In February of 1861, with our nation poised on the brink of civil war, President Abraham Lincoln stood before his fellow Americans and made the statement, “I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made, and I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this, his almost chosen people, for perpetuating the object of that great struggle.”

Through war and peace, economic prosperity and turmoil, societal progress and setbacks, the singular guiding principle of America and last defense of our liberty has been the United States Constitution. On September 17, we will mark the anniversary of the signing of the most important statement of human freedom in history. The anniversary comes at a moment when we as a nation are confronted with questions critical to our future and that of our children. It also provides an opportunity to reconnect our people with the miracle the founding fathers crafted in Philadelphia.

During this month, I am encouraging the people I meet and speak with to take the time to read the Constitution and consider its place in modern America. As a candidate for Congress, I believe that we have strayed in many ways from the intent the framers wrote into the laws they ratified in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. I also believe that the answers to the questions we now face can be found within the principles it states.

It is difficult to imagine the framers supporting the policies we see coming from Washington today. Tennesseans see an ever-expanding federal government imposing its will on the states and the people. Nationalization of private companies and a federal debt that will leave our grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a crushing financial burden are all the talk among members of Congress. Deficits grow as government takes more of a role in our lives and politicians react with disdain to Americans exercising their first right; voicing their opposition through free speech to plans for government-run health care.

I am certain in my belief that we not only can find a better way, but that we need look no further than the words contained within the Constitution to determine our path.

As Congress returns from the summer recess, reassessing the Constitution’s role in our lives is a good place to start when looking at issues in the months and years ahead. Following the lead of our nation’s founders will take us to place of greater freedom and more individual opportunity leading to, as the men who gathered in that hot Philadelphia summer believed, a more perfect union.

Part of my effort to get us talking about our Constitution again is to ask Tennesseans to visit my website at www.robinfortennessee.com and sign our petition to members of Congress requesting they join us in returning to the core principles it so eloquently states. Together we can reach the goal Abraham Lincoln also stated in 1858, “Let us then turn this government back into the channel in which the framers of the Constitution originally placed it.”

Robin Smith
Hixson
robin@robinfortennessee.com