Notes on Reclaiming Liberty

Two years ago Ron, my twin brother and fellow Confederate, told me about a new book he was thinking about writing. Bemoaning the fact of one hundred years of conservative defeat after conservative defeat, Ron had determined to expose the source of this series of failures. Being the more prudent of the Kennedy twins I thought to myself, "Oh great just what we need, another book by a conservative explaining what a dismal failure American conservatives have been!" Perusing each chapter as he completed them I soon discovered that there was more to Reclaiming Liberty than just the musing of an irate defeated conservative.

Most Americans do not like paying high taxes, most Americans do not want the Federal government hyper-managing local problems, most Americans don't want an activist Federal Court promoting pornography or alternative life styles in their community, most Americans don't want the borders of this nation to be so porous as to allow unsavory elements into our nation; yes, most Americans want the very thing the conservative movement represents. The question is, 'why does conservatism consistently fail in providing the "wants" of Americans?' The answer is simple and earthshaking-Appomattox! Don't hold your breath while waiting for Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich or any other neo-conservative to answer the question correctly. After the defeat of the South, Federal Supreme Court Justice, Salmon P. Chase declared, "State Sovereignty died at Appomattox." Now this Lincoln appointed Justice was not decrying this loss, he was celebrating the new order of Federal Imperialism. In reality he was announcing the death of the Republic of Republic given to us by our founding fathers and proclaiming the new age of absolute Federal power. After Appomattox State's Rights became nothing more than an antique Constitutional curiosity. Post Appomattox the States of the United States can exercise only those "Rights" that the Federal government determined was in the best interest of the Federal government. From that day to this State's Rights is in reality, State's privileges. It is the Federal government that will determine what type of privileges and how long those privileges it will allow a State to exercise.

The bold announcement to his fellow conservatives that in essence, in 1861 the South was right is in itself worth the price of the book but there is more. Ron outlines a series of political actions that hopefully will lead a majority of people in the States of the United States reasserting their Rights as free people in a free Republic. At that time all the States will once again be free, sovereign, and independent republics and the Federal government will once again be our servant not our master. Reclaiming Liberty is not a utopian optimistic diatribe. Ron understands that Southern conservatives may not be able to convince our Northern brothers to join us in undoing the deleterious consequences of Appomattox. What shall we do? Shall we allow Northern inaction to bind the fetters of political slavery upon our children and us? Reclaiming Liberty boldly speaks to this issue: "We must face the fact that if non-Southern states will not respect our rights, we must demand our independence….When freedom is at stake, we must be willing to save our own society, even if our neighbors in other areas of the country are not interested in preserving their liberty." While reading those words for the first time, my mind went back to the words of that great Southerner, Patrick Henry, who said, "The first thing I have in mind is American liberty; the second thing is American union." A long line of patriots who agreed with Henry fought, bled, and died for American liberty. Let us hope that in this age there are still those, both outside of the South and inside of the South, who will courageously put LIBERTY first. A great first step will be reading Reclaiming Liberty. While other organizations are doing great work in promoting Southern Rights (which is in reality American Rights) and promoting a proper respect for Southern heritage and culture: Ron's new book offers a blueprint on the political actions necessary for reclaiming liberty.

Walter D. Kennedy