Article V - The Healing Principle

ArticleVBlog ^ | June 10th 2019 | Rodney Dodsworth

[Jacquerie]

In 1776, Great Britain’s American colonists revolted in response to George III’s corruption of the British constitution. The twenty-seven indictments of him in our Declaration detailed his assaults. Americans didn’t have an Article V or its equivalent to peacefully secure the rights enjoyed by Englishmen in England. Similarly, 21st century America is witness to a dying Constitution in which its open corruption is the subject of endless opinion columns and appeals.

Article V opponents curiously admonish Article V supporters to “enforce the Constitution we have.” Through the election of better Representatives, Senators, and Presidents, they say, is the road to Constitutional restoration. This steadfast belief is, without doubt, the everyday illustration of insanity. It is also identical to the pleas of socialists, who believe that despite the lessons of failed tyrannies around the world, their systems would have worked had better Marxists been in charge.

Since Article V opponents long for the return of what they imagine as the virtuous era of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, let’s revisit their wisdom.

First, consider how quickly our Framing generation adjusted! Before 1774, Americans worked to patch up their quarrels and remain loyal British subjects. In 1776, in the midst of war, the states began writing republican constitutions. By 1787 it was evident that self-government was a tricky business and that overly democratic government could be as dangerous to liberty as any king. However, the American republics possessed what former Massachusetts royal governor Thomas Pownall called “a healing principle” built into their constitutions.¹

Each contained “within itself,” according to Samuel Williams, “the means of its own improvements, the idea of incorporating, in the constitution itself, a plan of reformation,” enabling the people to periodically and peacefully return to first principles.

[wastoute]

...and what do you do when fully 35% of the country has “destroy the country” as a “first principle?”

[ml/nj]

Article V opponents curiously admonish Article V supporters to “enforce the Constitution we have.” Through the election of better Representatives, Senators, and Presidents, they say, is the road to Constitutional restoration.

Those who support a Convention of States don't seem to realize that Al Sharpton and his ilk will dominate rather than James Madison and the Framers.

ML/NJ

[Jacquerie]

I addressed that in the column.

[Jacquerie]

Sharpton, AoC, Bernie and their ilk dominate today.