Sunday, August 7, 2011

Secession: Here Is How To Secede From The Union

by Russell D. Longcore
DumpDC.com

A reader recently pointed out to me that I’ve provided most of the possible reasons why any state should secede at DumpDC. But she said I haven’t given a step-by-step procedure on how secession should work. I started this process in my article entitled Secession The Hope For Humanity, but I’m fleshing it out here. This is not complete by any stretch of the imagination. But it’s a place to start a lively dialogue about the steps to secession.

You may think that this article is too simplistic, and omits important issues. Perhaps. But I submit that if secession is not made so simple that a child can understand it, it will not happen in your state. Its logic has to be made so unassailable that only a fool would resist it.

So, here it is, my friends:

How To Secede From The United States of America

1. Philosophy

Each individual must come to his or her own conclusion that secession is the only way to regain liberty, and each state must make its secession decision independent of any other state.

2. Initiation

Secession should be solemnly deliberated by the elected representatives and the state citizens. Secession should be initiated at the moment that any state reaches the point at which it will no longer accept the despotic tyranny and laws coming from the US Federal Government in Washington, DC. Or, secession should be initiated upon a collapse of the Dollar, or the imposition by Washington DC of martial law in the event of social upheaval.

There is no written, formal method for initiating and completing an act of secession. If history can be our guide, we see that the states of 1860 completed their secessions by specially-elected conventions or by referendum. But the secession could also be initiated by a Governor and the State Legislature in assembly.

It would be excellent if a seated Governor would lead his state into secession. The easiest way for a state to secede would be for the State Legislature, either unicameral or bicameral, to draft a Declaration of Secession document and an Ordinance of Secession document. Then the Legislature should take a roll call vote and pass a Joint Resolution of Secession in legislature assembled, and have the Governor sign the Resolution instantly upon its passage. This process should be done on live TV, with all proceedings televised and recorded. Allowing the world to view this process in non-edited real time would be one of the most exciting and historic TV broadcasts ever made. The eyes of the world would be fixed on the TV feed and little else would be reported or discussed on its programming. Hell, run commercials and make some money for the state. Why should the networks get this historic event for free?

If the Legislature and Governor refused to support secession, a petition initiative could garner enough signatures of registered voters to force a referendum. Each state has statutes about petition initiatives for referenda. The Texas Nationalist Movement is doing a petition initiative right now, with the intent of presenting the petitions to the Legislature on day one of the 2011 legislative session. Follow the law in your state.

If there was a statewide referendum on secession it could be a simply worded ballot question like: “Shall the citizens of the State of XXXX repeal the 1788 ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America by the State of XXXX, and shall the citizens of the State of XXXX resume all the rights and powers granted under said Constitution?” A simple “Yes” or “No” vote will suffice.

If that’s too flowery for you, here’s an even simpler question: “Shall the citizens of the State of XXXX secede from the United States of America?” A “Yes” or “No” vote will suffice.

A simple majority of votes would pass the referendum.

The referendum should only be done with paper ballots that will be counted by hand, no machines, no electronic voting. Further, the referendum should not be scheduled for only one single day, but over at least three days, preferably a weekend…to facilitate the greatest possible participation by registered voters. Finally, a photo ID should be required as verification of identity for eligibility to vote. This ain’t the American way of widespread voter fraud…this is the state’s rights secession way. It’s also my article, and I can write the rules any way I choose.

Another method of moving secession along in your state might be to organize on a county-by-county basis. The County Commission could either call for a countywide referendum on the question of secession, or could nominate a delegate to participate in a Secession Convention.

3. Secession Convention

Each state’s Secession Convention, formed to contemplate, design and complete the process of secession, should draft a Declaration of Secession.

Many of the seceding states of 1860 wrote and ratified a Declaration of Secession, also known as a “Declaration of Causes.” Each Declaration enumerated that particular state’s reasons for secession, in like manner to the 1776 Declaration of Independence sent to King George by the Colonists.

Once the Declaration of Secession is prepared, the Chair of the Secession Convention or the Governor should deliver signed original copies of the document to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate (televised live of course).

4. Ordinance of Secession.

Then the seceding states must prepare an Ordinance of Secession. Here below is the simple, succinct wording of the South Carolina Ordinance of Secession of 1860:

AN ORDINANCE to dissolve the union between the State of South Carolina and other States united with her under the compact entitled “The Constitution of the United States of America.”

We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in convention assembled do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, That the ordinance adopted by us in convention on the twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, whereby the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified, and also all acts and parts of acts of the General Assembly of this State ratifying amendments of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed; and that the union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of the “United States of America,” is hereby dissolved.

Done at Charleston the twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty.

That is the sum total of all the words necessary to complete the secession.

Once the Ordinance of Secession is prepared (televised live), the Chair of the Secession Convention or the Governor should deliver signed original copies of the document to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate (also televised live).

That is the process of secession from the United States of America. That was the easy part. Then the REAL WORK begins.

The first thing the new sovereign state should do is to form a Constitutional Convention, and create a new government. See how I would do it at The New Corporate Model of Governance.

Questions? Do I see questions?

Question: What if Washington files a Federal lawsuit or injunction in Federal Court to stop the state from seceding?

Answer:Once the state formally secedes, it is no longer subject to US Federal Court jurisdiction, is it? Is it not a sovereign nation after secession, just like any other nation of the world? So, the seceding state could answer any legal maneuver by rejecting the jurisdiction of the US Federal Courts. Remember, Washington doesn’t OWN your state. Washington was formed by the states to be an errand-boy for the states. Who runs who?

Question: What if Washington invades our state with military forces?

Answer: That is the reason that your state needs a well-trained state militia. And when I say “well-trained,” I do not mean trained to fight on a 3rd Generation battlefield (like WWII or Vietnam). I mean a militia trained to fight with guerilla warfare (4th Generation) tactics, with a heavy emphasis on the tactics of General Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War.

Question: What will we do for money?

Answer: The state must make gold and silver the only legal tender in your state. See how I deal with this in Sound Money And Limited Government.

Secession is little more than breaking up with your girlfriend or divorcing your spouse. It’s a lot like being a card player in a big card game, then folding your cards, cashing in your chips and leaving the game.

Isn’t the process of secession much like writing this short note to end a relationship?

Dear Washington: It’s over. We’re leaving. We ain’t asking your permission to leave. We ain’t asking for a legal divorce. We’re just ending this relationship right here and now. We’re rescinding the authority we gave you in 1788. Leave us alone. Goodbye.

In conclusion, try to envision yourself and your family in a new nation created by secession. All the people you meet are excited and breathless in their anticipation of the future. The general opinion of the populace is pure unbridled optimism. The new nation’s economy is booming, the money is backed by gold and silver, and there is no inflation. “Now Hiring” signs are in all the shop windows. The newspaper’s “Help Wanted” ads are packed full. Prices for goods and services are low, and the stores are loaded with goods. Manufacturers are streaming into the new nation to take advantage of the rare pro-business atmosphere. Wages are climbing steadily in manufacturing jobs as companies compete for the best and brightest for their employees. New businesses are being created at a fever pace. Residential and commercial construction is at a high level to meet the demand of the new residents.

All because one state recognized this historic opportunity and realized the dream of liberty through the process of state secession.

Secession is the hope for humanity. Who will be first?

DumpDC. Six Letters That Can Change History.

© Copyright 2011, Russell D. Longcore. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

9 comments:

  1. You must know about the rights of Texans to leave the union legally by 2/3 majority vote in the state congress,and the further legal provision for Texas to split into 5 states with senators ect.
    These where only a few of the provisions and exemptions GRANTED Texas when we joined the USA in 1845.
    If Texas ever reverts to a republic again why not just do it legally,under current laws?
    If Texas became a republic again we could host the world courts to look at Bush,rowe,chainey,little Tommy DELAY and the list goes on and on?
    Thanks for the free speech zone,

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  2. Question: What will we do for money?

    Really Dumb Answer: The state must make gold and silver the only legal tender in your state. See how I deal with this in Sound Money And Limited Government.
    ------------------------
    Gold and silver cannot back so-called "sound money". There's only 1oz of gold per trader and 1/5oz of silver. This means each trader could have a total of about $1,650 in savings and in-process trades.

    Todd Marshall
    Plantersville, TX

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  3. Difficult for a state to consider succession since states are merely extensions of D.C.

    June 30, 1864 - An act to provide revenue, to support the govt. and for other purposes - section 182 - were ever the word "state" is used, it shall be construed to include the territories and the District of Columbia (D.C.)

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  4. You are a fool. You want another civil war? That is what "they" want. Texas seems to be full of Judas goats like Alex Jones(Zionist) and Ron Paul(Mason). Leave the United States and see how long it takes for you all to become the next state of Mexico.

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  5. "In conclusion, try to envision yourself and your family in a new nation created by secession."

    Ok. We can't get any real goods because we have no trade agreement with the USA.

    Our "money backed by gold and silver" means zero growth, and very little actually money. How much gold and silver do you think there is on the world? And how much of it is in Texas?

    Mexico sends millions of people north. Who's going to stop them? The newly formed citizen militia? What will they get paid with? Patriotism?

    Secession is a grown up concept, that only children seem to talk about.

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  6. Er... I hate to be the Gloomy Gus here but I must point out that my g'g'grandpappy tried it and the results were considerably less than sanguine. Thus I, his g'g'grandson, had to grow up in occupied Georgia.

    In theory you are correct. In practice, God is going to be on the other side because they have the heavier artillery... much as South Carolina found out after the 1860 declaration. ("South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum." )


    >In conclusion, try to envision yourself and your family in a new nation created by secession.<

    OK... hmmmm...
    Battle of Gettysburg
    (Pennsylvania)
    Seven Days Battles
    (Virginia)
    Battle of Chickamauga
    (Georgia)
    ad nauseum

    Hell, don't get me wrong... I'm an anarchist. On the World's Smallest Political Quiz, I'm top dead center every time. Still, I know fantasy from reality.

    Let's take a small bite. Your heroic, proud, unbeatable citizens are going to break free and declare specie as the only legal money. More than one or two problems with this...

    They don't have any specie. They may have wads of fiat dollars or many valuable assets reckoned in fiat dollars. What they won't have is specie.

    If they have fiat dollars or assets reckoned in fiat dollars, they are not liquid. (i.e., with very little specie, the only legal money, there is very little money... you can't make specie out of thin air. A finite and defined amount exists.)

    Anyway, those are just my trivial objections. I wish you luck but I'll just watch while I cradle my AK47. I'm old enough to take a draw.

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  7. Lots of nay-sayers here, but it probably WILL be done similar to how the Republics of the former Soviet Union seceded to form the Commonwealth of Independent States:

    The CIS was founded on 8 December 1991 by the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine, when the leaders of the three countries met in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Natural Reserve, about 30 miles north of Brest in Belarus and signed a Creation Agreement on the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the creation of CIS as a successor entity to the USSR. At the same time they announced that the new alliance would be open to all republics of the former Soviet Union, as well as other nations sharing the same goals. The CIS charter stated that all the members were sovereign and independent nations and thereby effectively abolished the Soviet Union.

    On 21 December 1991, the leaders of eight additional Soviet Republics – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – signed the Alma-Ata Protocol and joined the CIS, thus bringing the number of participating countries to 11. Georgia joined two years later, in December 1993. As of that time, 12 of the 15 former Soviet Republics participated in the CIS. Three former Soviet Republics, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, chose not to join.

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  8. Hey Friends- you don't like the hard money recommendations. But you got a better idea? American money was hard money up to about 1913, and America did just fine. There are only two choices, people. Hard money with no inflation or fiat money backed by nothing. Looks like you candy asses just want more of the same shit we have now. Grow up.

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  9. NobodysaysBOO!

    "In conclusion, try to envision yourself and your family in a new nation created by secession."

    HMM Perhaps going broke is the thing we NEED to fix America!
    What if we wake up in a pennyless REPUBLIC tommorrow, All Mexican AND OTHER FOREIGN WORKERS ARE broke AND THEY DRIVE THEIR NEW PICKUPS home! All wars stop for lack of money!
    The congress and prez are fired and some are HANGED "BUSH FIRST them Barbara and the rest"
    The States become like ICELAND a free republic!
    The money and food come from the land and sea and the labor of the citizens again!
    THIS COULD BE VERY VERY GOOD FOR AMERICA!
    A Basic and neccessary REBOOT!
    thanks for the free speech zone.
    PS Go to ICELAND for this years vacation and GIVE ISREAL a BREAK! They are full of US congrees scum now anywaY!

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