Letter to the editor: Jefferson may have OK'd Jan. 6 insurrection

If an insurrection of the Jan. 6 type had occurred back in colony times and enough citizens were sufficiently upset with their government to march on the Capitol as an armed mob, Thomas Jefferson might have been right in there cheering the mob on!

Consider this: The Constitution was freshly approved; the Congress barely seated; and no experience was yet available to “fall back on” should the Congress begin passing legislation that the citizenry strongly disapproved of.

At that point, Jefferson realized that the only recourse the citizens had was to oust (and replace) the Congress in an insurrection. Additionally, Jefferson realized that would continue to be the only legal recourse an unhappy citizenry would have — insurrection.

Jefferson left it at that, failing to further define how a proper insurrection should be carried out. So perhaps the group investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection ought to be looking at it as a legitimate insurrection by a relatively small group of citizens who are legitimate in their unhappiness with the way Congress is operating and has, legitimately, carried out a well-organized mob scene, complete with weapons.

As far as attacks on insurrection targets go, it was brief and well put together. It made its points in each area under consideration by the committee. It was a good, well organized and well carried out, valuable insurrection, and as such ought to be recognized by the committee.

Ed Collins

West Newton