There certainly has been much discussion about the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Just what did the Founders intend when they included it in the original Bill of Rights? Basically the writers took great pains to identify two main aspects to the Constitution and its first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights.
First, they sought to limit the Federal government. Their experience with a tyrannical king, a controlling military, a restrictive ruling religion (the Church of England), and an irresponsible parliament left them reeling. They were determined that government would provide the protection and order that they needed without absolute control over the Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness that was endowed by the Creator. Second, they actively sought to delegate specific powers to the Federal government, thus ensuring that it would fulfill its responsibility to the citizenry - namely guaranteeing the Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness that were endowed by the Creator.
The Bill of Rights, added to further clarify the principles outlined in the Constitution, were finalized by a beautifully crafted statement that any powers not specifically granted to the Federal government was reserved for the State government and THE PEOPLE. The founders believed that the Federal government was the servant of the States and not the other way around. Men like Patrick Henry and George Mason fought wisely and logically for these specific assurances as protections from an overbearing Federal government.
And now - some 200 years later - here we are: fighting to once again maintain State's rights for the protection of the people and our inalienable rights.
Governor Perry of Texas has it right. The United States is a wonderful union but it is just that a union of States each with individual rights and powers that are not dictated to by a central, Federal body but rather reliant upon that Federal government for order and protection. Governor Perry's detractors, unfortunately, reveal their ignorance of History and the founding principles of this great nation when they simply relate his comments to the issue of slavery. No one could possibly interpret the Tenth Amendment as archaic or ineffective no matter how much it has been ignored. The real question is just how many of our inalienable rights are under attack? ALL OF THEM! And that is why states like Texas, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and others have introduced legislation to reinforce the understanding of States Rights and the importance of the Tenth Amendment. No one should ever be accused of being un-American when they stand upon the pillars of the United States Constitution.
It has been said that the Tenth Amendment is the cornerstone of the Constitution may we ever build upon it and may it never be removed!
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