[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 83 (Monday, June 14, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1247-E1248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             FLAG DAY 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 14, 1999

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to a great symbol of our 
nation, the flag of the United States of America on this Flag Day 1999. 
I wonder how frequently we take for granted this symbol, how often we 
fail to consider what it is and indeed what it represents.
  The flag contains 13 stripes and 50 stars. Those 13 stripes represent 
the first thirteen states, each of which emanating from colonies of 
British America. These 13 colonies came together because they were 
opposed to continued oppression by the British executive and the 
British parliament. After numerous and significant entreaties seeking 
reconciliation, the British American came to understand that political 
independence and local self-government was the only way to insure 
against the most dangerous of tyrannies.
  Was this eternal truth forgotten immediately upon the founding of our 
nation? Hardly. From the Articles of Confederation through to the 
original U.S. Constitution a clear understanding of the necessity of 
the separation of powers was maintained. And the genius of that 
division of powers lay only so partially in the three federal branches, 
each reliant upon some different direct authority but all resting 
government finally on the consent of the governed. Indeed, it has 
rightly been said that ``the genius of the constitution is best summed 
up in that clause which reserves to the states or to the people those 
powers which are not specifically delegated to the federal 
government.''
  So those states came together to form a compact, indeed to form a 
nation and, they gave specific but limited powers to the federal 
government. From those original thirteen stars and stripes, 
representing the individual states, came one. E pluribus unum. And this 
is what the flag and those stripes represent.
  Today the flag contains 50 stars to represent the 50 current states. 
From 13 came 50

[[Page E1248]]

and in this way ``E pluribus pluribum'' is also true. From many came 
more.
  Yes, Mr. Speaker, our flag is a symbol of our nation. It is a symbol 
but certainly not the sum. America means so much more to us than symbol 
devoid of substance. It means those rights, inalienable and 
indivisible, which are life, liberty and property. Property not just as 
an object of ownership but as an idea. Private property is indeed the 
bedrock of all privacy. And private enjoyment of property is not simply 
exemplified by the right to hold, but to use and dispose of as the 
owner sees fit. This is at the very essence of property, and it is in 
fact the meaning of the pursuit of happiness.
  And those stars and stripes represent an idea about how it is that we 
should hope to actually realize the protection of all these rights that 
we as Americans hold so dear. Namely, we the people vest in those very 
states that formed this union, the power to legislate for the benefit 
of the residents thereof.
  This is the idea of federalism and of local self-government. This 
idea is sacrosanct because it is the necessary precursor to all of 
those things which we hold dear, most specifically those rights I have 
enunciated above. Our nation is based on federalism, and state 
governments, indeed the nation is created by the states which 
originally ratified our constitution.
  Now confusion has come upon us. We are far removed from the days of 
the constitution's ratification and hence it seems we have lost that 
institutional memory that points to the eternal truths that document 
affirms.
  Today there are calls to pass federal laws and even constitutional 
amendments which would take from the states their powers and grant them 
to the federal government. Some of these are even done in the name of 
protecting the nation, its symbol, or our liberties. How very sad that 
must make the founding fathers looking down on our institutions. Those 
founders held that this centralization of power was and ought always 
remain the very definition of ``unAmerican'' and they understood that 
any short term victory an action of such concentration might bring 
would be paid for with the ultimate sacrifice of our very liberties.
  To do what is right we must understand and honor the symbol and the 
sum of our nation. We must contemplate the flag and the constitution, 
both of which point us to the key basis of liberty that can be found 
only in local self-government. Our flag and our constitution both honor 
and symbolize federalism and when we undermine federalism we dishonor 
our flag, our constitution and our heritage.
  The men who founded our nation risked the ultimate price for freedom. 
They pledged ``their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor'' to 
the founding of a republic based on local self-government. We should 
honor them, our republic and its most direct symbol, our U.S. flag by 
taking a stand against any rule, law or constitutional amendment which 
would expand the role of our federal government.

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