Posted on 03/19/2010 8:43:00 AM PDT by MichiganConservative
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly of Virginia, doth unequivocably express a firm resolution to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of this State, against every aggression either foreign or domestic, and that they will support the government of the United States in all measures warranted by the former.
That this assembly most solemnly declares a warm attachment to the Union of the States, to maintain which it pledges all its powers; and that for this end, it is their duty to watch over and oppose every infraction of those principles which constitute the only basis of that Union, because a faithful observance of them, can alone secure it's existence and the public happiness.
That this Assembly doth explicitly and peremptorily declare, that it views the powers of the federal government, as resulting from the compact, to which the states are parties; as limited by the plain sense and intention of the instrument constituting the compact; as no further valid that they are authorized by the grants enumerated in that compact; and that in case of a deliberate, palpable, and dangerous exercise of other powers, not granted by the said compact, the states who are parties thereto, have the right, and are in duty bound, to interpose for arresting the progress of the evil, and for maintaining within their respective limits, the authorities, rights and liberties appertaining to them.
That the General Assembly doth also express its deep regret, that a spirit has in sundry instances, been manifested by the federal government, to enlarge its powers by forced constructions of the constitutional charter which defines them; and that implications have appeared of a design to expound certain general phrases (which having been copied from the very limited grant of power, in the former articles of confederation were the less liable to be misconstrued) so as to destroy the meaning and effect, of the particular enumeration which necessarily explains and limits the general phrases; and so as to consolidate the states by degrees, into one sovereignty, the obvious tendency and inevitable consequence of which would be, to transform the present republican system of the United States, into an absolute, or at best a mixed monarchy.
That the General Assembly doth particularly protest against the palpable and alarming infractions of the Constitution, in the two late cases of the "Alien and Sedition Acts" passed at the last session of Congress; the first of which exercises a power no where delegated to the federal government, and which by uniting legislative and judicial powers to those of executive, subverts the general principles of free government; as well as the particular organization, and positive provisions of the federal constitution; and the other of which acts, exercises in like manner, a power not delegated by the constitution, but on the contrary, expressly and positively forbidden by one of the amendments thereto; a power, which more than any other, ought to produce universal alarm, because it is levelled against that right of freely examining public characters and measures, and of free communication among the people thereon, which has ever been justly deemed, the only effectual guardian of every other right.
That this state having by its Convention, which ratified the federal Constitution, expressly declared, that among other essential rights, "the Liberty of Conscience and of the Press cannot be cancelled, abridged, restrained, or modified by any authority of the United States," and from its extreme anxiety to guard these rights from every possible attack of sophistry or ambition, having with other states, recommended an amendment for that purpose, which amendment was, in due time, annexed to the Constitution; it would mark a reproachable inconsistency, and criminal degeneracy, if an indifference were now shewn, to the most palpable violation of one of the Rights, thus declared and secured; and to the establishment of a precedent which may be fatal to the other.
That the good people of this commonwealth, having ever felt, and continuing to feel, the most sincere affection for their brethren of the other states; the truest anxiety for establishing and perpetuating the union of all; and the most scrupulous fidelity to that constitution, which is the pledge of mutual friendship, and the instrument of mutual happiness; the General Assembly doth solemnly appeal to the like dispositions of the other states, in confidence that they will concur with this commonwealth in declaring, as it does hereby declare, that the acts aforesaid, are unconstitutional; and that the necessary and proper measures will be taken by each, for co-operating with this state, in maintaining the Authorities, Rights, and Liberties, referred to the States respectively, or to the people.
That the Governor be desired, to transmit a copy of the foregoing Resolutions to the executive authority of each of the other states, with a request that the same may be communicated to the Legislature thereof; and that a copy be furnished to each of the Senators and Representatives representing this state in the Congress of the United States.
Agreed to by the Senate, December 24, 1798.
Nullification.
You don't get this stuff in government schools.
John Adams stated:"The foundation of every government is some principle or passion in the minds of the People."
The Founders' principle was LIBERTY. The virtue among the people often referenced by the Founders was linked to this love of liberty referenced by John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court:
"Let virtue, honor, the love of liberty . . . be the soul of this constitution, and it will become he source of great and extensive happiness to this and future generations. Vice, ignorance and want of vigilance, will be the only enemies able to destroy it."(Quoted in "Our Ageless Constitution" Essay entitled, "Virtue Among the People" available here
Rediscovering and understanding the principles which made the American Constitution a protection for liberty may be the most important task of our day, and time is running out. The "enemies" already have censored these principles from the nation's textbooks and much of our public discourse.
If every person on this thread and every person involved in the TEA Party movement would commit himself/herself to understanding and then sharing the ideas of liberty with at least 3 people, what a difference that might make! Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny," Schweikart's "A Patriot's History of the U. S.," and Stedman and Lewis's "Our Ageless Constitution" lay out these principles in easy-to-understand language and are an excellent means by which our own "dumbed-down" generations can be exposed to the truly revolutionary principles by which our liberty was obtained.
“exercises a power no where delegated to the federal government, and which by uniting legislative and judicial powers to those of executive, subverts the general principles of free government”
All states need to consider this.
I also like Skousen’s stuff. “The Making of America” should be read by everyone.
I studied the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions as a junior in High School, in the early 1970's. It was not a class-wide assignment, rather it was a research project assigned to me by by history teacher. I went from not particularly caring about history, to being enthralled by it, literally overnight.
I think they like it when the students don’t care about their history. Ignorant, fat, immoral, and lazy: the tyrants dream subject.
The teachers are a mixed bag; but I agree, the vast majority are flaming liberal idiots. I was surprised to learn that my daughter's "science" teacher (10th grade) thinks man made global warming is a junk science hoax.
I don't mean that to be an endorsement of the public education system, or that I don't agree with the premise that schools are, by and large, indoctrination camps for liberal orthodoxy. I'm just relaying a personal observation that there are at least a few teachers swimming against the current.
The point is that each citizen who cares about passing on to future generations the liberty we inherited, has a duty to study and understand by what means that liberty was obtained, and how to preserve it. The counterfeit ideas which dominate academia, politics, and the media today can be exposed, if "the People" arm themselves with truth.
I don’t think I was specific enough. It seems that the politicians like it when people forget their past, so a new past can be put in its place that serves the politicians. That’s what I was trying to get at.
Thanks for those links.
Oh, yeah. Agreed. Orwell knew the number, and by his writing in these Resolutions, Jefferson did too. Same words, new meaning.
to enlarge its powers by forced constructions of the constitutional charter which defines them; and that implications have appeared of a design to expound certain general phrases ... so as to destroy the meaning and effect, of the particular enumeration which necessarily explains and limits the general phrases ...
See, for example "general welfare" and "to regulate commerce among the several states." Yeah, the Republic has been dying for awhile. Heck, it might well be dead, existing in (shell) name only.
History is now Social Studies.
Later.
The Congress is tasked to provide for the common Defence and general Welfare but only within their Powers herein granted.
Article 1. Section 1.
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
The general welfare clause does not grant additional powers beyond the Powers herein granted by Article 1. Section 1 and listed in Article 1. Section 8.
You’re welcome. There are others, but those just have so very much content that is original, well-researched, and useful for the battle of ideas about to be waged.
bttt
The Founders’ principle was LIBERTY.
The democrat’s principle is government.
If we side with LIBERTY, can we go wrong?
No, I say.
No, say we all.
You did in my home school. :)
I'm reading The 5000 Year Leap, and find it extremely informative.
Some people who knew Skousen back in the earlier days of his writing say he was a controversial individual, but no one refutes his research and writing.
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Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. |
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