Lawmakers in 20 (now 26) states are pushing to regain their statessovereignty from the US Government under the ninth and tenth amendmentsto the US Constitution!
We warned this was coming many months, even years ago, in this veryspace. Many readers gave me grief saying that I had no idea what I wastalking about, that I was blowing smoke, that I was a dumb ole rednecklooking to secede from the Union. None of that was, nor is, true. Thefact is that I live in the real world where people are not afraid to speak their minds.
Some months (possibly even years) back, I pointed out to readersthere was information that indicated there were, at that time, 22active secessionist movements within the United States. Thatinformation was brushed aside. So, we come to today.
Today we have lawmakers, in the state legislatures of at least 20states, introducing bills to assist their states in re-establishingtheir constitutional sovereignty from the Federal Government. Thefederal government has just become entirely too overbearing as strongcentral governments always do. You might even say… as our currentfederal government has become.
There is an excellent article on this HERE.
Now, as an amateur historian, very amateurish, I stress,I have spent a good deal of time studying the period in the early tomid 1800’s when the US had reached a point similar to the one we findourselves at today.
You see, by 1860 the Gross National Product of the southern statesof America was three times that of the northern states. The southernstates were providing well over 60% of the money necessary to keep theUS afloat. The US government was demanding more and more of thesouthern states and simply would not listen when my southern ancestorscomplained about it to the Congress. Finally, the southern statesthreatened to leave the Union and set up their own country. The USConstitution did not; repeat… did not … forbid the secession of anystate, at any time, for any reason. (The Articles of Confederation didbar secession unless all the states seceded. Not so, the Constitutionwhich followed.)
Eleven states, plus parts of two more states, left the US and formedthe Confederate States of America with a Constitution, a Congress, aPresident, an Army, a Navy, a Marine Corp, and a land area severaltimes larger than that of the 13 original colonies when they left theMother Country to form their own nation.
Unfortunately, the history of what happened next, over the next fouryears of war and then the abomination called reconstruction, has beenrewritten to favor the Federal Government’s side of the dispute and ithas given a permanent black eye to my region of the country. I maintainthat the south would be a separate, prosperous, country today had myancestors not been dragged back… forced back… into the Union at thepoint of a bayonet… all quite illegally.
I expect that many of you will be will be surprised to learn thatthe Federal Government was created by the states to act as a agent ofthe states, taking direction from the states. That has all been changedtoday. Today the states take orders from the Federal Government, whichwas originally meant to be an inferior agency. Some people around the50 states are beginning to wake up to this fact and when enough getriled up, there will be hell to pay… all over again.
The Ninth Amendment to the US Constitution says:
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not beconstrued to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
The Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution says:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the Statesrespectively, or to the people.
Now, you can argue this point every which way from Sunday, and ithas been. But, when the smoke clears away, the tenth Amendment makes itabsolutely clear that the Federal Government is limited only to thepowers granted to it in the Constitution. It says so… right there inthe tenth amendment!
To see that the Federal Government has exceeded it’s authority allyou have to do is look around you. We, the people, are swamped withrules, and regulations, and laws handed down by the Federal Governmentthat are smothering the states and draining our state treasuries, justas the Federal Governement did before the American Civil War. It isplain to see that the states and the Federal Government are headed forsome kind of confrontation … and it won’t be pleasant.
I am convinced that the Congress we have seated today, and thePresident in the Oval Office today, will do more to bring about thedissolution of the United States than any government since that of Lincolnin 1860. We warned, even before the President was sworn in, that hisgovernment would over-reach. They began almost immediately. Theso-called “Stimulus Bill” could well be the straw that broke thecamel’s back. Eight states have introduced resolutions declaring statesovereignty under the Ninth and Tenth Amendment to the Constitution,including Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Washington(state). Some analysts expect that in addition, another 20 states maysee similar measures introduced this year, including Alaska, Alabama,Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia,Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nevada, Maine, and Pennsylvania. We recommendyou read an article titled: “State Sovereignty Movement QuietlyGrowing.“ You’ll find it HERE..
No less than James Madison, himself, one of our Founding Fathers,wrote in “The Federalist” the following: “The powers delegated to thefederal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain inthe state governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will beexercised principally on external objects, [such] as war, peace,negotiation, and foreign commerce. The powers reserved to the severalstates will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course ofaffairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people.“
Interestingly, James Madison was one of the chief writers of the USConstitution. I think it is safe to take his word as an authority onwhat it meant.
The plain fact is… as one state lawmaker has said… the states aretired of being treated as branches of the Federal Government. Theprofligate spending by the Federal Government and those unfundedmandates dumped on the states are strangling the states… just as theydid to the Southern states in the 1800’s.
We Americans don’t know our own history. America has a couple ofgenerations of Americans who believe history started they day they wereborn. Those of us, who have studied the past, see the warning signsflashing all around us. We are headed for a constitutional crisis,which may tear the country apart. And I am not writing of thisrecession, which is nowhere near as bad as the current government wouldhave you believe. I am pointing to a power struggle between the“creator”(the states), and the “created” (the federal government).
This Americans, who do know their history, know, all too well, thatAmerica is in another situation very similar to the one over which shefought the American Revolution and, approximately 80 years later, theAmerican Civil War.
Am I worried? You’d better believe I am worried!
J. D. Longstreet
http://csadispatch.blogspot.com/
States Claiming Sovereignty:
Arizona (AZ)
Arkansas (AR) *NEW*
Georgia (GA)
Michigan (MI)
Minnesota (MN) *NEW*
Missouri (MO)
Montana (MT)
New Hampshire (NH)
Oklahoma (OK)
South Carolina (SC) *NEW*
Tennessee (TN) *NEW*
Washington (WA)
States Planning / Motioning Toward Claiming Sovereignty:
Alabama (AL)
Alaska (AK)
Colorado (CO)
Idaho (ID)
Indiana (IN)
Kansas (KS)
Maine (ME More..
)
Nevada (NV)
Pennsylvania (PA)
West Virginia (WV) *NEW*
……………………………………………..
Amendment 9 – Construction of Constitution. Ratified 12/15/1791.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not beconstrued to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
……………………………………………..
Amendment 10 – Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, norprohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the Statesrespectively, or to the people.
……………………………………………..
NOTE:
As of 1 hour ago I understand there are now 26 States claiming sovereignty, but I don’t yet know the 26th State
Patrick Henry
May 29, 1736 – June 6, 1799) was a prominent figure in the AmericanRevolution, known and remembered for his “Give me Liberty, or give meDeath!” speech. Along with Samuel Adams and Thomas Paine, he isremembered as one of the most influential (and radical) advocates ofthe American Revolution and republicanism, especially in hisdenunciations of corruption in government officials and his defense ofhistoric rights.
See Below for his speech:
Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death
Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well asabilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed theHouse. But different men often see the same subject in differentlights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful tothose gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character veryopposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely andwithout reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before theHouse is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, Iconsider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; andin proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedomof the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive attruth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God andour country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, throughfear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treasontowards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty ofHeaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions ofhope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listento the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is thisthe part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle forliberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes,see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concerntheir temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit itmay cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, andto provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lampof experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by thepast. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been inthe conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justifythose hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselvesand the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition hasbeen lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to yourfeet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselveshow this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlikepreparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets andarmies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shownourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in towin back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are theimplements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kingsresort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if itspurpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign anyother possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in thisquarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies andarmies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meantfor no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chainswhich the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have weto oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying thatfor the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject?Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it iscapable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty andhumble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not beenalready exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves.Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the stormwhich is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; wehave supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, andhave implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of theministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; ourremonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; oursupplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, withcontempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, maywe indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is nolonger any room for hope. If we wish to be free– if we mean topreserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have beenso long contending–if we mean not basely to abandon the noble strugglein which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledgedourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contestshall be obtained–we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! Anappeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidablean adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week,or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when aBritish guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gatherstrength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means ofeffectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging thedelusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us handand foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those meanswhich the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions ofpeople, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country asthat which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy cansend against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone.There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and whowill raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, isnot to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it,it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat butin submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may beheard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable–and let it come!I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace,Peace– but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next galethat sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash ofresounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand wehere idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Islife so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price ofchains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what courseothers may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Less..