Whenever there is a Democratic president, Republicans like to oppose him by citing "states' rights." (Funny how that doesn't seem to apply when there is a Republican in the White House.) Some of them go so far as to promote the concept of nullification. We fought a Civil War over that notion, and apparently winning that war wasn't enough to settle that matter.
Well, I just happened to stumble upon a very interesting quote on that subject, and it suggests that, yes, the United States of American is, in fact, a sovereign nation and not a collection of fifty independent fiefdoms loosely joined together by a common currency, much like the Articles of Confederation or the EU.
But here is the remarkable part: The quote is from Southern governor in the 1950s, who initially condemned Brown v. Board of Education. Even better, it is a superlative example of a politician stating his beliefs, standing by them, and asking demanding that he be held accountable for them.
First, a bit of history to put the quote in context.
LeRoy Collins was the first governor of Florida to serve two consecutive terms (1955-61). He was the first governor in the South to embrace integration of schools. When the Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the Brown case, the Florida legislature planned to pass a resolution of "interposition," meaning that it would "interpose" itself between the federal government and the people of Florida. Since this was a resolution and not a bill, Collins had no power to veto it. When it came to his desk, however, he wrote the following note, in his own handwriting:
"This concurrent resolution of 'Interposition' crosses the Governor's desk as a matter of routine. I have no authority to veto it. I take this means however to advise the student of government, who may examine this document in the archives of the state in the years to come, that the Governor of Florida expressed open and vigorous opposition thereto. I feel that the U. S. Supreme Court has improperly usurped powers reserved to the states under the constitution. I have joined in protesting such and in seeking legal means of avoidance. But if this resolution declaring the decisions of the court to be 'null and void' is to be taken seriously, it is anarchy and rebellion against the nation which must remain 'indivisible under God' if it is to survive. Not only will I not condone 'interposition' as so many have sought me to do, I decry it as an evil thing, whipped up by the demagogues and carried on the hot and erratic winds of passion, prejudice, and hysteria. If history judges me right this day, I want it known that I did my best to avert this blot. If I am judged wrong, then here in my own handwriting and over my signature is the proof of guilt to support my conviction. LeRoy Collins, Governor." May 2, 1957.
The sentence starting with "I decry it" makes it as relevant today as it was almost 60 years ago. (Also, from a writer's perspective, I
love the way he used the word "conviction" so that it works with both meanings.)
Collins has been called one of Florida's greatest governors by many of his successors, from Reuben Askew and Bob Graham to Jeb Bush, and was placed at the top of the list by the Tampa Bay Times. That quote alone tells you why.