The Annotated Secessionist Papers

A collection of essays, articles and papers, in the tradition of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, that discuss secession from a legal, constitutional and historical perspective.

A collection of essays, articles and papers, in the tradition of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, that discuss secession from a legal, constitutional and historical perspective. Since the original release of the first edition of The Annotated Secessionist Papers, the world has not ceased to view secession and devolution as a legitimate recourse for people across the globe that seek more responsive democratic representation. In Europe, there are currently twenty-one active and real secession or devolution movements.

Essays that capture modern thoughts about secession in a specific time and place and make the topic relative to current discussions of political theory. Annoted to include:- Introductory "First Things" chapter that explains concepts- Commentary on essays- Addition of references and notes- Conclusion chapter that presents the thematic message of the collected essaysWhy is it important to talk about secession? Few people that believe secession is a legitimate political theory, right and recourse also believe that in a practical sense it is achievable, reasonable or even preferable. Devolution is a complicated matter and requires a more or less united political will among a people within a region or area - within the confines of modern America it seems unlikely any such will of a sufficient majority will soon emerge, anywhere. The question thus remains, why even discuss the subject? It is important to honestly discuss the matter because it goes to the very heart of how the Union of States was formed, what the Constitution was to mean and what relation the central government was to have to the people. Many of our contemporary political problems stem directly from a failure to understand foundational principles. Perhaps in engendering more honest discussions about foundational principles we might actually see contemporary problems more correctly.Authors: Barry Lee Clark, Brian McCandliss, Michael Peirce, Walter E. Block, Thomas E. Woods Jr., Kevin L. Clauson, Kirkpatrick Sale, Forrest McDonald, Gene H. Kizer, Jr., Thomas J. DiLorenzo, Donald W. Livingston

This book examines secessionism, separatism, and calls for independence in the European Union in recent history and within an economic context. It contributes to the deeper understanding of factors influencing the individual decision-making processes around secession, using economic analysis to answer a set of simple questions about who the secessionists are, what they really want, what their incentives are, and why it is easier to declare their secessionist tendencies than to vote for secession. This a highly topical theme, given the secessionist referenda in Catalonia, Scotland, Ukraine, Kosovo, and the United Kingdom, and this book offers a unique contribution to the debate. It is based on an exclusive survey carried out among members of the pro-independence parties and movements across 17 European countries and 56 European regions. It uses the instruments of the Political Economy of Conflict to reveal the importance of romantic and economic factors influencing the drive towards secession. Secessions have been regarded as a purely romantic phenomenon that cannot be rationalised, whereas this book connects the sensibility of romantic factors such as language, religion or ethnicity with the sense of economic factors through its rational, economic approach. Furthermore, it applies the standard methodology of microeconomic analysis to discover the impact of individual pro-secessionist factors. An integral part of the text presents a brief historic overview, uncovering the lesser-known path dependency. The book will find an audience among researchers, scholars, and students of economics and political science, as well as policy-makers and professionals engaged with a secessionist agenda.

Christianity is a Permanent Thing; this work is about how Christians should defend Christianity and other Permanent Things in an increasingly hostile civilization. It is a continuation of the dialogue of Schaeffer, MacIntyre, Moore and Dreher and owes much to Eliot, Yeats and Kirk for inspiration. No book or idea stands alone, we all stand on the shoulders of giants and this is no exception. Herein I offer a contribution to the Benedictine approach to the dilemma Christianity faces of an increasingly post-Christian and perhaps potentially anti-Christian civilization. In our era, these concepts were first articulated in 1981 by Francis August Schaeffer, in A Christian Manifesto and Alasdair MacIntyre in After Virtue describing in detail the problems so eloquently penned by W.B. Yeats in 1919. Hoppe furthered the discussion in 2001 by pointing out the failure of Western Ideology and its implications. Others have since written on the subject, Lee Strang in 2006 called for a legal scholar to rise as a St. Benedict, Russell Moore offered an optimistic way ahead in 2015. Rod Dreher codified the idea in The Benedict Option into a realistic and workable concept in 2017. At the heart of it, all of these efforts have approached the idea of Christianity as a Permanent thing and wondered how Christians might defend permanent things in a changing world. Individuals like Mike Church, denied employment for standing upon principles, are living Benedictine lives, seeking to pursue their vocation in alternate ways and to make a difference. There are others, groups, and individuals. This offering owes to the intellectual and vocational efforts of others, their examples and their dedication. Retrenchment addresses three areas, the individual, local church and local community and discusses the problems we in Christianity have traditionally faced that prevent cooperation and love of our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a less optimistic book that Dreher’s, things have progressed perhaps faster than could have been imagined in the two years since his book was written. I suspect others will write even less optimistic books in the years to come, things will get worse before they get better. But, there are things we can and should be doing.

Herein is an appeal to an examination of mere, authentic Christianity. I concluded my last book, The Philosophy of Commonsense with the premise that Christian values had informed the common-sense of ordinary and extraordinary people throughout the history of the West to culminate in the formation of American culture. This work is a continuation of that theme with a discussion of precisely what is meant by authentic Christianity and why anyone that seeks to understand their place in the cosmos should at least give it the old college try.

For the four long years of the American Civil War, Sam Barron rode with the famed Third Texas Cavalry under General Lawrence Sullivan Ross (governor of Texas twice and president of Texas A&M). Ross' Brigade, as it was known, was involved in some of the most important and successful Confederate operations of the war. Of special note, Barron describes the raid on Holly Springs that decimated Union supplies there, temporarily threatening Ulysses S. Grant's plans to take Vicksburg, the last Rebel stronghold on the Mississippi. The Third Texans also fought at Corinth, Elkhorn, Oak Hill and elsewhere. Only a Texan for about one year before the war broke out, Barron nevertheless declared himself a secessionist as soon as he heard about John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. Every memoir of the American Civil War provides us with another view of the catastrophe that changed the country forever. For less than you'd spend on gas going to the library, this long out-of-print volume is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers and smartphones. Be sure to LOOK INSIDE by clicking the cover above or download a sample.