Tuesday, February 3, 2009

New Hampshire: Nullification?

First Oklahoma, now New Hampshire, reaffirmed their states rights. Although there are only states it is significant that states feel the need to proclaim their independence at all. Tagged with an unfortunate association with the Confederacy, States Rights long seemed to be beating a dead horse. Of course States Rights is affirmed in the Constitution but it long lost out to the prevailing dominance of the Federal government. But this statement by the NH legislature is intriguing on several levels in the scope of liberties reaffirmed and the obvious countering points which begs the question: what do they know that I need to know?


The statement mutes Federal drug and crime bills along with a counter to recently resurrected "hate-crime" statutes. But the legislature enumerated additional cautions.



"I. Establishing martial law or a state of emergency within one of the States comprising the United States of America without the consent of the legislature of that State.

II. Requiring involuntary servitude, or governmental service other than a draft during a declared war, or pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law.

III. Requiring involuntary servitude or governmental service of persons under the age of 18 other than pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law.

IV. Surrendering any power delegated or not delegated to any corporation or foreign government.

V. Any act regarding religion; further limitations on freedom of political speech; or further limitations on freedom of the press.

VI. Further infringements on the right to keep and bear arms including prohibitions of type or quantity of arms or ammunition; and

That should any such act of Congress become law or Executive Order or Judicial Order be put into force, all powers previously delegated to the United States of America by the Constitution for the United States shall revert to the several States individually."


The legislature is wary of martial law being declared, involuntary servitude, surrendering power to a corporation or foreign government, limitations on the press, right to bear arms, and opposes powers not previously and duly delegated already.


A reasonable question, in light of this heightened rhetoric, is what do they think may happen? It does not bode well.