The 1776 version of the PA Constitution contains similarly well-thought writings.

Yeah, the KY Constitution reminds me of PA, but a non-emasculated version thereof.  This last one was written in 1891, and I was shocked to find such sentiments on paper after Abe Lincoln's War.

I still think the wrong side won that one.

There's no doubt of that.  Hopefully, that is remedied (peacefully) someday.

Peacefully?

I can dream, can't I?

Why dream of peace?  Peace changes nothing.

Violence on the scale of the unCivil War in today's world would lead to the deaths of probably 3-5 million people from direct violence, with the potential for double that figure for civilian casualties of exposure, disease, and starvation. 

Honestly, I would rather see a peaceful solution than killing fields.  I will prepare for both, but hope for the former. The alternative is a pretty frightening scenario.

Peace is stagnation.  It's fine for short periods, but too much is just as bad as too much war.

It may be stagnation, but the inertia of the body politic at rest is to stay at peace.  Once the conflagration is ignited, too much war is already the anticipated end.  A study of the War of Northern Aggression explains that tail.

The escalation of violence is the anticipated course in total war.  In total war, the annihilation of the enemy is sought, not a certain strategic goal.  Unfortunately, the means to that end almost inevitably lie in a direct assault on civilian populations.  Once the bullets fly, it is only a matter of time until one side rediscovers this truth.  Once you reach the level of "too much war," nobody can stop it.

It always stops.

Eventually.  So do tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes, but it sucks to be one of the people who doesn't survive the chaos.

What are a few deaths in a century?

If we stay the course as is, and probably even if we don't, billions will die once it hits the fan.  We may as well actively pursue fixing it by any means necessary before that.

And how does one actively go about fixing the problem violently when most of the populace is in support of the state status quo at some level?  That seems to invite defeat.

Live free or die.

Well, I'm prepared for either, but I will keep on hoping for peace for those who aren't prepared.

The price of freedom is vigilance.  If they aren't prepared, they haven't been vigilant.

They aren't prepared, nor are they vigilant.  Still, I don't relish the thought of burying these ignorant people because they died in a conflict we could have avoided.  We need to explore all peaceful avenues before we look elsewhere because once that door opens, it is next to impossible to close.

It's the only door, and the longer we wait, the stronger they become.  Technology is on their side.

That's a beautiful header picture!

Thanks!

I don't know that it much matters where a person lives, whether in the north or in the south. This document reads like many of the other state constitutions that were part of the original 13 colonies, like Kentucky (being part of the Virginia colony, I believe). Myself, I prefer New Hampshire's version.....

Maine:

Section 2. Power inherent in people. All power is inherent in the people; all free governments are founded in their authority and instituted for their benefit; they have therefore an unalienable and indefeasible right to institute government, and to alter, reform, or totally change the same, when their safety and happiness require it.

Mass.

Article VII. Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men: Therefore the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity and happiness require it.

New Hampshire:

[Art.] 10. [Right of Revolution.] Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new government. The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.

Cool!  Great collection of "reset" clauses.