TAKE THAT FLAG DOWN!

Former SCLoS Chairman Lake High wrote this message in 1998. His advice holds good today.

Several states, most notably Colorado, Alaska, and Georgia, have passed “10th Amendment Resolutions,” or as they are sometimes called “Sovereignty Resolutions.” These resolutions reassert that the central government in Washington is a child of the states and that the states retain all rights, according to the 10th amendment of the U. S. Constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the central Federal government.

Unfortunately, these resolutions, and over a dozen states have passed them at one time or another, go unnoticed for the most part. Often they are not even reported in the local newspapers. And there are two reasons why this is so.

First of all, these resolutions have no legally binding effect on the Federal government, they are mere rhetoric. They simply reassert what everyone knows, but which the central government in Washington ignores; that is, the states are sovereign.

But secondly, and most importantly, there is no outward and visible action taken by any of these state governments to either assert these rights, or to alert the people that the state truly means to assert these rights. Since the people see no outward change, they never even realize that any action has actually taken place.

This is why South Carolina should take the national lead in reasserting state sovereignty. The South Carolina Legislature should pass a State Sovereignty Resolution reasserting the wording of the 10th amendment of the U. S. Constitution, AND they should also alert the central Federal government that they mean just what they say. They should do this by REMOVING THE FEDERAL FLAG from all State buildings, State parks, State courts, public schools, and any other place where State authority is paramount. The Federal Flag should fly only over Federal institutions such as Federal courts, military bases, post offices and other institutions where the Federal government rules.

In fact, the Federal government has already taken this step first, which is why the U.S. Post Office ordered that all state flags were to be removed from their buildings and only a Federal flag flown. You see, the people at the Federal government understand the battle for controlling and centralizing power. That is why they want state flags pulled down, and do so when they can. And that is also why our state needs to answer their actions with a restating of our sovereign rights.

The Federal flag should be removed from all property that is not owned and operated by the Federal government. When someone sees the Federal flag flying, they should be aware that they are looking at Federal property. That way, when the people have to suffer under laws made in a Federal court, or suffer penalties from Federal departments, they will understand who is doing it to them. To most people, a court is a court, a government department is a government department. They do not automatically make the distinction between a state and a Federal institution. They should.

Today local businesses from used car lots to service stations, along with thousands of people, fly the Federal flag as a purely decorative device. Every public library, every school, and every state office flies the Federal flag as if they are under Federal control. By doing so, we willingly cooperate in our subjugation by the national government.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Every member of the League of the South can take several steps to see that the Federal government is reminded of its lawful and proper place. First of all, take down from your house, or office, or off your car or boat, any Federal flag you may be flying. Do not fly the Federal flag even on national holidays. In its place, run up our beautiful South Carolina state flag. Your South Carolina flag predates the Federal flag in the American Revolution and is even more of a patriotic and historic flag than the Federal flag.

Secondly, talk to your friends and neighbors who own those local businesses where the Federal flag is flown and ask them to remove their Federal flags. Explain why. Ask them to fly the beautiful South Carolina flag instead.

Contact you local legislator and explain to him why South Carolina needs to enact a “10th Amendment Resolution” WITH the attached proviso that ALL FEDERAL FLAGS BE REMOVED FROM ALL SOUTH CAROLINA STATE PROPERTY. Tell him you want to see ONLY the beautiful, historic South Carolina flag flying on our schools, parks, state buildings and state property. Tell him why we need this SYMBOLIC act to reassert our state’s sovereign position under the U.S. Constitution. Remind him that many states have done so already in the immediate past but that without that all important second symbolic step those 10th amendment resolutions have all been ignored. Remind him that no one is going to ignore the removal, by resolution, of thousands of Federal flags and that the legislator who effects this action will be the first one in the nation to successfully reassert state sovereignty.

Your active participation in this movement is vital!

LETS GET THOSE STATE FLAGS UP
AND THOSE FEDERAL FLAGS DOWN!