Forwarded message:

Subject: Re: Inside the Cypherpunks Cult (fwd) From: Firebeard <stend+cypherpunks@sten.tivoli.com> Date: 23 Aug 1997 14:11:13 -0500

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Jim Choate writes:

JC> And any soldier who fires on Americans is clearly going against JC> prima facia evidence that the framers intended for American JC> military force to NEVER be used against American citizens on JC> American soil.

Being a Pennsylvania native, I refer you to the 'Whiskey Rebellion', 1791-4, western Pennsylvania. Mr Washington, one of those framers, sent American troops (militia, under federal control) against American citizens on American soil.

Militia <> Army. Exactly, they were militia NOT federal troops. This is EXACTLY why we have the militia mentioned in the 2nd. With there being no mechanism to constitutionaly employ federal troops against Americans there had to be some means to maintane the peace. In addition there needed to be some mechanism to prevent the federals from mis-using those troops hence the 2-year limit at the federal level for all monies expended on federal troops. No such limit applies to monies given to the states to fund their individual militias. Which are LOANED to the federal government with the consent of the govenor of the particular states. The idea being that if the fed's mis-use those troops the govenor simply orders them to stand down. Without voluntary help from the states the feds should be powerless inside the borders of the US. I suspect that there is a certain level of misrepresentation of what went on during the Whiskey Rebellion (which I was aware of before your elucidation). Near as I can tell Washington acted responsibly within the bounds of the intent and word of the Constitution. ____________________________________________________________________ | | | Participation requires more than just bitching! | | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http:// www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage@ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|