The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-07-25
Constituted Authority.

whenever any earthly power, either in
the church or nation, has wished to en-
croach on the liberties of conscience or the
ponticai rights of people, it has always
been done in the name of constituted
authority" The human instrument used
to enforce the authority constituted, assum-
ing TO be more important than the power
that created him and the people for whose
interest he is supposed to act.
The liberties of a people have always
been lost by their submitting, to this as
sumption of power by officials claiming to
act under and for the purpose Of enforc-
inf constituted authority
constituted authority either in church or
political matters must be delegated to the
instrument or agent from the source of
power. in spiritual matters it must come
by revelation through the scripture or the
teachings of the apostles and when the
modern prelate attempts to advise or act
IN any manner different from the simple
anu pam teaching of Christ, or the few
ana easily understood rules of the early
1ather In the church, the authority he at
tempts TO exercise is not constituted but
assumed as he acts from his own volition
and not by direction of superior power
IN political matters where the citizen is
auinonlsned to obey the constituted author
ties, the citizen has the right to inquire
INTO the nature of the authority whether
IL really be constituted merely assumed.
All political authority to be constituted
must be the delegated power of a majority
OF the people and when the acts of an of
nclal Will not bear the scrutiny of the peo-
pie 1t is null and void, and in order to pre-
serve the liberties of the people it should
De dlsregarded; for only by persistent op-
position to the assumption of power can
freedom continue.
In the United States we have what is
called constitutional form of government
all power emanates from or are retained by
the people, yet we at this time the as
sumption of power by the courts to legis-
late' to seize private property, and cor
respondence, exact excessive ball. and deny
the right to trial by jury in face of con-
stltutlonal limitations, either by direct pro-
hibition or non-conference of power from
the people, no such power is conveyed to
the courts, but is direct violation of the
rights by liberties of the people by attor-
neyS who have been appointed to the bench
oy executive power as a reward to cor
poratlons who have contributed corruption
FUNDS for campaign purposes.
Inc province of the courts are to sit in
Judgment taking cogniZance of such viola
tlOn OF the statutes as may be brought be-
fore it by proper forms and legal methods
Tor a court to enjoin a person from break
ing a law is nonsense for the legislative
body has already performed that consti-
tutlonal function, 'or the customs of the
people running back to a time the mind Of
man knoweth not Of" has established it.
Therefore court that issues an injunction
that lnterferes with personal liberty, or in
any matter or thing not already connected
with some action at law in which property
IN controversy may be changed from hand
ana lost beyond control of jury or court
goes beyond it's constituted authority and
becomes lawlesS. violator of our consti-
tuition, and Is not a constitutive authority;
ana whenever a person, whether he be
poIceman or president, politician or pre-
late. ask us to obey constituted authority
nd
afterwards, he is either too ignorant or cor
rupt to entitle his advice to respect, for
every act of injustice ever perpetrated by
any government has been done in the name
of constituted authority and every as
piration for the liberties of the people de-
nounced as mobocracy, rebellion and revo-
luton. If there is any hope for liberty in
this or any other country it is when people
refuse to allow their personal liberty to be
infringed by injunction of president, mill
tary power, or court, and maintain their
right to work play as they may judge
for their best interest.