My First Tour Of Gettysburg: Interesting But UnConstitutional For Feds To Run This Show; Confederate Memorials Dynamic, Seem Almost Alive
By John Lofton, Editor
Unreconstructed “Rebel”
I took my first official bus tour recently of the Gettysburg National Military Park which is run by the National Park Service, which is run by the U.S. Department Of The Interior. All of which caused me to wonder: Where in the Constitution are the Feds authorized to do something like this? Answer: Nowhere. Thus, such involvement is un-Constitutional, which is to say lawless, which is to say criminal.
Article 1 Section 8, Clause 17 of the U.S. Constitution reads: “[Congress shall have power] To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings.”
Hmmmmm. I see nothing here that looks like authorization for Congress to spend any $$$$$$$$$ on a Gettysburg National Military Park, a National Park Service or a Department Of The Interior. So, how did it happen that Congress is appropriating money for the Feds to do these things? Well, I think we get a clue when we look online at the Cornell University Law School’s “U. S. Constitution Annotated.”
In a section headed “AUTHORITY OVER PLACES PURCHASED,” subheaded “Places,” commenting on Article 1 Section 8, Clause 17 of the U.S. Constitution, it is said:
“This clause has been broadly construed to cover all structures necessary for carrying on the business of the National Government. It includes post offices, a hospital and a hotel located in a national park, and locks and dams for the improvement of navigation. But it does not cover lands acquired for forests, parks, ranges, wild life sanctuaries or flood control. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has held that a State may convey, and the Congress may accept, either exclusive or qualified jurisdiction over property acquired within the geographical limits of a State, for purposes other than those enumerated in clause 17.”
Aha! Did you catch that? This clause has been “broadly construed”, blah, blah, blah — which means - surprise! - courts have approved this particular un-Constitutional action. For more information on the topic of the Federal ownership of land you should read anything by Henry Lamb, Chairman of Sovereignty International and Founder of the Environmental Conservation Organization.
OK, the tour. First, watched a film “A New Birth Of Freedom” narrated by Morgan Freeman. Poster promoting film in Visitor Center lobby has on it a large closeup of Lincoln’s face. Yuck! The man was evil - the George W. Bush of his day though Lincoln murdered a lot more people.
We get on the bus for the two-hour tour. The cost was, I think, $35 per-person. I watch, I listen. Like I say, this is my first Gettysburg tour. It was worth taking.
But, I’m no expert on the War Between The States — or, as my friend, the Rev. Joe Morecraft III calls it: “When the North invaded America.” I have been interested in this conflict to the extent it was a theological battle, a religious war - and I believe it was. I think the South represented, generally speaking, true Bible-believing Christianity; the North, generally speaking, was Unitarian, which is not Christianity. And speaking of Brother Morecraft, he is an expert on the religious aspects of the War Between The States having written and spoken a lot about it. You might want to contact his church and see what materials he might have available. (INSERT MORECRAFT LINK HERE).
At the end of our tour the following exchange occurs between myself and our guide. We’re standing at the foot of the bus stairs. Everybody else has gotten off the bus and is gone.
Me: Do you think secession was illegal, un-Constitutional?
A: I think it was un-Constitutional.
Me: What part of the Constitution did it violate?
A: The Preamble.
Me: (incredulously) The Preamble!?
A: “Yes - ‘We the People’
Me: Meaning what?! Were the Southerners not also ‘people?’ And I don’t believe the Preamble of the Constitution is part of our law.
A: I’m tired. I don’t want to argue. I gave three tours today.
He walks away.
The Gettysburg National Military Park Web site lists several direct Lincoln quotes denouncing secession. The following are paraphrases of his position, according to this site:
- Physically the states cannot separate.
Comment: I’m not sure what this means but it seems to say that geography is destiny, something like “Nyaaaaaa, nyaaaaa, you can’t secede because your state is next to our state!” - though most folks then called where they lived their “country,” not their “state.” - Secession is unlawful.
Comment: Really? By what standard? - God’s Law? The Constitution? Lincoln’s latest horoscope? None of “Dishonest Abe’s” direct quotes on this site do anything more than simply assert the illegality of secession which, of course, proves nothing. - A government that allows secession will disintegrate into anarchy.
Comment: Not necessarily - unless, of course, you define “secession” as “anarchy;” then what you say is simply a tautology which, again, proves nothing other than that you can assert what you believe. - That Americans are not enemies, but friends.
Comment: This one really makes you want to projectile barf at roughly Warp-Factor 9. Right. Lincoln really treated the South as if they were his American “friends.” - Secession would destroy the world’s only existing democracy, and prove for all time, to future Americans and to the world, that a government of the people cannot survive.
Comment: Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! We are not a “democracy;” or I should say this was not the original intent, which was that we would be a Constitutional, representative, Republic!
Lots of info on the Internet re: the Constitutionality, the legality of secession. Happy hunting. And one book I’m looking at on my bookshelf is “A Constitutional History Of Secession” (Pelican Publishing, 2002).
Finally, some information which may or may not interest you. The following are some questions I had after my tour. I asked them by email of Katie Lawhon, Public Affairs Specialist, Gettysburg National Military Park, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Suite 100 Gettysburg, PA 17325; phone 717- 334-1124 x3121; fax:717- 334-1891; email: Katie_Lawhon@nps.gov. She responded promptly and I thank her for this.
Q: My tour did not go down Confederate Avenue and thus ignored all the Confederate Memorials. My brother says on the bus tour he took previously, the bus did go down C.A. So, why the difference? Is there a set route for all bus tours?
A: No, but most of the Battlefield Bus Tours go down West Confederate Avenue. Not sure why yours went down Emmitsburg Road instead. Maybe they were trying to make up some lost time.
(Helpful Suggestion/JL: Any bus tour running behind should, to get back on time, ignore only Yankee monuments.)
Q: Our guide had a little medal on his person saying he was “licensed.” Who licenses these guides (name, address, phone #, please).
A: Gettysburg National Military Park licenses private citizens to give the tours to park visitors for a fee. Licensed Battlefield Guides must pass a rigorous testing process. The coordinator of the guide program is Park Ranger Clyde Bell, 717 334-1124 x 3171. Email Clyde_Bell@nps.gov
Q: Do all bus tour guides take a training course? If so, how long is it?
A: There is no formal training course, rather it is independent study. The local community college does occasionally offers a course about how to study for the test.
Q: Are guides given list of answers that are to be given to certain questions? If so, what are those questions and answers? Are there specific questions guides are told not to get into? If so, what are these questions. May I have a copy of training materials guides must study (assuming there are some)?
A: We don’t tell guides what to say, we only demand accuracy and excellent communications skills. We offer a written exam and a certain number of guides who score at a high level are asked to take an additional practical exam and given some training. The next exam is in December 2008. Contact Clyde Bell for more details about the exam. There is information about “what every guide should know” on the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guide website http://www.gettysburgtourguides.org/
Q: How much are bus tour guides paid?
A: $100 per bus tour usually, perhaps more if it’s a bigger bus.
Q: What is annual budget for the G-BPark facility?
A: Gettysburg National Military Park’s annual operating budget is $6.6 million
Q: How much did the new Visitor Center cost to build?
The nonprofit Gettysburg Foundation raised the funding for, and built, the new Museum and Visitor Center at a cost of $103 million.
Q: How many yearly visitors to GBP facility?
A: I can only tell you how many visitors we get parkwide in a year - 1.7 million. It’s too soon to say what the numbers will be in our new building.
Q: How much money does GBP facility take in per year?
A: The park has no admission fee. It’s free.
FOLLOW UP Q & A
Q: So, the money taken in by the store I visited selling various items at the Visitor Center does not go to the Federal Government? And it cost the Fed Government nothing to build this new Visitor Center?
A: Yes and no. Some of the funds (proceeds) generated from the museum caf and the bookstore do go to Gettysburg National Military Park for preservation and education projects. Both the food service provider and the bookstore operator give a portion of their proceeds to the Gettysburg Foundation, and the Foundation gives a portion to the park. Same thing with the proceeds from ticket sales to the film.
No federal funds were used for the construction of the new Museum and Visitor Center. $15 million was appropriated for conservation and hanging of the historic Gettysburg Cyclorama painting, which premiers during our Grand Opening on September 26, 2008.
