a Criminal Act.” Journalist Mike LaChance, who reported on Spanberger’s claim, explained, “Perhaps that is because it [crossing the border illegally] is a violation of federal immigration law.” He then asked, “What is it about this basic fact that Democrats cannot seem to grasp?”
Spanberger also is supportive of biological males being permitted in women’s restrooms and locker rooms.
On Thursday, October 9, the two leading candidates for governor in Virginia participated in a televised debate. Watch Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears call out Abigail Spanberger for not calling on Jay Jones to drop out of the race for attorney general. Demanding he step down would be one way Spanberger could prove she does not secretly approve of murdering Republicans and other conservatives. You can hear Earle-Sears’s statements in their larger context on this video.
Anger Is Not an Argument
Let’s move on to our second quote from Daniel Webster. “Keep cool; anger is not an argument,” he declared.
Keep cool; anger is not an argument.
—Daniel Webster—
Tell that to Abigail Spanberger, who has told her supporters, “Let your rage fuel you.” How is this statement not consistent with approving of the anger Jay Jones exhibited in his texts?
The Importance of a Moral Compass
Thirdly, Webster observed, “There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.”
There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.
—Daniel Webster—
But what about those who aim to govern who would not govern well, even if they think they would? This is why a moral compass is so important, especially in our leaders! Without any moral or ethical grounding, even leaders who sincerely believe they have “good intentions” still will reward evil, even as they condemn it with their lips when it is expedient for them to do so.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” (Isa. 5:20-21). Proverbs 29:2 states, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” Moreover, Proverbs 14:34 proclaims, “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.”
Founding Father Patrick Henry (1736-1799) — a Virginian, by the way — warned, “It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated [impaired] state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.”
When he indicated that even good leaders mean to govern, Daniel Webster was right. Even leaders who intend to govern well can become drunk with power and can easily abuse it. How much more, then, must we be wary of leaders and would-be leaders who apparently don’t know right from wrong and who, because they don’t, likely would use the power of their offices to reward evildoers and to punish those who do good!
Recall again the words of the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence (emphasis added):
[T]o secure these [unalienable, God-given] rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
We must state clearly that the “writing is on the wall.” It is extremely likely the powers of offices held by Democrats elected in Virginia will be abused — they will not exercise “just powers” to protect and preserve the unalienable rights of all.
There’s something else. Throughout American history, in countless instances, huge numbers of people have lived under the authority of presidents, governors, and other elected officials they did not support at the ballot box. Even so, they were among those offering their consent to be so governed — because the rules of decorum and human decency had not been violated. These people never had to wonder if their leaders wanted them dead for disagreeing with them on policy. That has now changed! How can Republicans and other conservatives readily offer their consent to be governed by those whom they know might want them dead merely for holding opposing political views? How can they be sure their inherent rights and the rights of their children will be protected when a candidate says, “Let your rage fuel you” and when she supports biological men in girls’ and women’s restrooms and locker rooms? These are dangerous times!
How can Republicans readily offer their consent to be governed by those whom they know might want them dead merely for holding opposing political views? How can they be sure their inherent rights and the rights of their children will be protected when a candidate says, “Let your rage fuel you” and when she supports biological men in girls’ and women’s restrooms and locker rooms? These are dangerous times!
Freedom Is Not Automatic but Rests on Moral Restraint
Fourthly, Daniel Webster wisely noted, “If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.”
If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.
—Daniel Webster—
Even people who aren’t Christians and who don’t claim to believe the Bible ought to be able to understand the need for society to adhere to certain basic moral and ethical principles. Daniel Webster knew that there is no better source for authentic morality and ethics than the Bible, but even without it, people still innately understand that certain things are right and their opposites are wrong.
We must realize that liberty is impossible without mutual respect for people’s unalienable rights — and respect for those rights puts restrictions on people’s behavior and yes, even on their attitudes. Murder is abhorrent. Defrauding or defaming a neighbor, work associate, or some other individual is despicable. Yet, as we have noted already, “93% of Virginia Democrats Approve of Their Candidates Calling for the Murder of Republicans and Children Dying in Their Mothers’ Arms.” They are denying what they intuitively know to be true. Sadly, evidence is mounting that “Democrats Are Giving Up On Democracy.”
This is alarming in the worst sort of way. If Abigail Spanberger and other Democrats win in Virginia, we have reason to believe societal cohesion will unravel at an increasingly rapid pace. Eventually — and I don’t write this lightly — I look for tyranny to prevail.
By contrast, Winsome Earle-Sears understands that liberty can’t survive without societal cohesion. She would work to preserve it, and thereby work to preserve authentic liberty. This is the opposite of tyranny!
Taking Responsibility to Make a Positive Difference
The fifth and sixth quotes we’re considering from Webster warn hard-working, responsible citizens that they have a duty to act to maintain and preserve a decent society, one where freedom and liberty can thrive. These are decent people, people who believe
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- in common sense laws — laws that respect inherent, unalienable rights — and
- in enforcing those laws to maintain order and peace in their neighborhoods, broader communities, states, and nation.
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Heed Webster’s warning in this fifth quote: “Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from…the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and negligence.”
Respond to his encouragement in the sixth statement on our list: “God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it.”
Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from…the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and negligence.
God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it.
—Daniel Webster—
In other words,
Especially if you live in Virginia, do not allow the critical races in which you can have a say to be decided without your praying to God for justice to prevail, or without your doing what you personally can do to make a positive difference.
PRAY and VOTE!
Liberty depends on it!
Copyright © 2025 by B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture has been taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
top image credit: The Hill
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