Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-01-07
ZENO REPLIES.
The Constitution and Amendments the
Supreme Law of the Land.

To the HOrhmens Adrocdie:
Your correspondent, W. T, Horn, may
amuse himself to amy extent, if he will
only believe that also have faith in
Evolution; yet it is consistent to crit-
else the principles advocated by others
even while know they will not prevail,
if | think converts to them will be vast
ing their time
Ny other critic, tx. X" is suffering
from two complaints: Excess of faith in
ordained Interpreters of the Constitu-
ton; and nm abnormal notion that laws
established by a majority should not be
criticised by minority.
make no claim that the anarchists
were prudent in their agitation, or mod
crate in their language; but | believe
that the eight who were convicted, We're
illegally tried and punished People
like tx. X" should read the best criti-
cisins of the case, such as "Facts' by
Leon Lewis, Gen. Trumbulls book. and
the brief Of the defendants counsel to
the Illinois Supreme Court. In the lat
ter will be found plenty of material for
appeal.
In the face of decisions for fifty years
past, contend that the first ten amend
mends to the Constitution define the
power of the Federal government, as
against state government, instead of linn
iting the first, and leaving the latter I'M
limited Does tx. X" believe that a State
could establish an authoritative religion
or quarter soldiers in private house?
may be only waking up. and my scream
groan; yet | believe that if Jefferson and
Paine should awake, their shrek would
make mine seem doves coo, by con-
trast. Since | awoke have, by study,
become familiar with the democratic
principles they advocated; and am con-
fdent that the Anarchists were convicted
in violation of those principles only be
cause their doctrines were obnoxious to
most people. tx. X" and the supreme
court should avow openly that those ten
amendments are no part Of the cOHStitu-
ton. This they know would not do. so
they assert the government has no power
to enforce them, and the effect is the
same. The words: This Constitution
Siltli bt tiiC law vi VIC ltttiu,
were written before the amendments,
admit Now, would it be the work of
sensible men, to add amendments which
were not to be the supreme law of the
land? The amendments are always con-
sidered a part of the supreme law of
the land" and must be treated as such
Let tx. X" study these words carefully {:
"The powers not delegated to the United
States by the Constitution, nor prohibited
by it to the States, are reserved to the
States respectively, or to the people
This implies, that the Constitution de-
fines the powers of the United States.
Any ali icle, section or amendment that
does not define some Federal power, is
out of place in the Constitution. and to
place it there would be the work of idiocy.
The paragraph above quoted implies.
beyond cavil. that only the powers not
defined by the Constitution are reserved
to the States and the people; but every
| thing found IN the Constitution. amend
ments and all, are superior to State
| powers and must not be violated by
| States.
With all this eternal evidence brought
| forward, I'M" still holds that brought
no evidence to support my position.
He cannot comprehend valid proof, OF
| else does not believe what he writes.