Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-09-01
The Safeguards of Our Govern
nlent.
BY THOMAS CALLAHAN.

which altered not, were the statutes of
a finished people. who assumed that
nothing could be learned in regard to
jurisprudence beyond their attain
ments, and yet all their attempts to
maintain their theory of !mmutability
only led to blunders and violence.
All that can be expected of the leg
islation of any time, is that it shall
embody the attainments of that people
up to that time, and as judicious men
expect to know something tomorrow
that they do not know to-day, it is well
| to hold our conclusions subject to re-
consideration. All that can be ex-
pected of any administration, is that it
shall embody and be the exponent of
the average attainments of a majority
its constituency, and where the source
of government is in the people. The I'M
provement of the government must
begin with the people, and their will
will be the source of law.
When despot rules there is butone
way in which to introduce change or
to amend the Constitution Of State,
and that is by assassinating the ruler
4 and substituting a successor favorable
) to the change.
In limited monarchies it is often diff
ficult to bring about any change with
, out a revolution, the outcome of which
no one can see from the beginning.
But construct q government whose
r Constitution, like a railroad bridge
built on the Howe truss plan, will
,, stand and safely do its duty whilst one
/ piece after another is being quietly
l taken out and changed, is triumph OF
! political engineering which may well
be regarded as the wonder Of the world.
: This triumph our nation achieved,
fifteen amendments having been made
f to the Constitution of the United States.
y The right of proposing an amendment
T il vested In two-thirds of both Houses
Congress, or in the Legislatures OF two
thirds of the states, and the amend
ment must be ratified by three-fourths
of the States before it can be law
:. This guards against rash legislation by
: recurring a strong majority to ever
propose a change, and still stronger
one to confirm it.
In respect to the extent OF this power
i of amendment, there is only one limi
tation-no State shall without its con
sent be deprived of its equal suffrag'
in the Senate.
The first eleven amendments ar
supplemental legislation, designed t
y supply omissions in the Constitution
u The tenth repeals part of thatdocu
ment by prescribing different mod
of electing the President and Vice-Pres
ident. The remaining three amend
rs ments introduce a new class of citizen
: and protect their rights.
The theory which underruns an
he controls the whole idea and system
amendments to the Constitution,
~ that government is for the people an
le not the people for the government.
The earliest forms ofcivil governmen
instituted by men were based upon an
executed by brute force. They ha
n one motto
III LET him take that has the power,
And let him hold that can."
Under them society was divided int
two classes-beasts of prey and beast
of burden. One class Of men was SUI
!, posed to be born saddled and bridled
be ridden, and another booted an
spurred to ride them; and as rule, tn
Church aided the State in maintainln
q. this idea, and enforced in her domai
= despotism as remorseless as th'
which she endorsed in the State. Bt
3 the commonsense of mankind revolte
against this idea, both in Church an
8. State. and at the first there was n
other way but tn overthrow force o
rs force. The condition of things was M
he founded in reason, and so an appeal
h reason in regard to it would have bee
IIv useless, and so
m. .Peasauts whose new found strength had brol
From manly necks the ignoble yoke,
And forged their fetters into swords
he On equal terms to q ghts their lords"
ls' if successful, secured some redress
ON grievances; but if they failed, they pal
'r- the penalty in a heavier oppression.
p But as wealth increased, the owne
rv of property became desirous OF avol
J a ing WARRIOR public war means Inc
L vidual suffering and general waste
al and even kings found the risks Z
x great to be lightly taken, and so
ny parties began to cast about for mo
"u quiet way of redressing grievances.
as In 1888 the Barons Of England cor
rs PEELED King John to sign the Gre
Charter. They made strong dispia
of of force, before which the King yielde
:. The reign of William and Mary WI
hv marked by several important eonce
sions to popular rights.
srs' In later days when important bi