A Constitutional Transition

Reactivating the Confederate States Constitution may, in part, be the salvation of the Southern people. But there may no doubt be many questions existing as how to deal with those phrases in the document which are outdated which would fostered uncertainty among the people. One should know, however, that there are precious few areas of governance, which would categorize the Constitution as out of date; quite the contrary. The Confederate States Constitution could more properly be described as the greatest national governing document drafted by man, ever to be devised upon this earth. A sitting Confederate States President would never be spending valuable time campaigning for re-election, since he is permitted only one single six-year term. There is no federal welfare, and all monies collected into the Confederate Treasury can only be expended on goods and services related to governing. There can be no ties between business, industry and the Confederate States Government, such as is common under the United States. The Confederate States Government must balance the budget year after year, save for extreme emergencies, such as war.

But what about those needed changes in the constitution as it is being reactivated? This process is also far superior in the Confederate States Constitution than what is found in the United States Constitution. The normal process is to for two-thirds of the States to call an open Constitutional Convention, thus opening the process to whatever may come. The United States has never used this option, since both liberals and conservatives fear the other side would control the process. The partisans believe their opposition might possibly use this provision to create a new constitution which ends up being a behemoth, possibly even tyrannical in nature. The Confederate States Constitution provides a second option, whereby any three States may call a closed Constitutional Convention. Under this particular provision only the single issue for which the convention was called, may be discussed. Thus no runaway convention will occur!

So, what about the slave statements in the Confederate States Constitution? The United States Constitution was ratified without a Bill of Rights, under an assurance one would be provided for ratification by the individual States. A similar tactic should be used during the transition phase, assuring the population an amendment will be forth coming, which would terminate the slave provisions of the Confederate States Constitution. It should be noticed, however, that under the Confederate States Constitution, no individual could be made a slave today, and none could be imported. Thus, such an amendment would be necessary, but primarily for cosmetic reason only. An example of such an amendment would be as follows; "The institution of slavery, having passed into history, shall not be reinstated within the Confederate States."

Therefore, once the transition begins and the Confederate States Constitution is reactivated, should the newly seated Confederate States Government fail to propose the proper updated amendments to the Confederate States Constitution, any three States take action to call a closed convention. It would be critically important to honor the present Confederate States Constitution through reactivation. Afterward make any alterations, which might be deemed necessary. Should the Confederate States Constitution be ignored and another ratified, a lingering doubt would surely be passed on to future generations. We could hardly expect future generations to honor and respect a new constitution, if we did not honor the Confederate States Constitution, which, historically, has never been rescinded.

Then there is the possibility of a run away and a tyrannical Confederate States Supreme Court. The Confederate States Constitution has a provision allowing any three States to join together in charging a sitting federal judge with any number of violations, and such a trial must be held. Among the possible charges would be violation of his oath of office, usurpation of authority, misconduct or malfeasants in office. Under the Confederate States Constitution the individual States are sovereign, and govern over all domestic affairs within their own borders. Issues such as abortion, race, civil rights, as well as the Almighty God, the Holy Scripture and Prayer in the schools, will become once more the sole jurisdiction of the individual States. The President has a line item veto, meaning he can veto certain portions of a federal bill and sign the remainder into law. This allows him to cut pork barrel and waste from then budget, thus saving taxpayer money.

There will be necessities such a natural disasters, and interstate cooperatives can easily be formed, which would be more responsive to the individual States than would be a federal program. Additionally the State Armed Forces would replace the ‘State National Guard and Reserve’. The Confederate States Government, unlike that of the United States, would not have the authority to federalize State Forces, accept for a Declaration of War (in those words), or the imminent threat of attack upon the nation. Additionally the Confederate States Constitution does not have the equivalent of the 14th amendment and the individual States regulate all interstate commerce, broadcasting licenses and the like.

In bypassing the Confederate States Constitution in favor of something new, we would be setting the stage for severe divisions among the citizens. Some issue would inevitably arise which would bring the new constitution and the government provided therein into question. The seeds of a social and political upheaval, even a bloody revolution could be sewn. Therefore citizens are urged to make use of an already proven Constitutional process, provided for under the Confederate States Constitution. Let us together make the changes necessary to update the document, but do so at the proper time, and according to an excellent constitution, which has never been rescinded. Allow time for open and public debate, within the context of a free and independent Southern Nation.