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 Who Will Guard the Guardians?
by Tom Campbell
April 10, 2008
That is the question Robert Morgan posed in an address to the Charlotte Law School recently. And who better to ask this question? Morgan started as a small town lawyer, was a Naval Officer, Clerk of Court, five-term North Carolina Senator, served as North Carolina’s Attorney General, represented this state as U.S. Senator, and ran the State Bureau of Investigation.
Morgan, now 82, says his time on the stage has passed, but he has devoted his life to public service and he is worried that we are losing our freedoms in the pursuit of protecting freedoms. He says our Bill of Rights is under attack, our basic protections are being dissolved, and the shame of it all is that the very people who are sworn to protect them are the ones tearing them asunder.
Before any public official, judge, or law enforcement officer can take office they must swear an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” State officials further swear that they will “support, maintain and defend the Constitution of said State, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States.” That is their sworn duty, but Morgan says this has changed. He cites Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking to last year’s graduating class at West Point. Cheney reminded the cadets that when they entered the Armed Forces they swore an oath, adding, “And you will swear again today to defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That is your vow, that is the business you are in.”
Morgan says Cheney is wrong. There is a big difference between swearing to defend the Constitution and just swearing to defend the country. Some may find this subtle but it is a real difference. Morgan says, “Today we have The Patriot Act, enabling warrantless searches of the telephone calls, emails, bank activities and other areas of your business, your brothers’ and sisters’ business, your parents’ and your friends’ business. We are told it is necessary for national security.” Benjamin Franklin once said, “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.”
So, Robert Morgan appropriately asks, “Who is guarding the guardians?” Who is looking over the shoulders of those who lead us? No matter how well intentioned they might be, who makes sure those sworn to uphold the Constitution are actually doing so?
The recent expulsion of a legislator makes this point. On two separate occasions one citizen took it upon himself to be a watchdog, digging into the campaign finance records of legislators. He found inconsistencies and illegal activities. His research led to the ultimate court convictions and prison time for both.
Our State Board of Elections is swamped trying to wade through the many campaign reports of local and state candidates and desperately needs more investigative staff, but they shouldn’t be the only ones seeking to find improprieties. The legislature and all agencies need to police themselves and our media needs to play their role as watchdogs.
But the answer to Robert Morgan’s question is self-evident. If we are to remain free, each citizen has the responsibility to guard the freedoms gained from our Constitution and Bill of Rights. It is our birthright and our duty. We must guard the guardians. |
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