You can be a little bit of an alarmist.
Interesting take. I'll look at that. It really is only interest.
You can be a little bit of an alarmist.
Your facts are wrong. The fees claimed owed by the Bundys are in the range of about $50,000. When the BLM was created and given the power to charge existing grazing users, it was represented that these fees were necessary in order for the BLM to construct fences and improve waterholes/build ponds and troughs for the people who legally owned their grazing rights, according to many judicial results in our courts. Gradually, over many years the BLM has reduced it's expenditures for "improvements" and asserted charges for "grazing". We should never tolerate that kind of illegal actions by government officials. Grazing rights are real property interests, and the government is prohibited by the Constitution from enacting "Post Facto laws". . .. laws that apply to past facts. The government cannot change facts of law by passing new laws. New laws can't appropriate private property rights.
That's something the government, not even Congress nor the President has power to take without paying for those legal grazing rights.
The Louisiana Purchase was the first test of this principal. Thomas Jefferson understood the conflict posed by a Federal Purchase. But it was approved by Congress under the law that new states would be created, which would own the land in those states.
The State of Utah, on negotiating terms for Statehood, secured an agreement from Congress and the President, that all lands would belong to the State of Utah. Instead, only the lands covered under an old legislation regarding public support for schools within territories and states were turned over. Even so, the Federal government at that time was hold all federal land open for homesteading, and it went that way for thirty years. . .. before the BLM began to "manage" anything.
All legal precedent gives grazers or settlers title to their land. If you care to debate it, it can still be sustained on the legal principle of "Adverse Possession", the legal fact in the case of Cliven Bundy. If anyone settles land and occupies it for twenty years, it's just his, period.
I have many times stated I don't have a dog in the fight.. but some of these arguments are such a circle-jerk.
So the way we prove something is 'right' is through an act? The Taylor Grazing Act took lands that were intended/destined to be state held (with state tax base) and placed them in a quassi-permanent state exempt from ever being able to become private lands.
This is a clear violation of the intent, the expressed purpose and the explicit provisions, of the treaties, the ordinances, and the state compacts... and the constitution of the United States.
I have many times stated I don't have a dog in the fight.. but some of these arguments are such a circle-jerk.
So the way we prove something is 'right' is through an act? The Taylor Grazing Act took lands that were intended/destined to be state held (with state tax base) and placed them in a quassi-permanent state exempt from ever being able to become private lands.
This is a clear violation of the intent, the expressed purpose and the explicit provisions, of the treaties, the ordinances, and the state compacts... and the constitution of the United States.
The Taylor grazing act only applied to federal lands that were not granted to states. It did not take away state land.
You are right in regards to the express purpose of the treaties and original state compacts, but you have to look at the historical context for those compacts. The U.S. Constitution addresses the relationship of the federal government to own land. The Property Clause of the Constitution gives Congress authority over the lands, territories, or other property of the United States. It reads:
The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States.
This provision provides broad authority for Congress to govern the lands acquired by the federal government as it sees fit, and to exercise exclusive authority to decide on whether or not to dispose of those lands. The U.S. Supreme Court has described this power as “without limitation,” stating that: while Congress can acquire exclusive or partial jurisdiction over lands within a State by the State’s consent or cession, the presence or absence of such jurisdiction has nothing to do with Congress’ powers under the Property Clause....
People have argued that Equal footing laws should allow new western states to own most if not all of their land similar to states in the east. But for years courts have consistently ruled that this clause does not require the federal government to "any limitations on holding lands ceded by the original states did not apply to western lands acquired after the Constitution went into effect, and that the equal footing doctrine did not mean new western states were entitled to all federal lands in their borders".
The Constitution reserves to Congress the authority to decide which federal lands to sell or keep. And the rulings make a lot of sense. Prior to the constitution, the states in existence would have never joined the U.S. if they couldn't keep their Eastern lands. They did however give up lands owned to them at the time in the West (IIRC almost to the Mississippi, but was expanded as the federal government was held to own all territories as well). All of the states agreed that land to the west would be federal territories. As all of the western territories were federal territories that were not yet states, those wanting statehood with an already established government were on much different footing. When they agreed to statehood, the federal government determined how much land would be granted to them. Unfortunately as all of the states in existence at the time were in the East, their agreements had a major affect on state ownership in the west.
That I know of, there were armed and organized militia from GA, TX, UT, NV, AZ, NH, TN, KY, and FL.
Yesterday was one of the most incredible things I have ever witnessed. Please let's keep the negative rhetoric to a minimum.. especially for those that haven't actually done something with a purpose in their lives. Tia.
That I know of, there were armed and organized militia from GA, TX, UT, NV, AZ, NH, TN, KY, and FL.
They became well organized as a unit and had a plan.. to the surprise of the federal agents.
As they approached the fed's compound and the confiscated cattle on horseback and most everyone with sidearms, the feds warned to disperse or they would chemical spray. The protesters refused to back down and kept coming fwd, but with hands up (mostly). They lulled the feds to sleep with their passive aggression... the feds kept coming closer as well...
It was then the feds found they had been flanked and their were armed malitia hiding in the k-bars of the overpasses and then the long guns (mostly AR's) emerged from the overpasses above and were trained on the feds.
The feds retreated and the cattle were taken back.
I have incredible footage of all this that has been uploading for 12 hours now (wtf).
I know it isn't over, obviously. But I loved watching Americans stick together and fight for a belief (whether they're right or wrong). These were good people and not a single one came off as some trigger-happy knuckledragging hero looking to make a name for himself.
It was a TENSE time, I will admit, but I never felt like someone was going to lose their cool.
Thanks. Could you please reference the stated clauses? I mean this sincerely when I say you obviously know more in this than I do and I am a fact/context guy.. not one that twists words to fit an agenda, so I really am being sincere.
How does what your citing above reflect/line up with the Enclave clause? SECTION 1, ARTICLE 8, CLAUSE 17.