Background to Betrayal: The Tragedy of Vietnam

By Compact, Not Command takes readers back to the Founders’ debate over federalism, presenting their vision of the Union in their own words. It portrays the Union as a compact among sovereign states, with the federal government acting as a limited agent under a defined grant of powers. Edited by Joe Wolverton, II, J.D., and Connor Kimball, this collection features:

• An original introduction by Wolverton.
• Concise author biographies to situate each text in its historical moment, helping readers engage with the sources while testing claims against evidence.

Because debates over constitutional authority require primary sources, this book keeps the focus on the historical record.

Key Materials Included:

This volume assembles the foundational texts that shaped early American constitutional practice, such as:

• The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
• Madison’s “Report of 1800”
• Maria Pinckney’s A Political Catechism
• Edmund Pendleton’s 1801 admonition in the Richmond Examiner
• John Taylor of Caroline’s Constructions Construed
• Abel P. Upshur’s Brief Inquiry

Across these works, a common structure emerges:

• Powers are delegated by the parties to the compact.
• Undelegated powers remain with the states and the people.

Key themes include:

• Jefferson’s articulation of interposition against unconstitutional acts.
• Madison’s explanation of political remedies available to free people through their states.
• Pinckney’s translation of legal principles into civic instruction.
• Taylor’s rejection of consolidation and his critique of fashionable constructions.
• Upshur’s step-by-step argument that the Constitution is a grant from the states, resting on their authority.

Designed for Students and Officials Alike:

The volume is structured to cater to both students and officials:

• Shorter pieces introduce first principles.
• Longer treatments apply those principles under real-world pressures.

Wolverton’s introduction provides a roadmap, while the biographies offer quick insights into each author’s role, alliances, and historical context. This structure enables readers to:

• Argue from primary sources.
• Cite with confidence.
• Build expertise over time and across cases.

Why This Book Matters Today:

In an era where centralized administration increasingly influences county offices, classrooms, small businesses, and city halls, citizens and lawmakers must respond with law, not slogans.

By Compact, Not Command equips readers with the Founders’ tools in a single, navigable volume. Bring these tools to:

• Your statehouse
• Your courthouse
• Your classroom
• Your kitchen table

This book invites you to engage with the principles that shaped the nation — and use them to meet the challenges of today.