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To identify the birthing of a historical legacy documenting the loss of freedom, some libertarians and some conservatives point to the loss of states' rights during the War Between the States under Lincoln as a major battle and loss for freedom. It's initiation, it's continuation, and it's legacy all set poor precedents which may yet result in an American Tyrannical state.

We don't have a perfect government. But do have the best one yet devised. The Articles of Confederation kept the states very strong. There was no president, no national judiciary, no way for the central government to compel taxes. Money was to be raised by "requisition" on the states.

In the event, the Articles were hopelessly inadequate. The framers got together and decided to make a stronger central government, one that,as Washington said, had "a power which will pervade the whole Union in as energetic a manner, as the authority of the different state governments extends over the several states."

Now the framers soft-pedaled this in selling the new government. But the power was always there.

All you can say about President Lincoln is that he was the first president who had to SHOW that the power was there.

Walt

All you can say about President Lincoln is that he was the first president who had to SHOW that the power was there.

I don't know about that. In 1832, President Andy Jackson made it very clear that he would be glad to personally lead the US Army into South Carolina and hang anyone who thought they could nullify US law or unilaterally secede. George Washington did lead the US Army into Western Pennsylvania in 1795 to put down a revolt of people who thought they could ignore US law and kill US government officials.

All you can say about President Lincoln is that he was the first president who had to SHOW that the power was there.

And all you can say about George Washington is that he was the first person to show the Government (British) that it's power had limits.

Now the framers soft-pedaled this in selling the new government. But the power was always there.

Validating the Anti-Federalist opposition to the Constitution.

They did more than soft-pedal it, however, they outright denied it and labelled those who saw it as paranoid freaks.

A contract signed under false pretenses is not a valid document.