America’s founders never intended state governments to be mere conduits or implementation centers for immoral and unjust Federal government laws, policies, regulations, and court opinions as they have today. They understood that the Constitution limited the Federal government’s power.
For example, James Madison, often called the Father of the Constitution, wrote in Federalist No.45, “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.”
Should the Federal government exceed its constitutional boundaries and invade the powers of the States, Madison described their remedy in Federalist No.46. He wrote, “Should an unwarrantable measure of the federal government be unpopular in particular States... the means of opposition to it are powerful and at hand. The disquietude of the people; their repugnance and, perhaps, refusal to co-operate with the officers of the Union; the frowns of the executive magistracy of the State; the embarrassments created by legislative devices, which would often be added on such occasions, would oppose, in any State, difficulties not to be despised; would form, in a large State, very serious impediments; and where the sentiments of several adjoining States happened to be in unison, would present obstructions which the federal government would hardly be willing to encounter.”
What Madison was saying is that if the Federal government becomes a tyrant, the States should not just go along -- thinking they must simply obey. Rather, the founders expected the States to resist and reign in the tyranny of such a Federal government. This is what is known as the doctrine of the lesser magistrates which America’s founders understood.
What is a tyranny? John of Salisbury wrote in his monumental work, Policraticus, written in the year 1159, “For tyranny is abuse of power entrusted by God to man.” All authority, including civil authority is delegated to men by God. When a civil authority makes unjust or immoral laws or rulings, he abuses his power and may be resisted. When the lower civil authority sees the higher authority make immoral or unjust law, it is the duty and right of the lesser authority to interpose against such false law.
Right now we have a Federal government that is playing the tyrant. Federal judges are imposing homosexual marriage upon the States. These judges are trampling the state Constitutions of many States. These States have the duty and right to defy the Federal tyrant and not recognize the rulings of such Federal judges.
It has come to my attention that Governor Walker will not defend our State Constitution regarding marriage against the Federal tyrant. One can hardly blame him when you consider the whores that fill Wisconsin’s pulpits. Walker knows full well they will not rally their people around him if he stands in interposition against the Federal tyrant.
It is therefore incumbent upon the people to bypass their hirelings and appeal directly to Governor Walker themselves -- demanding that he defy the Federal judge and defend our Constitution. His number is 608-266-1212.
Walker should stand for what is right in the sight of God and defy the Federal tyrant. Perhaps his action would rally the people -- he does know they voted overwhelmingly just eight years ago to amend our Constitution that marriage only be recognized between a man and a woman.
But what about County Clerks? There are 72 counties in Wisconsin -- will not one county clerk stand in the gap and defy the Federal tyrant? Will not just one hazard their life for what is right? Will not just one fear God more than they fear man?
Right now there are people in Wisconsin trying to find a county clerk who will stand in interposition and refuse obedience to the tyrant. There are lawyers willing to act on his or her behalf. The county DA and the county Sheriff need to stand with the clerk and defend him or her. The people need to rally behind such a Clerk, DA, and Sheriff acting in their defense also.
If you would like to help with this project, please contact me by calling the church where I pastor. The number is 262-628-9169.
The Scripture reads in Judges 18:7, “There was no magistrate in the land that might put them to shame in anything.” Matthew Henry comments on this verse: “It is only God’s grace that can renew men’s depraved minds and turn their hearts; but the magistrate's power may restrain their bad practices and tie their hands, so that the wickedness of the wicked may not be either so injurious or so infectious as otherwise it would be.”
May we find one righteous magistrate in Wisconsin who will stand in defiance of tyranny and wickedness.
Matt Trewhella is the pastor of Mercy Seat Christian Church (MercySeat.net) and the founder of Missionaries to the Preborn (MissionariesToThePreborn.com). He and his wife, Clara, reside in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, and have eleven children. The book he has written “The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates” can be found at Amazon.com. Multiple copies to get into the hands of legislators, county officials, and other lesser magistrates can be obtained at a discounted price by going to LesserMagistrate.com.
You can contact Matt at matt@lessermagistrate.com or 262-628-9169.
