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What Does “Hither, Swarms of Officers” in the Declaration of Independence Mean?

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What Did Thomas Jefferson Mean by “Hither, Swarms of Officers” in the Declaration of Independence?

Guest post by “Wisco” Rolf Lindgren
My favorite quote from the Declaration of Independence is the 10th grievance against the British. It is astonishing that such a radical, hard-hitting sentence could be found in an official government document. It says:
“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.”
YIKES!!!!!
 
Ever since I read this in high school and fully absorbed it, I have felt like the swarms of officers are still around today. I read the Declaration and Constitution, less than ten pages total, and wondered “Where the heck do all these government people come from!!!”
 
It wasn’t always this way.
 
When the Founding Fathers took over and the dust settled, the early American Republic DIDN’T have swarms of officers eating out our substance. The first federal administration under President George Washington had just a few, necessary government agencies. They were:
 
1. Secretary of State 
2. Secretary of the Treasury
3. Secretary of War
4. Attorney General
5. Post Office
The Navy was added in 1798, because they didn’t have enough money for one at first.
The controversial National Bank was created in 1791, dissolved in 1811, re-created 1816, and then dissolved by Andrew Jackson in the 1830s.
The National Bank was a temporary evil deemed needed to pay off debt from the Revolution and then the War of 1812. It wasn’t required to “help the economy” as modern propaganda tells us.
So that’s it. Our Founding Fathers got rid of the swarms of officers and replaced them with a small, lean government that didn’t eat out our substance.
What happened since?
Big government was enabled in 1913 when the 16th Amendment legalized income tax, and the 17th Amendment took the states completely out of the federal power structure with the direct election of Senators.
Then we had constant pressure for big government, namely WWI, Great Depression, WWII, Cold War, War on Drugs, and War on Terror, etc.
Now we have 448 total government agencies. This number is so vast that no one agrees on whether it’s really the exact number.
I recommend everyone read…
“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.”
…three times a day and then vote accordingly!
Rolf Lindgren is the Pints & Politics Director of the Republican Party of Dane County, Wisconsin. He is a singer known as Wisco Rolf and his website is WiscoRolf.com – The Badger State’s Musical Maverick & Liberty’s Voice

149 thoughts on “What Does “Hither, Swarms of Officers” in the Declaration of Independence Mean?”

  2. Correct in all regards – great article.

    Would add that the 17th amendment needs to be removed!

  3. Hard times create strong men
    Strong men create good times < Our Forefathers were here
    Good times create weak men
    Weak men create hard times < We are here

    • We are becoming the next constitutional republic to fail. Many reasons, all because of human weaknesses. With no great awakening and action, the downward spiral will continue.

      • It can be fixed through education, but, the Marxists took over Our educational system. Now We reap the conseuqneces of Abled Bodies doing nothing.
        People keep thinking government has the answers when in reality it is the creator of 98% of Our ills!

        • Maybe we shouldn't have tried to privatize education to get the money!! We should invest in our children so we don't attract the worst of the worst to run our schools.

          • What are you talking about?

            The only benefit from privatized education is that public education tries to catch up.

            And We have invested in Our children while education quality and results has been worse due the corruption within that bureaucratic structure.

          • No, my state has quietly shifted education dollars to the pockets of old politicians. A previous governor even legally paid a house leader to pass a bill that made him the leader of a scholarship granting organization. It’s crazy! The house leader did go to prison, but because of yellow wood, not the governor…

          • Your first sentence sounds like a socialist or democrat.

            Who is the "we" who should invest invest in "our children"?

          • I’m far from either! We is our country. I watched the attack on all teachers as stupid, groomers, etc for years. I heard the jokes, those who can do, those who can’t, teach. I graduated college in 1993. In the past decade, I’ve watched attacks on law enforcement.
            Personally, I believe the federal government has 2 responsibilities. The first, is to protect citizens domestically and internationally. The second is to educate the next generation so we have a capable group to pass leadership of our beautiful country.

          • That all makes sense.

            However, I am very wary about government attempts to "educate our children". It hasn't turned out well.

            I would have agreed with the sentiment a couple of decades ago but the government proves once again that when it tries to solve problems it only gets worse.

            The best thing that ever happened to urban Louisiana schools was a huge hurricane that wiped them all out. Only weeks after the devastation makeshift schools started sprouting up with no government help. And miraculously, the children started learning for once.

            There are many more stories of this type that gives evidence that the government shouldn't be "educating" our children.

            Peace out.

          • I agree about now versus decades ago. I started college in the late 1980s. It was very different. But, educators were treated well and many saw the value of that career. In the next few years, funding was cut, teachers were treated poorly and fewer people went into education. The ones that did were willing to accept less and were less. When I graduated, I had to fight for a job, now anyone with any degree can get one at anytime. You are not recruiting the best because the job is too much. Kids attack teachers, you work off the clock for 20 hours a week at times. Education can’t improve until you recruit the best and not those willing to settle. I’ve watched and been do disappointed. Our school has 8 openings this year. It’s frightening what is accepted!!

          • I agree that teachers are treated poorly. They get it from all sides.

            There is something seriously wrong when the United States spends more on education than anyone else by far, and what we get is a mound of dog feces.

            Given that, we should radically cut spending on public education since it isn't working. The best idea I've heard is to just cut a special check for every student and have the parent use that towards the child's education as they see fit, full stop.

          • That could work. I was at a meeting yesterday for professional development and a central office department bragged it has gone from 5 staff members to 25 in the past couple of years. These folks make much more than a teacher. That would be half a teaching unit in every school in our system.. crazy!! Money needs to be spent on kids and adding to those in school to help kids!! No more central office bloat!!

          • Yes, the money needs to be spent on the kids somehow. In practice the attempt to do so hasn’t worked. The money goes through the hands of adults first and the inevitable has happened. They money has disappeared.

            Whenever you put money in the government’s hands, no matter the noble reason, things always seem to go south. They simply can’t be trusted to manage something as precious as the education of children.

            The argument that this time they’ll really get things right isn’t very promising.

            Removing government can start with removing all federal funding from the schools at all levels. They need to stop influencing local schooling. Then it would be nice if the state level funding also ceased. The spending should be as close to the students as possible.

            I personally think that a night tight ship should be run on a school by school basis where parents can come and go as they please. With the competition schools and teacher will get better. Parents would pay less and teacher would get paid more.

          • Competition in schools won’t solve the problem. It can exacerbate it. The competition will move all of the more capable students to one group and leave stragglers behind. Those schools will and do find excuses . take special education students or others that don’t meet their standards. Then all of those kids get sent to one group. That group requires much move in funding for special services like speech, physical therapy, additional teaching, etc. So these kids get cast aside. The kids that are stronger naturally require less resources, but in that case will get the same. It’s like a competitive sports team. They don’t have room for Lowry performers. Image each NFL team was required to play 3 players with physical disabilities. It would change the competitive side of things. I’m not making excuses like some believe, I’m coming from the point of watching 3 decades of kids go through school. Some can, some struggle, but can, and some just barely scrape by. That doesn’t even address the families where siblings are raising younger kids so parents can work. Some siblings skip school to take care of sick younger siblings, they act as parents staying up to clean and wash clothes, fix lunches, etc. Schools are much more complex than most understand. Teachers must identify learning, diagnosis problems, treat problems and ensure all students learn at the same pace. Anyone that ever coached a young sports team can see the problems if they look. If you believe strongly in this, I ask you to volunteer at a local title 1 (high poverty) school one day a week for an hour for at least one semester. You’ll see the struggles, the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s all there for those willing to look.

          • Good comments and you obviously have seen the system from the inside for decades.

            Of course, most of us have seen it from the inside for decades as well from the perspective of students. I myself have taught but not in the U.S. public school system. I have many friends who have and their comments are interesting and humorous.

            I have gotten some amazing and inspirational insight on the subject from a couple of Sowell books, the most recent of which was “Charter Schools and Their Enemies”. Going further back, “Inside American Education” was a good read. If you want inspiration from a school that beat all the odds you can read about Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. They showed us how it’s done.

            Take care.

          • Thanks!! I’ll look into those.
            My experience includes testimony before Alabama congress on charter schools and pay for teachers based on assessments. I saw schools send special ed kids back to public schools because they did not have the resources, but that school kept the public funds and we had to support those students without funding. I cried thinking of the pay for testing, begging them not to do it because after years in my school, I would have had to move to a more wealthy school district to ensure one bad testing year didn’t take my retirement. All it does is leave the Lowry preforming schools with less qualified teachers.
            You take care as well.

      • Loss of faith in God has led US into the abyss, I think we’ve been on slow boil for many decades.. all of it designed by government to remove God from our lives.

      • Many Americans have become to complacent and too forgiving, so they accept any idea or swallow their pride. After WW2, the guilt was set in. When Vietnam war came around, how many young men hated or would not fight in the war? The support for America was slowly falling. Today, many people hate America.. ask them why.

      • I seriously doubt Moslems will assimilate to our values, worldview and culture in the USA. However, the south-of-the-boarder caravan people need to be considered on several topics before they're returned to their countries of origin…
        1) let them see that Christians are very good at self governance.
        2) let them see that capitalism works.
        3) let them see that private land ownership works well.
        4) let them see the role of personal faith and private charity in society rather than the government dole.
        5) let them see the necessity for the rule of law.

        There are more values to inculcate to these illegal aliens. This list is not exhaustive. Our Christian values and worldview can empower the illegals to transform their own countries of origin into very fantastic places to live which in time, through their experiences in the USA, will become new friends and allies of the USA.

      • pull your head out of your ass and actually read the room.. your statement might have been correct 10 years ago but it is not today.. change is happening

    • I agree with your sentiment, I hope we're right before the Strong Men Create Good Times portion?

    • Swarms of Officers are not farmers, they do not raise beef , pigs or chickens
      They do not tend crops, yet their bellies are fat and their hands are soft.

    • Crush the local independence, all in favor of administering a colonial empire. Also insuring that the colonies do NOT produce their own stuff, but MUST import finished goods from the UK.

      • Correct… The colonial economy was base on our raw materials being shipped to England where they manufactured to goods, which they sold back to us and the rest of their empire. They paid little for the raw materials and charged high prices to the colonist for the returned goods, which were taxed heavily on top the high initial price.

        The crown made bank while hollowing out the colonist finances.

  7. As many people have said, the colonists rebelled against King George over less than our own government is doing to us today.

  8. I INTEND TO USE CHAINS AND ELECTRIC FENCES & STERILIZATION ON MY MANWELL COTTON GINS UNTIL THEIR ONLY VALUE IS FERTILIZER BY THEN AMERICA SHOULD BE CHOCK FULL OF 72 UNUSED VIRGIN PODS TO BE USED FOR YTE CHILDREN BIRTHING FOR A NEW GREAT NATION UNSPOILED BY THE ROT THAT INFESTS OUR COUNTRY TODAY. IN THE NEW AMERICA SHADOWS WILL FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY.

  9. Good article, but the girly men in this country aren't going to do squat. I'm ready to stand, fight, and possibly die right beside the brave as civilian infantry, but where are the brave? Anyone? Okay then, back to work, slaves.

    • YOU SAY YOU ARE READY TO FIGHT AS LONG AS SOMEONE ELSE STARTS IT SO YOU CAN STAND NEXT TO THEM UNTIL WHEN…..YOU COWARD YOU WILL CUT AND RUN AT THE FIRST CAR BACK FIRE. YA BAG OF DEMOCRAT.

      • Thanks for letting me know you'll be staying home while everyone handles up for you. You don't deserve freedom!

        • Thanks for letting me know you’ll be staying home while everyone handles up for you. You don’t deserve freedom!

          LEMME GUESS YOU PERK UP WHEN ITS RAINING MEN IS SUNG BY JUSSIE…WTAF IS HANDLES UP? SOME TYPE OF PARADE AFTER PART THING? YOU WILL GO BACK IN THE CLOSET SOON BOI.

          • EVERY ONE OF YOU PREDATORS THINK THE WORLD IS SECRETLY BROKEN LIKE YOU AND YOUR ILK. STAY AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN AND YOU NEVER HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHY IS THIS HAPPENING AS YOU BEG GOD FOR HELP YOU ATHEIST.

          • I don’t care what kinds of sex torture you and your kids are into. Just keep it the fvck away from me, you incestual kid fvcker.

          • I’ve never had to see a shrink, and certainly not over your or anyone else’s sick perversions. You’re one sick puppy.

  10. When you want to capture an animal, you put small amount of it's favorite food near a door to a small enclosure and a little more inside it so the animal goes inside, giving space to close the door. If you want to capture people, you give them small amounts of money to sign an agreement to surrender some of their freedom. Then a little more money to surrender a little more of their freedom. Once their freedom is surrendered, the door is slammed shut and they, all too late, realize they have agreed to be serfs for the rest of their lives for a few dollars that have long since been spent.

  11. We The Taxpayers should demand repeal of the Federal Income tax and that the Federal government return to its Constitutionally-mandated scope, size and cost. We pay for 3,000,000 civilian Federal employees, and untold fraud and waste. The Federal government skims at least 25% of tax revenues, then redistributes our coerced tax payments to NGOs and States, with little to no oversight.

  14. Recall that 2021 the Biden Admin and its state allies were pushing for police officers posted in private homes….

    • And even before that when America's First Black Muslim Communist Mutt attempted to make the case for a "National Police Force" no doubt under his direction.

      Here is an updated list back then of the Federal agencies/departments buying firearms and/or ammo:

      1 Social Security Administration
      2 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
      3 Environmental Protection Agency
      4 Department of Education
      5 Department of Health and Human Services
      6 Internal Revenue Service
      7 Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
      8 Dept. of Homeland Security
      9 Dept. of Agriculture USDA
      10 U.S. Postal Service

      What pray tell was NOAA going to do with firearms: Shoot a Hurricane?

      Did the Dept. of Health and Human Services need firearms to prevent Americans from breaking down their doors because of the wild popularity of Obamacare??

      It's apparent to many that No. 44 and his cohorts was preparing Deep State Useful Idiots, many who likely still populate our Federal Government, to have the means for a Coup should it be necessary in a subsequent Administration not controlled by him, i.e., President Trump. Apparently, the Phony Russia Collusion Coup Conspiracy prevailed over one using the "talents" of his "Deep State Army."

  15. "The first federal administration under President George Washington had just a few, necessary government agencies."

    "Few and defined":

    "The powers delegated by the proposed constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the state governments are numerous and indefinite.

    The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will for the most part be connected."
    James Madison, Federalist #45 (January 26, 1788)

  16. “He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.”
    YIKES!!!!!
    So who is “HE” mentioned here, the British King?

  17. The TWO biggest problems against America started here: "Big government was enabled in 1913 when the 16th Amendment legalized income tax, and the 17th Amendment took the states completely out of the federal power structure with the direct election of Senators."

    • Yep. The Senate no longer protected State powers. That's how the federal govt was able to usurp – steal – so many state powers and exercise them with legislation and establishing unconstitutional depts & agencies.

      The HUGE influx of money from the income tax allowed the govt to fund anything it wanted when partnered with the Senate no longer protecting state powers.

      • The U.S. Senate was corrupted by the 17 Amendment. Now Senators act like selfish little gods with no allegiance to their home state.

  18. Wake up John. The second they get the chance, they’ll cheat to remove you from office…

  19. I know an attorney who quoted this language from the Declaration in an administrative appeal and the review judge said it was "drivel".

  20. I know an attorney who quoted this language from the Declaration in an administrative appeal and the review judge said it was "drivel".

  21. In other words deep state bureaucrats. They more things change the more they stay the same.

  22. Be in the mindset of the times 1770's
    The "HE" is King George III ;
    The " multitude of new offices " TAX COLLECTORS .
    "Sent hither swarms of officers" Kings Navy & Army.
    "harrass our people" The colonies
    "eat out their substance" To remove any and all wealth of the Colonists

  23. The king sent many officers to harass the colonists, to make up offices to put the kings men. Back then, many officers could walk into any home and take up residence. The colonists could not say no, or kick them out. That is why we have the 3rd amendment in the Bill of Rights.

  24. It meant he'd sent the tax collectors out and the folks didn't want to pay,pretty much the same as today in fact.

  26. "Swarms of officers" in the Declaration of Independence refers to the numerous British officials sent to the colonies to enforce laws and collect taxes, which the colonists found intrusive and oppressive. It highlights the colonists' frustration with the growing bureaucracy that they felt was undermining their freedoms and livelihoods.

    It's happening again.

  27. They could combine all those undersecretary, commissioners, and the trove of other officers into one Secretary of Seeing That Stuff Gets Done. That should cover it.

  29. Government today is a Frankenstein Monster. It should be no bigger than what is necessary to fit inside the town limits of Cottonwood, South Dakota.

  30. "The controversial National Bank was created in 1791, dissolved in 1811, re-created 1816, and then dissolved by Andrew Jackson in the 1830s."
    .
    Come close to revolution dates and war of 1812 and Jackson had 2 assassination attempts against him!
    ,.
    How much influence did Rothschild City of London Boys have?

  31. "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely".

    There are people, mostly men because they have historically been the dominators because of basic biology physicality, that psychologically feed on power. In other words, compared to the general public, they are nuts. Given no pushback or restrictions, they become the Hitlers, Stalins, Maos, Pol Pots, etc. of the world causing much suffering and death.

    We were lucky as Americans that Washington was not one of them…but the subsequent leaders over time were not "gentlemen".

    • In 1780, today's Democrats would have been Tory supporters of the King!! One of the left's biggest angers is that Washington did NOT announce himself as King of the American Empire.

    • YOU BLATHER LIKE HOMAN AND END UP SOUNDING LIKE A DEMOCRAT. YOU COMPARE AMERICANS TO HISTORICAL "BAD GUYS" YET TOO COWARD TO SAY JUST WHO YOU ARE REFERRING TO.PHYSICAL BIOLOGY IS NOT WHY MEN ARE DOMINANT. MEN ARE DOMINANT BECAUSE MEN WORK. INTELLIGENCE IS REQUIRED TO DOMINATE …BRAWN WILL ALWAYS LOSE TO INTELLIGENT BRAWN IN THE END. THESE POLITICIANS ARE NOT OUR LEADERS THEY ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES, CALLING THEM LEADERS MAKES YOU THEIR FOLLOWER.

  33. I don't understand the attitude of many commentors and not just here on Gway. It really isn't a matter of quit or don't quit. It isn't the fact that only 100 people in the US Senate can stymie the wishes of roughly 210,000,000 American citizens concerned about the SAVE act. It all doesn't matter. We just have to DO. Our attitude has to just be NO, I'm not going there and YES, that's exactly what you're expected to do. I hate it when my preacher quotes movies but there is one quote that applies here. "Do. Or do not. There is no try." There is no such thing as quit or don't quit. Each individual American freely making up their own minds, there is just DO! Do what you decide to do and ignore what anyone else thinks or says.

  34. Ever Notice How these so called judges refuse to let these money snatchers be dissolved.. who gave them that authority? Seriously? And why the heck are the so called Republicans standing by letting this happen. Im so over being governed for everything.. I want to left alone (like I leave everyone alone).. and live my life in peace.

  36. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!
    GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE!
    THANK YOU SERVICE MEMBERS, AND ALL OF YOU VETERANS! I LOVE AMERICA!

  37. Definitely need to get rid of the Federal Reserve and the IRS. End Federal Income Tax too. Our taxes are just given away and wasted or stolen by mostly KKKommunist 'dems' and all on things bad for our country

  38. When the Founding Fathers took over and the dust settled, the early American Republic DIDN’T have swarms of officers eating out our substance. The first federal administration under President George Washington had just a few, necessary government agencies.

    Most fail to realize what burden the founders were under then. They absolutely abhorred centralized government in all forms! When the Constitution was written those that were gathered were only supposed to be improving the Articles of Confederation. THIS is no longer taught!

    When the Second Amendment mentions "a well regulated militia" it was speaking of a well "trained" militia, NOT a militia under government control. Government control was absolutely ABHORRED back then.

    Context matters, but THAT context is often ignored.

  40. Satan owns this world. Why are people surprised there is so much evil in the world?

    You are correct, though. Christ rose, death and sin are defeated. Those who believe in Christ will also rise on Judgement Day.

    Christians are not of this world. We are to remove ourselves from worldly and earthly pursuits and desires.

    The fate of the world is not our concern. We are instructed to be in the world but not of the world. We are instructed to personally carry out Christ's commandments, live a Christ-like life…storing up our treasures in heaven and not on earth, and always be prepared for Christ's return.

    Sunday, during service, the sound system (we don't have music, just microphone so people can hear the minister) was acting up. Several times it gave out a loud, low-toned noise…3 times.

    We all looked at each other, laughed, and some joked…Gabriel's Horn…good thing we're gathered together worshipping God.

    Obviously it was just the speakers or something, but Christians are to live as if Christ is coming this very day. Always prepared for His return.

  41. These Founders, especially Washington, were opposed to permanent foreign alliances, and are doubtless spinning over the one we have made with Israel — to which we are subservient and have surrendered our sovereignty.

  42. And the government members gathered only 3 months each year, without pay, and returned to their respective private activities afterward. Whoever said : "the government's role is to secure the borders and deliver the mail" was on the mark.

  44. Rolf, thank you, thank you, thank you!

    Exactly what I been preaching for YEARS!

    I love the DoI!

    I've read those grievances multitudes of times!

    The federal govt is illegitimate and invalid because it is NOT in compliance with the Constitution!

    The source of power for the federal govt is the Constitution. When the federal govt has ripped the Constitution to shreds…it no longer has the power to exist! It has destroyed its CREATOR! It no longer has any authority to operate!

    "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.

    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."

  45. What is of even more importance……..is that the nation was founded upon the principles and rights given by God upon the people to form such government for its direction and continued guidance from God.

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