"[We should be] determined... to sever ourselves from the union
we so much value rather than give up the rights of self-government...
in which alone we see liberty, safety and happiness."
by:
Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
Source:
letter to Madison in August 1799
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AMEN..!
 -- David, Shawnee, OK     
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    See Jeffersons quote from his letter of 1820 when he said he was ready to cry because of the hullabaloo for secession. The fact is the greatest liberty is in Union. All those seeking secession are really not seeking self-governmnt but SELF government or in the end DICTATORSHIP of the SELF. Aaron Burr tried to accomplish such a thing. Lets get it straight that near his death Jefferson was forsquare for Union and The Constitution.
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    As usual, Waffler has misread the Quote. Jefferson was not in favor of States leaving the union but was strongly in favor of secession if States had to give up the rights of self government. Now ,of course, all power comes from Nancy and the gang of misfits,in Washington.
     -- jim k, austin     
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    Waffler, I'm sure Jefferson would have never wanted what our nation has turned out to be because of Washington D.C. and the federal courts. He preached state and local government-never centralized government and nationalization of all powers of rule.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    Waffler, according to the Warren Court there is no union, only a statist, omnipotent, alien - foreign to 'We The People', organic ethos with inherent right. There is constitutionally and lawfully no union to sever a relationship from.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    I believe Jefferson was speaking of the proposed New England secession at the time. I don't know what Waffler is speaking about -- he simply makes up whatever he pleases. According to Waffler, his wife should not have been able to divorce him because of their declared 'union' -- how come she got away then? Perhaps she put it to vote...
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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     -- Anonymous, USA      
    The 10th Amendment gives power to the states, since the federal govt is crossing over into states rights. Then the states have the right to curtail the fed even if it includes secession.
     -- Robert Murauskas, Waukegan     
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    " When all government domestic and foreign, in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided of one government on another, and will become venal and oppressive, as the government from which we separated." "Elections and separation of power would not suffice if the government could judge its own case regarding constituionality."
    The rights of the States to nullify unconstitutional laws.
    Thomas Jefferson, our Agrarian Representative President.
    The AFFIDAVIT OF REVOCATION AND RESCISSION has been suppressed from the public's eyes, for a very long time, Removing legal defence of the Individual Sovereign through sound education, giving light to ones true Liberty and Freedom. Which by the way has been upheld through many Supreme court rulings. Every individual citizen should have a hard copy, to remind them of who they are, and their inalienable right ordained by the Creator. God Bless and Semper Fi
     -- Ronw13, OR     
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