The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-05
TIE U. S. CONSTITUTION.
An Historical Address by Hon. John
II. Reagan.
TENDENCY TOWARD GENERALIZATION
should he Checked II the Liberties
of the People Are to lie
Preserved InviOIate.

| After making verbal explanation, ac-
acknowledging the honor conferred upon him
BY the invitation to make this address,
AID expressing his regret that ne hld not
been able to command time TO make more
full and elaborate discussion OF the quea-
ton, John II. Reagan, on June 8, 1896, de-
1vered the following address before the
American History club of Austin, Texas:
Ladies: 1t may be appropriate in dis
GUSHING the constitution OF the United
States to consider what a constitution Of
GOV eminent, political constitution, is.
| a state constitution is a compact, con
tact. entered into between all the people
| OF a state by which they agree and bind
thcmselyes to obey a system OF rules as
tteii organic law. which neither the legis-
lature. nor the executive. nor the judicial
departments of the State government, nor
any individual or number of persons, have
the right to violate or disregard The State
constitution Is the charter OF the rights
ana libertles of the people of the State and
should b. sacredly upheld and maintained.
me constitution CT the United States is
| Ike compact or contract entered into oy
the Statce and ratified by the people OF
the States and it should in like manner be
sacredly upheld and maintained as thu
| pond Of union between the States and as
containing the measure of the powers of the
Fedclal government.
FOR clear understanding Of the meaning
ami purpose Of the constitution of the
| unltcu states 1t is proper to consider along
| WIN II the declaration OF independence and
the articles OF confederation which preceded
It's adoption. And these together show the
elemental change of the form of govern
Inent from that which existed in tho mon
arches OF the Old World to that of our
d. mocratic republic. In those governments
the King or emperor was the sovereign in
'ne language of Mr.. Blackstone he was
the source of authority and the fountain Of
power, and the people were subjects.
In this republic the
PEOPLE ARE SOVEREIGN,
the source of authority and the fountain
Of power. They have the right to make
alter or amend their form Of government.
Inc state government derives all the au-
thoriiy ii has from the people and the
people, in the bills OF right of the several
state constitutions. reserve certain rights
which are excepted out OF the powers or
| the State government. and OF which no
them. such as at all times tho inalienabe
! right TO alter. reform or abolish their gov
erninent in such manner as they may think
eNpodlent that no religious test shall ever
be required as qualification for office
the right to worship God according TO the
dictates Of their consciences; protecting
the freedom of speech and the liberty OF
the press; freedom from unreasonable seiz-
ures aud searches. and from arrest except
upon lawful warrant, a speedy cubic
trigl to persons accused; the protection
of the writ Of habens corpus the right OF
the trial by Jury to remain invioate. These
and many other rights and privileges the
people reserve to themselves. which the
State government can not take from them
The Constitution OF the United States
conrers on the government of the United
, States specified and limited authority over
National international and interstate ques-
tons. The Federal government has no
such general powers as the States have.
The Federal government is charged with
such duties as can not with advantage be
performed by the State governments. 1t
conducts negotiations with foreign govern
, | gnts, declares war and makes peace,
raises and equips armies and a navy. es-
tablishos general postal system, coins
| money and fixes its value. establishes Il
Federal judiciary regulates commerce with
foreign rations and with the Indian tribes,
and regulates commerce between the
States and power is delegated to II to do n
number of ether things Of Il National char
aCter.
Tho state governments reserve to them
selves the right TO lcgislate on and control
all local interests such as the rules coa-
corning tho purchase. sale and ownership
az property the regulation of the descent
and distribution az estates the regulation
OF the rights and duties growing out of
the family relation. the protection Of the
lives and property OF the citizens. the pun
ishment of violators Of the State laws. and
NIL the great mass of interests which are
local in their nature.
But 1t is not to DO forgotten that there
are rights and privileges OF the citizens OF
this country which lre not surrendered 10
either tho State or the Federal government,
We must also keep in mind the fact that
the tenth commandment OF the ccnshtu-
ton of the United states provides that.
Tho powers not delegated to the
United States by the constitution. nor
prohibited by it TO the States. are re-
served to the States respectively. or to
the people.
There is a tendency in the public mind.
which is favored bv one OF the great pollti-
cal parties OF tho country. towards the
, |
eral government, and the minimizing Of the
rights and powers OF the States, II We
would perpetuatc our system of free con-
stltuticnal government and
PRESERVE THE LIBERTIES
of our people, this should be checked and
. the public mind called back to the adoption
and maintenance Of the PRINCIPLES upon
, which the Federal government was found
, ed. The constitution and our form of gov
, eminent grew up by successive steps.
The continental congress, on September
%, lI7i. because of the expressions OF thA
! British government, adopted the policy OF
commercial non-intercouIse. BY an agree
ment which begins In this form:
We, his majesty's most loyal sub
tects. the delegates o; the several
counties of New Hampshire. Massachu-
sets Bay, Rhode Island. Connect
7 cut, New York. New Jersey, Pennsyl-
yania, the three lower counties )s