Confederate History Moment

The main issue that led to the War Between the States continues to re-present itself into our contemporary American political scene. And this should surprise no-one, even as the confederate president Jefferson Davis observed: "A question settled by violence, or in disregard of law, must remain unsettled forever."

What is the role of the federal government? So far, this question (along with the corollaries: What are the limits on its power? How do the states fit in?) remains unsettled.

This uncivil disagreement in America is manifested in both the Tea Party activists and their opponents.

So, here is a Confederate History Moment twofer, first, an essay addressing the recent suggestion that verbal disagreement with the federal government constitutes sedition, and second, a statement of contemporary 10th Amendment principles. A double HT is in order to Lew Rockwell.

Maybe we will finally see the question - which was indeed settled by violence and in disregard of the law - finally settled in a civilized way that serves the American people and protects their liberties, instead of pushing the American people into servitude and their God-given liberties into mere privileges granted by government bureaucrats.

And even if American liberty simply becomes a lost cause, it is gratifying to see the question being asked once again.

Deo vindice.