Posted on 07/30/2016 2:04:37 AM PDT by Jacquerie
Article V opponents often echo, from The John Birch Society and Eagle Forum talking points, an admonition to “Just enforce the Constitution we have.” On the other hand, our Framers, the most brilliant thinkers in political history were not so conceited as to believe their design was perfection on earth. The existence of Article V is self-evident proof of their humility.
In previous posts I cited the republican lessons that Niccolo’ Machiavelli, Charles De Montesquieu, Algernon Sidney and Cato’s Letters drew from history that pointed toward the necessity of eternal vigilance, of using experience to inform our actions toward keeping free government.
The men of our Framing generation were well aware of these writings, and referred to them from time to time in personal letters, newspapers, and pamphlets, as well as at the Federal Convention and subsequent Federalist Papers.
By 1787, America had her own rich history in representative government and of taking defensive measures short of violence to defend free government long before the shot heard around the world in 1775. Our disputes with England over self-government began with the establishment of The Lords of Trade and Plantations in 1696, whose purpose was general oversight of American affairs, and of recommending measures relative to the colonies. These contests sharpened the colonists’ legislative wits, such that by the mid-18th century, American governing institutions were quite mature and respectable.
While the lessons of the ancients and the enlightenment were given their due, American governing forms would ultimately be derived from the American experience.
For instance, in a heated exchange at the Federal Convention over the origination of money bills, John Dickenson exclaimed that “experience must be our only guide!” He referenced the fact that money bills in eight states had to originate in their Assemblies. When the new plan of government went forth for ratification, it was certain to be attacked by populist leaders, so a similar provision to the Constitution would assist in its approval.
More appeals to the American experience appeared in The Federalist.
Madison wrote in #14, “ Is it not the glory of the people of America, that, whilst they have paid a decent regard to the opinions of former times and other nations, they have not suffered a blind veneration for antiquity, for custom, or for names, to overrule the suggestions of their own good sense, the knowledge of their own situation, and the lessons of their own experience? To this manly spirit, posterity will be indebted for the possession, and the world for the example, of the numerous innovations displayed on the American theatre, in favor of private rights and public happiness. . . . They formed the design of a great Confederacy, which it is incumbent on their successors to improve and perpetuate.”
Madison and Hamilton from #20: “ Experience is the oracle of truth; and where its responses are unequivocal, they ought to be conclusive and sacred.”
Hamilton from Federalist #72: “That experience is the parent of wisdom, is an adage the truth of which is recognized by the wisest as well as the simplest of mankind. What more desirable or more essential than this quality in the governors of nations?”
Patrick Henry at the Second Virginia Convention of March 1775: “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House?”
Where Patrick Henry questioned how anyone could realistically hope for change in British conduct toward her colonies, America 2016 should question the common assumption that elections alone can possibly restore free government.
Our modern, national experience screams that an emasculated congress is incapable of standing athwart a scotus and administrative state bent on continual social justice transformation of our society and Constitution. These rogue institutions will continue to amend the Constitution and stomp on our God-given rights until society, through the Article V state process, stops them.
Experience demands that we stand up to those intent on our enslavement.
We are the many; our oppressors are the few. Be proactive. Be a Re-Founder. Join Convention of States.
meh
First let’s see if the Artivke Versi will vote for Trump.
If they continue with the never trump stance Hilary’s SCOTUS will never allow any movement
Hey, the country was grand while she was. This country is a very different place than when Obozo took to the white house. If Hillary gets in, the destruction of our way of life, our culture and all that we hold near and dear will be completely dismantled.
Pretty important election I’d say.
“Our modern, national experience screams that an emasculated congress is incapable of standing athwart a scotus and administrative state bent on continual social justice transformation of our society and Constitution. These rogue institutions will continue to amend the Constitution and stomp on our God-given rights until society, through the Article V state process, stops them.”
What are the AV grievances from any state and those common to all?
Example: He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/a
The most important question that was ever proposed to your decision, or to the decision of any people under heaven, is before you, and you are to decide upon it by men of your own election, chosen specially for this purpose. If the constitution, offered to your acceptance, be a wise one, calculated to preserve the invaluable blessings of liberty, to secure the inestimable rights of mankind, and promote human happiness, then, if you accept it, you will lay a lasting foundation of happiness for millions yet unborn; generations to come will rise up and call you blessed. You may rejoice in the prospects of this vast extended continent becoming filled with freemen, who will assert the dignity of human nature. You may solace yourselves with the idea, that society, in this favoured land, will fast advance to the highest point of perfection; the human mind will expand in knowledge and virtue, and the golden age be, in some measure, realised. But if, on the other hand, this form of government contains principles that will lead to the subversion of liberty — if it tends to establish a despotism, or, what is worse, a tyrannic aristocracy; then, if you adopt it, this only remaining assylum for liberty will be shut up, and posterity will execrate your memory.
Momentous then is the question you have to determine, and you are called upon by every motive which should influence a noble and virtuous mind, to examine it well, and to make up a wise judgment. It is insisted, indeed, that this constitution must be received, be it ever so imperfect. If it has its defects, it is said, they can be best amended when they are experienced. But remember, when the people once part with power, they can seldom or never resume it again but by force. Many instances can be produced in which the people have voluntarily increased the powers of their rulers; but few, if any, in which rulers have willingly abridged their authority. This is a sufficient reason to induce you to be careful, in the first instance, how you deposit the powers of government.
So far therefore as its powers reach, all ideas of confederation are given up and lost. It is true this government is limited to certain objects, or to speak more properly, some small degree of power is still left to the states, but a little attention to the powers vested in the general government, will convince every candid man, that if it is capable of being executed, all that is reserved for the individual states must very soon be annihilated, except so far as they are barely necessary to the organization of the general government. The powers of the general legislature extend to every case that is of the least importance — there is nothing valuable to human nature, nothing dear to freemen, but what is within its power. It has authority to make laws which will affect the lives, the liberty, and property of every man in the United States; nor can the constitution or laws of any state, in any way prevent or impede the full and complete execution of every power given. The legislative power is competent to lay taxes, duties, imposts, and excises; — there is no limitation to this power…
And are by this clause invested with the power of making all laws, proper and necessary, for carrying all these into execution; and they may so exercise this power as entirely to annihilate all the state governments, and reduce this country to one single government. And if they may do it, it is pretty certain they will; for it will be found that the power retained by individual states, small as it is, will be a clog upon the wheels of the government of the United States; the latter therefore will be naturally inclined to remove it out of the way. Besides, it is a truth confirmed by the unerring experience of ages, that every man, and every body of men, invested with power, are ever disposed to increase it, and to acquire a superiority over every thing that stands in their way. This disposition, which is implanted in human nature, will operate in the federal legislature to lessen and ultimately to subvert the state authority, and having such advantages, will most certainly succeed, if the federal government succeeds at all.
In a free republic…
Brutus #1 - Anti-federalist
We’ve got to pass it to find out what’s in it ALERT!
In the meantime, DEFUND socialist collectives foreign and domestic. DEPOPULATE liars, thieves, deceivers, scumbags, progressives, collectivists, socialists, totalitarians and their enablers from the body politic.
Thanks for your OUTSTANDING posts Jacquerie. AVE - Article V Enthusiasts BUMP!
Precisely
Would some one get it through the heads of the never trumpers?
Thanks PG.
There’s little question that the Constitution would have turned out differently if Robert Yates, John Lansing, had not left in early July of 1787 AND the likes of Patrick Henry and Richard Henry Lee attended.
The people that control Congress are the same as those who control the States: Republicans.
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