by Logos, Unlawful Government
One of the arguments I frequently hear against secession is that the Constitution never mentions this right, so the right must not exist. Assuming for a moment that the rules of a political system control whether a group of citizens may cease participating in that system (a notion that contradicts the Declaration of Independence), how exactly does constitutional silence disprove secession?
After all, the Tenth Amendment construes constitutional silence as permission for State activity but prohibition against federal activity. If we consider further that our federal masters ignore the Tenth Amendment and never allow constitutional silence to tie their own hands, it becomes undoubtable that constitutional silence cannot tie our hands either.
The only real argument to hold the Union together is sentimental, since for many Americans the proposition of breaking apart our country sounds repellent and treasonous. But I ask you what is a worse fate for America: To remain geographically united while our founding principles burn to the ground? Or to fracture geographically while our founding principles receive a new lease on life?
To my mind, the first of these options commits the worst sin of modern times, which is to elevate the body over the soul. I would rather live in a small nation with America’s soul intact than a large nation with America’s soul extinct.
Logos is a lawyer who cares about the rule of law, and who finds himself living in the wrong century. Visit his blog at http://unlawfulgovernment.blogspot.com.
I have seen forums popping up such as the Free State Wyoming Forum. That particular forum encourages like minded individuals to move to Wyoming with the hopes it would enable the state to obtain adequate votes should seccession become necessary. This I assume is to combat hurdles that states could face, such as you mentioned, of being labeled as treasonous. This fear could seriously affect the votes needed to pass such a measure. No doubt the federal government would do everything in their power to promote the propaganda as well.
Similar to what the above commenter mentioned, there exists the Free State Project which encourages like-minded freedom-loving individuals to move to New Hampshire.
http://freestateproject.org/
Even though people somehow still argue over human and personal rights, there will always be issues that segments of the population do not align on. It would be an interesting situation if one could pick up and move to a neighboring state that more supported his/her views. It silly to think that a State put into power by less than 1/4th the population should be able to rule over an entire country.
Majority rule = ick.
http://www.TexasSecession.com
Check out the often forgotten but very important 9th Amendment. It states that a right not enumerated in the Constitution cannot be used as grounds for denying that right. James Madison himself insisted on this amendment because he feared that the Bill of Rights could be construed as a vehicle for limiting rights, which is why he was initially opposed to the Bill of Rights. The Constitution exists to enumerate the powers of government, not the rights of the people(or states). So as far as the Constitution is concerned, there is no prohibition of secession.
I am opposed to secession and hope that I will continue to be. We still haven’t exhausted all means to educate our fellow Americans about the blessings of liberty and constitutional government. Nevertheless, I do believe the threat of secession to be useful. As Thomas Jefferson said(paraphrasing: “”"When people fear the government, there is tyranny. When government fears the people, there is liberty”"”.
Secession – I hope not but the prospects of saving the land of the free and brave are dim at best. Congress has instituted an unconstitutional Democracy which unthinking, or don’t care, Americans support. Even thinking Americans don’t know how to save or maintain the land of the free and brave; at least they don’t, or very few do, express that knowledge.
Allan
With a bloated and out of control federal government – maybe secession movements are the only thing that could act as a check on federal power. Personally, if things don’t change, and PDQ, I can’t imagine even wanting anything to do with the US federal government. It’s a complete and utter failure.
Lysander Spooner may have said it best:
“The Constitution has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it.”
I see that it is time to notify the federal goverment that they work for the people and the people allow them to do that work. when these employees of ours become so corrupt that they feel we work for them, its time for a change.
this is our country and we the people want it back………….
Glenn – we definitely want our country, whether we can get it back voluntarily or not, I don’t know. Secession might be an option in if the feds don’t get back in line.
If states seceed again it will not be a Secession from unity with other states but only with the Federal Govt. If the majority of states pass legislation proclaiming their rights under the 10th amendment, then the najority of states will pretty much be in agreement that the Federal Govt needs reorganized or replaced. Each state must take control of its militia and so to deprive the Fed. Govt of an army to attach its citizens. It should be part of the oath that every person in each state entering the military take that they will never raise arms against any state. The Federal Reserve will find a way to start a war if this happens. Do not underestimate them. If the only way for them to retain control of our money is a war they will find a way. They always have.