On February 12 2009, bill S. 424 was introduced during the118th Session of the South Carolina General Assembly, by freedom-fighter Senators Lee Bright, Shane Martin, Thomas Alexander, Paul Campbell, Michael Fair, Jake Knotts, Ronnie Cromer, "Mick" Mulvaney, Danny Verdin, Larry Martin, Phillip Shoopman, Michael Rose, Glenn McConnell, David Thomas, Raymond Cleary, John Courson, Creighton Coleman, Tom Davis, Glenn Reese, Kevin Bryant and "Chip" Campsen.
The bill concerns the power of the U.S. Government relative to that of the State of South Carolina. Its text is explicit and succinct. It begins thus:
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO AFFIRM SOUTH CAROLINA'S SOVEREIGNTY UNDER THE TENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION OVER ALL POWERS NOT ENUMERATED AND GRANTED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
Unlike the recent New Hampshire bill, the South Carolina bill doesn't spell out the manner of response contemplated by the South Carolina Legislators upon the inevitable continuation of the breach of its enumerated powers, that will inevitably place the U.S. Government in non compliance with the law, shortly after, if not immediately upon, this bill's enactment.
And how could they? Unless they have arranged for a patron with mighty deep pockets to step into the breach when U.S. Funds for government services stop flowing in in response to any substantive resistance to its power, the Federal Government won't even need for the CIA to implement its covert contingency plan. South Carolina's own citizens would themselves disadvise the errant lawmakers of their hubris. Until a substitute for the Federal dole is devised no escape will be possible.
The sponsors' bill is obviously meant as a palliative to impotence, by men who are railing merely as theater now that the opposition party has tossed theirs out at the federal level. Their bold words are for consumption only, not a rallying cry.
Do any of these men contemplate any true positive non compliance option, secession or even nullification being, for them, zero options? If so, what is it? Do they believe that the Federal Juggernaut will be slowed down by their words? Obviously not.
Obviously not - some among these men may even have ambitions to move on to Washington, D.C. Should fate smile their way, they would cheerfully become part of the problem. The proof of the emptiness of this bill lies in the fact that they know that their signature upon it would hinder such ambitions none at all.
Contrast this with what views of their potential futures at a federal level New Hampshire freedom fighters, Daniel C. Itse, Paul C. Ingbretson, Tim Comerford, and William P. Denley must have held as they presented their bill to the New Hampshire Legislature. Theirs, though it has no chance of passage, certainly stands each of these men out as a Patriot for New Hampshiremen's rights! And certifiably non federal material!
Never the less, it is good to see South Carolina join the howl.
Though the wording of South Carolina's bill is mild compared to both New Hampshire's and Montana's, both of which could portend real conflict, what makes South Carolina's resolution different is the number of Senators who introduced it.
New Hampshire's bill had 4 sponsors out of 400 Representatives and 24 Senators while the South Carolina bill is merely the Senate version; the House version was introduced later. South Carolina's bill is co-sponsored by 20 Senators, including the Chairman Pro Tem, Glenn McConnell, out of a total of 46 Senators. About 1% of New Hampshire's legislators sponsored their bill, while 43% of South Carolina's Senators sponsored hers. It is comparing apples with oranges, of course, but at least this resolution will pass in the Senate of South Carolina.
Of course, the legislators don't mean a word of it. It is a complete sham. Not a one of them would put anything on the line in defense of the notion of South Carolina's sovereignty.
And yet, it is there:
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, claims for the State of South Carolina sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the United States Constitution.
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A similar bill was introduced in the South Carolina legislature in January, 1995 - S 0206 by freedom fighters: Wilson, Courson, Giese, Hayes, Lander, Leatherman, Martin, McConnell, O'Dell, Passailaigue, M.T. Rose, Russell, Ryberg, Thomas and Waldrep
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
CLAIMING SOVEREIGNTY UNDER THE TENTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OVER ALL POWERS NOT OTHERWISE ENUMERATED AND GRANTED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES; PROVIDING THAT ALL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, AND THEIR AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES OPERATING WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, OR ALL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND THEIR AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES, WHOSE ACTIONS HAVE EFFECT ON THE INHABITANTS OR LANDS OR WATERS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SHALL OPERATE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OR BE SUBJECT TO PENALTY OF LAW AS PROVIDED FOR NOW OR IN THE FUTURE, WITHIN THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATUTES, OR THE COMMON LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES; AND SERVING NOTICE AND DEMAND ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS SOUTH CAROLINA'S AGENT TO CEASE AND DESIST IMMEDIATELY ALL MANDATES THAT ARE BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY DELEGATED POWERS.
I am unaware of the fate of this former bill but its spirit has been ignored. The growth of Illegal Federal Government power has blossomed in the intervening years.
The overreaching is now at a fever pitch. The greed and ineptitude of the central cabal has reached proportions not dreamed of in 1995. And, with the internet, far, far more people are aware of it. The clock appears, at last, to be clicking down.
I emailed each of the cosponsors of the new bill congratulating them. You can do that too, if you wish, by clicking on the names of the freedom fighters above.
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Bravo!
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