THUNDER BAY – Since election day in the United States, there have been petitions filed on the White House website calling for each of the states in the union to secede. There are some additional petitions calling for those who have signed petitions calling for their states to secede to be charged with treason. However, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, a former candidate for president says “Secession is a deeply American principle. This country was born through secession. Some felt it was treasonous to secede from England, but those “traitors” became our country’s greatest patriots”.
Commenting further, Paul says, “Is all the recent talk of secession mere sour grapes over the election, or perhaps something deeper? Currently there are active petitions in support of secession for all 50 states, with Texas taking the lead in number of signatures. Texas has well over the number of signatures needed to generate a response from the administration, and while I wouldn’t hold my breath on Texas actually seceding, I believe these petitions raise a lot of worthwhile questions about the nature of our union”.
The United States has a history that is based on its Constitution, and on individual rights and freedoms. The issue of freedom of speech and the First Amendment on freedom of the press is massive. Across the country there are many Americans who are deeply concerned over the direction that their country is headed. During the election, many people voted for the President, but almost an equal number chose to vote for his opponent.
Paul, who is more libertarian in his political leaning says, “Is it treasonous to want to secede from the United States? Many think the question of secession was settled by our Civil War. On the contrary; the principles of self-governance and voluntary association are at the core of our founding. Clearly Thomas Jefferson believed secession was proper, albeit as a last resort. Writing to William Giles in 1825, he concluded that states:
“should separate from our companions only when the sole alternatives left, are the dissolution of our Union with them, or submission to a government without limitation of powers.”
Paul continues, “Keep in mind that the first and third paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence expressly contemplate the dissolution of a political union when the underlying government becomes tyrannical. Do we have a “government without limitation of powers” yet? The Federal government kept the Union together through violence and force in the Civil War, but did might really make right?”
The outspoken manner offered by Ron Paul, on issues that are certain to generate discussion and in many cases loud debate are a part of the American political scene that in many ways has become increasingly rare.
What Paul does it take issues, obviously of concern to many of his fellow Americans, and discuss them. Since the election, and the issue of states seceding from the union, President Obama’s White House has not addressed the issue.
While it is reported to be required for the White House to respond to the petitions on states seceding from the union, there is no requirement for it to be an agreement that they can.
Will the United States break apart? Likely as soon as Quebec leaves Confederation in Canada. However politically, it is likely the debate will rage on in some circles for years to come.
James Murray
