St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-11-18
TT begins. to look, as If the state
legislatures will force an amend

United States senator's" observ.
ed Judge Sawyer, abruptly changing
the subject from a discussion Of Lin
colnvilles new tax assessment. Il am
surprised and alarmed at the unanim-
ity with which the various bodies are
recording themselves in favor OF this
hazardous measure. 1t Is radical de-
parture from our old constitutional
mornings. We should make haste slow
ly when it comes to revising the work
of Washington and Franklin and other
wise founders of our national char
ter"
"We've had ia years to think it
over" said Colonel Monroe dryly.
"'Let we'll enough alone is my mot
to-" interrupted Postmaster jenkins,
who had Just received his government
remittance. II wonder what Adams
and Henry and Jefferson would say II
they knew that some Jim Grow state
legislatures were about to undo their
work?"
Don't get excited, Jenkins" advised
Colonel Monroe. 81 dislike to rectify
your lapses in history, but you should
know that John Adams, Patrick Henry
and Thomas jefferson had nothing to
do with the formation of the constitu-
ton. Adams and jefferson were abroad
at the time, and Patrick Henry fought
it's adoption in Virginia with all the
| energy of his nature. So did Samuel
| Adams in Massachusetts. Borrow your
boys school history and read up on
this subject. It's going to be an inn
portant one during the next few years.
Did you ever read the constitution OF
| the United States, Jenkins|
Certainly | have" declared jenkins
Indignantly.
"How does it begin?'
Mr.. jenkins arose from his chair and
raising his arm with a gesture OF trl-
umph, detained
"When in the course Of human events
1t becomes necessary for one people to
dissolve the political bonds which have
connected them with another, and
and-well, I've forgotten just how 1t
goes on admitted jenkins as he re-
sumed his seat, but that's the way 1t
starts. You mustn't think, colonel, that
you're the only one that's posted on
these things"
"You have recited the opening lines
not of the constitution, but of the Dec
laration of Independence" said Colo
mel Monroe. "That's our Fourth OF
July constitution, but it does not gov
ern anything. have always no
ticed. Jenkins, that the shameless
champions of every letter and line
of our constitution are those who
know the least about it. don't sup
pose one man in a hundred has more
. than a vague idea of what the constl
tuition says, what 1t provides, how l
r was formed or what it means. But al
] agree that it is the greatest documen
ever penned by mortal men. am
great admirer Of it myself. but do no
regard it as an object Of worship, su
perstition or reverence. It's rattlln
good constitution, all things considered
and has served us well. But like a
things human it is susceptible OF IN
provement and it looks very much
if we are about to take 1T down frol
Its pedestal, critically look it over an
patch up the weather cracks"
'If any one but you talked that wi
about our sacred constitution" exclalr
tr1n SSfn
him right to his face that he was
traitor to his country and guilty
treason! Pm surprised to hear y
talk that way, Colonel Monroe"
"I'm not surprised at YOU" return
the colonel calmly. "There are sevel
millions of we'll intentioned men in tt
country like yourself, who for some
"a known reason construe criticism OF
:. law or of a constitution into treas
lao They fail utterly to comprehend
fact that our institutions were design
to rest on the consent Of the govern
ne and that 1t is not only the privile
but the duty, of citizens to criticise t
which seems to Cypress them and
strive by intelligent agitation for
dress or Improvement. Any Ameri'
ou citizen has legal, moral and patrl'
gu grounds on which to advocate the
peal, amendment or alteration Of
ne section of the constitution, or of
10 entire document, for that matter. III
Ia son consists in levying war agal
ones country or in giving aid
comfort to it's enemies. 1t does not {
sist in discussing or advocating cor
on tutional changes or legal enactment
81 didn't mean 1t that way" ventr
the abashed Jenkins "All | me
:. was that don't like to hear anytl
''is said against the constitution or Ge'
Washington"
Judge Sawyer came to the postr
IN ter's rescue.
1--WE have wandered from the
~, ject I touched upon," he said. II
,+o ed attention to the popularity Of
49, movement for an amendment to
our senator's by popular vote.
willing to concede that the cons
ton provides for such an amendn
n"'' but am opposed to 1t and to all
'sei lar measures on the ground that
an unsafe departure from the teach
w. Of the founders of the republic. |
grant all that Is said against the
sonnet of the senate, but hold tina
| abo,,Id Hvo+ ,aforp, ourcaiyac thau