Yes, the Founders were “progressive” if you will, but it was a “progressive” bent that was utterly conservative. Consider the thoughts of an astute contemporary outside observer,
“…the people of the colonies are descendants of Englishmen. England, Sir, is a nation, which still I hope respects, and formerly adored, her freedom. The colonists emigrated from you when this part of your character was most predominant; and they took this bias and direction the moment they parted from your hands. They are therefore not only devoted to liberty, but to liberty according to English ideas, and on English principles. Abstract liberty, like other mere abstractions, is not to be found. Liberty inheres in some sensible object; and every nation has formed to itself some favourite point, which by way of eminence becomes the criterion of their happiness. It happened, you know, Sir, that the great contests for freedom in this country were from the earliest times chiefly upon the question of taxing…”
Burke goes on further to state that he believes the colonists’ devotion to liberty is somewhat exaggerated, but his observations nevertheless underscore the simple fact that the Founders were seeking to have their traditional liberties preserved… or restored.
And that, friend, is the bedrock of conservatism: the protection and restoration of individual liberty. Yes, if one examines the “long train of abuses” cited by the Declaration of Independence, one finds things other than abuse of taxation, but ALL are abuses of traditional rights of English subjects.
The Founders were “progressive”… in the traditional, conservative manner of English subjects from the Magna Carta onward.
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