A marriage license does not make or not make one "married." All it does is make more revenue for THE STATE. It is not even required by law! Most people are ignorant of this.
What makes a marriage is a commitment, a ceremony in front of God and witnesses, and sacred vows creating a covenant. A ceremony is important. It declares to the world that "you take this man/woman to be your lawfully wedding wife/husband." The ceremony demonstrates to the world your commitment to that person. This is a true "common law" marriage. This is the way marriage should be, but without the license. You shouldn't have to pay Uncle Sam to be married!
Marriage is NOT a "privilege" for being a Citizen of the United States. The government has no right being in the marriage business. Being an American is a blessing from God, being a US federal citizen is not. Our founding fathers made this very clear in the Declaration of Independence.
The "gift" of marriage is FROM God, and God only. Therefore, we do NOT need the state's permission to marry. A "License" gives you the right to do something, that without it, you would be doing something illegal. Since when was marriage, a God-ordained institution, illegal? You have a "right" to get married, without a license (the state's permission). Thomas Jefferson said,
"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..." -The Declaration of Independence (paragraph 2).
Again, we do NOT get our rights from government, but from God.
Marriage licenses for all citizens is fairly new. It began in the 1800's, when citizens which wanted an interracial marriage had to petition to the government for permission. You see, back then blacks were not considered citizens with human rights. The Supreme Court ruled in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) that blacks were NOT human beings. It decreed a slave was his master's property and African Americans were not citizens; striking down the Missouri Compromise as unconstitutional.
Blacks needed a license to marry. However, marriages between two white people, or two black people, or two Chinese, did NOT need licenses. They still don't, but the government is happy to allow you (in your ignorance) to keep paying them revenue.
If you call up your local County Clerk and Recorder to ask them if a marriage license is required, they will probably tell you "Yes." This is out of ignorance. The state has a vested interest in keeping their employees ignorant, by not advising them of true law. Marriage "licenses" bring in a lot of revenue! Ask the County Clerk, "what law" requires a marriage license? I guarantee you, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH ONE! If they say they don't know which one, then tell them you will give them a few days to find out, and that you'll call back for their answer. Should they be telling citizens that there is a law for something that doesn't even exists? NO!
It is not "being a good citizen" to pay for something that goes into their greedy coffers. That revenue is better off in the pockets of those that earned that money in the first place. It's the whole principle of the matter, we shouldn't have to get the government's permission to get married. Come to think of it, why do we need a fishing license? Why do we need a license to work on our home? Why do we need a license to own a dog?
Why can the government fine elderly people for thousands of dollars (for petty home repairs), and then steal their properties when they can't pay? There are many organized criminals working in our government. Licenses! Regulations! Ordinances! People are told what type flag they can or can't hang outside their home.They're told what type of plants they can or cannot grow. Now they're getting ready to require a license to grow your own tomatoes. They're told where they can (or can't) build a shed. Home owners are fined for petty things like leaking gutters, pealing paint, etc. Where does government interference stop.
Now the Patriot (unpatriotic) Acts I and II have been passed to further strip U.S. citizens of our rights. Now they're talking Patriot Act III. Where does it end? It's just more government control. Are we ultimately headed for the gulags? If you don't think this could ever happen, then you need to read up on Operation Garden Plot. More Garden Plot. It's coming folks, you will lose your freedoms.
Marriage License Truth