Let’s Study the Constitution, Part 7

The Coach's Team ^ | 7/17/17 | Susan Frickey

[Oldpuppymax]

The Third Amendment reads, “No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war except in a manner prescribed by law.”

This Amendment, introduced by James Madison, was important to the Framers because of the callous way in which British troops would take over and loot personal residences during the Revolutionary war through Britain’s Quartering Acts.

In The Making of America, W. Cleon Skousen writes how quartering of troops was among the “long train of abuses and usurpations” of King George listed in the Declaration of Independence. Homeowners were required at the time to provide the enemy troops with fire, candles, vinegar and salt, bedding, utensils, and other supplies, without ever receiving any kind of compensation. This had been a common practice of war in Europe. Quartering of troops was considered worse than a plague because the soldiers were notorious for ravishing the women, destroying the furniture and property, and abusing the owners. They would often destroy or take the crops when they departed to keep them out of the hands of the other side.

This barbaric practice often left the homeowner with nothing. If the home was burned, there was no place to live, no clothes to wear, no precious heirlooms saved over generations, no treasure remaining to use as capital for rebuilding. Hence, the Framers hastened to write an amendment to protect families and property from the military.

This Amendment has not come into play in many decades, but it is there to ensure personal safety, protect our privacy and property rights. It is the only part of the Constitution that deals directly with the relationship between the rights of individuals and the military...

[Sasparilla]

During WWII, the US Army moved owners and residents out of their beachfront homes in Daytona Beach, and used the residences to house WACs during their training.

[beelzepug]

But was it done “... in a manner prescribed by law”?

[Sasparilla]

But was it done “... in a manner prescribed by law...

I don’t know if the legalities we’re properly observed. Things were done fast then like the Japanese “resettlement” too.
My Mother was a WAC housed in what she called a beautiful beach home with other WACs on army cots. She said beach homes like that we’re full of WACs in a big area taken over by the military for what IIRC was basic training in Daytona. I’ll bet the officers got the best ones

[beelzepug]

Of course they did. Them big guys get ever’ thang!