| Quotes page 4 |
| No nation can long survive without pride in its tradition. -Winston Churchill- |
| The war had "tended, more than any other event in the history of the country, to militate against the Jefferson idea that the best government is that which governs least. -Illinois Gov. Richard Yates, to the Illinois State Assembly, Jan. 2, 1865 |
| November 15, 1315: In the Battle at Morgarten, the Swiss beat the powerful Austrian empire. This was the first great military triumph of the Swiss Confederation against the reigning Austrian Hapsburgs. In that battle, the men of Schwyz (canton) lured the Austrians into the hills, then ambushed them in a mountain pass, killing 1500, driving hundreds more into Lake Lucerne, and putting the rest to flight. Less than a month later, the Swiss confederation of three cantons decided to name their young nation after the men who fought so well at Morgarten. That's how "Helvetia" came to be called Switzerland. On November 15, 1777, the Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress, modeled after the Swiss Confederation, which likewise contained 13 states (cantons), since 1513. These Articles vested the conduct of war and foreign policy in a federal government (Congress) and left the rest to the states. Article II stated, "each state retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every power, jurisdiction and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to Congress." On November 15, 1860, just nine days after Abraham Lincoln's election, South Carolina circulated a petition among the 13 southern states regarding creation of a new Confederacy, modeled after the 1777 confederacy, and, in turn, on the 1315 Swiss confederation. The odds against secession didn't faze them. The South justified their rebellion by analogy to the American & Swiss revolutions. Just as George Washington was painted as America's William Tell, Robert E. Lee soon became the south's Washington. -Gary Alexander's speech at New Orleans Investment Conference, 11/15/2000 (It may be good to point out that, while the original Confederated government that was thrown aside for our new constitution was said to be to weak and the same for the Confedeacy formed in 1860, The Swiss have not colapsed in all the years. They are the most solid government in Europe.) |
| Federalism is not when the central government graciously allows the states to do this or that. That is just another form of administration. True federalism is when the people of the states set limits to the central government. Fundamentally, federalism means states rights. The cause of states rights is the cause of liberty. They rise or fall together. -Clyde C. Wilson- |
| I am for preserving to the States the powers not yielded by them to the Union.. Thomas Jefferson |
| The first thing I have at heart is American liberty; the second thing is American Union. Patrick Henry |
| "I have no doubt that Hood is a bold fighter, but I am doubtful as to other qualities neccessary." -Robert E Lee- |