We met here early last July to hold an academic symposium to hear arguments on both sides of the issues: 1) that the 16^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the so-called income tax amendment, was not legally ratified in 1913, indeed, that it was fraudulently declared to be ratified by a lame-duck Secretary of State, Philander Knox, just days before he left office to make way for the administration of Woodrow Wilson; 2) that regardless of the 16^th Amendment issue, there is no law or regulation that requires most citizens to file and pay income taxes or to have those taxes withheld from the money they earn; 3) that one cannot sign and file a tax return without waiving one's rights under the 5^th Amendment not to be a witness against oneself; 4) that the IRS routinely ignores and denies basic due process rights of citizens in its administrative and judicial proceedings; and 5) that the federal income tax is the basis of the Federal Reserve System.

We heard several experts speak to establish the above propositions. We had invited the leaders of our executive and legislative branches of the government to send knowledgeable representatives to our symposium to debate and refute the allegations of the experts. They did not send anyone, nor did they acknowledge our repeated invitations.

So we held another conference in November to further discuss the issues and what to do about them. Again we respectfully and repeatedly asked those same governmental leaders to send someone to speak to us, and again we got absolutely no reply, not even an acknowledgement. Out of that meeting came the decision to convene here on April 13^th to deliver our grievances, in the form of a Remonstrance, to the leaders of all three branches of our federal government. So here we are. We have delegates here today representing the people of every state, to make this meeting truly national in character and scope. I'm very pleased so many have come.

You each have received a packet containing various materials, one of which is our agenda. I'd like to review it with you briefly so that we all know what to expect as the day progresses. So if you'll please refer to your copy of the agenda, we'll go over it and take any questions.

First, however, I'm sorry to announce that one of our key speakers and most honored compatriots is not able to be with us today. On Monday, I received a phone call from Bill Benson to tell me that his wife had just suffered a major, debilitating stroke and was in the hospital. Our prayers go out to Bill and his wife, and we hope for her full and speedy recovery. Bill has many, many friends and admirers all over the country, and I know they are all wishing him and Lorraine the best at this time. He wanted me to tell you he was looking forward to being with us today, and is very sorry that he can't be here.

Yesterday we were informed that due to the turmoil within the Republican Party, Alan Keyes was called to Texas and California to mediate serious philosophical differences between the Conservative movement and those people handling the campaign of George W. Bush. Apparently there is some serious fighting going on for the soul of the Republican Party and the conservative movement is frustrated, fatigued and disillusioned.

So, Ambassador Keyes has been forced to rearrange his schedule for the next two weeks to devote his time and attention to leadership decisions in the conservative movement to, as he puts it, "to try to maintain the Republican Party as a party of principle…not just on issues of moral conservatism, but also on economic and sovereignty issues as well."

Mr. Keyes has apologized for the sudden change of schedule and for not being able to join us today. He wanted to be with us to share his firm belief that the 16^th Amendment was not legally or properly ratified and that the federal government has been abusing its power to tax.

Obviously Bill's absence and the absence of Mr. Keyes creates a big gap. However, we still have an awful lot of ground to cover: we have a number of other speakers and the premier public reading of the theatrical play, all of which we want to get through in time to start our trek to the White House and the Capitol on schedule.

It's April, the change of seasons, and one can feel that the winds of change are blowing. Change is in the air. We'd like to think that our efforts, and the efforts of those who have contributed so much to us, have had something to do with it -- that we're having an effect. I want to tell you something of what I've learned is going on in the Congress right now. Government officials will never admit it, but I think they see the handwriting on the wall regarding the income tax. We must have the killer instinct to not let up. We must keep after our prey. The predator IRS has become the hunted, and we must not let it escape.