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To: Jim Robinson
"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. "

But I found his first use of this principle even more apt:

"; 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. "

The Founders seemed to count heavily upon the States to be a check to the national government's accretion of power.
Absent some event I can't imagine ( though, God willing, He can) the States will in a few generations be less than handmaidens to the national government.


( The good articles are always posted so late.)

64 posted on 12/06/2001 8:50:28 PM PST by mrsmith
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To: mrsmith
I believe that the 17th amendment had a lot to do with sealing the fate of the states and that of the Republic.
65 posted on 12/06/2001 8:58:10 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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