The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-15
NothinE happens In this world
without permission of God; raise
your thoughts toward the Infinite,
10 enable !on to support the evils
OF a Inomcnt.-Saint Pierre.
THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT.

THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT.
The State of Florida gave not!,e
some time ago that she would attack
the validity OF the Fifteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States. and now Georgia will alta OK
the validity of the Fourteenth Amend
ment.
The Fourteenth Amendment was
created for the benefit of the negro,
but it is not upon that ground that
Georgia Will call it into question. The
railroads of Georgia claim that the
rates which the State has established
are confiscatory, and therefore in con-
hict with that clause in the Fourteenth
Amendment which provides that no
State shall deprive any person of life
liberty or property without due pro-
cess of law. 1t Is stated that the Gov.
ernor. the Attorney General and tn,
counsel for the Corporation Commits
sion of Georgia are preparing de-
murrer in the passenger rate cases in
which they will take the position that
the Fourteenth Amendment is not law
fully a part of the Constitution.
IF" remarks the Savannah News,
"the Supreme Court should declare
that the amendment is no Part On the
Constitution, the credit of raising the
question and securing the decision
would belong to Georgia, since Georgia
officials took the responsibility Of at
lacking the amendment. a. decision
against the amendment would be pro-
ductive of highly important results"
1t would, indeed. 1t would work
such a revolution that the court Will
never set it aside. 1t is conceded by
those who have investigated the sub.
ject that the F.ouH Amendment
was not rawfhlfy ratified by three
fourths of the States. If it was done
at all. of which there is grave doubt,
by the free act of the States. But
this amendment has oeen recognized
for forty years as a part of the Con-
Etitution. and time has established it.
Nor IS there any great objection 20
the Fourteenth Amendment from the
South's point OF view. Notwithstanding
the spirit which animated it. 1t
creates the Citizen of the United
States" and throws around him the
protection OF the Federal government
with regard TO his life. liberty and
property. and guarantees 10 every
citizen" the equal protection of the
laws, wherever lie may reside This is
y recognized sby the safe Of Virginia
as wise provision, for our own Bill
of Rights declares that mo man shall
be deprived of his life or liberty. cx-
cept by the law of the land or the
judgment of his peers" and, again,
that mo person shall be deprived OF
his property without due process OF
law" These inalieneble rights cannot
be too well protected. and they should
be safesuarded by the nation as well
as by the several states.
There are some provisions of the
Fourteenth Amendment which arc Of
fensiNe 70 the South. but they are now
anachronisms ana without Significance
The only objection TO this amendment
Is the apportonment clause: but ever
that mas its good side. 1t provides thu,
when the right to vote IL denied b,
amy STATE to any Of the male citizens
] Of the United States being twenty-onf
Years of age. tho basis Of representa-.
ton of such state in The House d,
Representatives shall be reduced in tn,
proportion which the number of sucl
male citizens shall bear 10 the Who'll,
Z number of male citizens twenty on,
years of agetin such State. This claus,
has caused the South much annoyauc,
and more or less uneasiness, as. ever.
NOW and then, some Republican mem
Dor of Congress tries 20 push through
an act TO reduce our representation
Hut ilssnch effprts haVo thus far hes,
7 in vain. and there lis little danger tina
they will be more successful in til,
future, On the other hand, that sam,
Clause provides that Representative,
\ shall be apportioned among the sew