The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-02-26
Constitutional Amendments.

I'D. GAZETTE: The writer of this
has been asked by number of
friends to review the constitutional
amendments to be voted on in this
state next fall, and to do so we ask
space in The GAZETTE. In order TO
understand the effect Of constitu-
tlonal amendments we must first
understand the nature of constitu-
ton, its powers and limitations, etc.
We venture to say that not one per-
son In twenty in any township or
city IN the state has a copy of those
three important documents, viz:
The Declaration Of Independence,
the Constitution of the United
States and the Constitution of the
State of Minnesota, though they are
the great instruments on which all
national and state legislation must
be founded. A referendum vote.
therefore, without some knowledge
OF constitutional law, is about the
same as measuring off a bolt of
cloth without a yard measure, for
we must have an authority to which
to appeal, and to attempt to reason
without such authority is merely to
cavil with windy words.
Nor is it necessary for person to
be a lawyer to understand constitu-
tons and laws, for law is supposed
to be the crystalization of common
sense in the language of the state in
which the person lives. Else then,
how could a person be held to ac-
count in civilized country unless
the laws could be understood by the
average citizen, for it IS a legal
axiom that ignorance Of law excuses
no one. 1t is said that ''in Germ
any every citizen carries soldier on
his back" so if laws are not made
to be understood by anyone but
lawyers, every citizen in this coun-
try would have to tote lawyer on
his back. We shall therefore lay
down few generally received prin-
pciles as basis Of appeal in review
ing the measures to be voted on
next fall:
i LIST. The United States is a re-
public.
| I'd. Arepublic is commonwealth
in which all governmental powers
reside in the people.
/ Sd. The people carry on their
government by representatives elect
ed by themselves.
| 4th. These representatives are
DIVIDED into the branches, legisla-
tive, executive and judicial.
| 9Th. Each Of these departments
is assisted in its powers by docu-
ment promulgated by agreement of
the people and is called a constitu-
ton.
9Th. A constitution, therefore, is
a system of fundamental principles,
rules and ordinances for the govern
ment of a nation or state and is
binding on all it's citizens whether
official or plain citizens.
7th. The republic of the United
States is composed of many smaller
states or republics, each having its
own constitution and laws. Both
constitution and laws, of course, are
subject to the constitution and laws
of the United States, Art. vi,
United States constitution, reads
thus: This constitution and the
laws of the United States which
shall be made in pursuance thereof,
or which shall be made under the
authority Of the United States shall
be the supreme law of the land. and
the judges in every state shall be
bound thereby. anything In the con-
stitution or laws Of any state to the
contrary Notwithstanding"
9Th. The cause of this supremacy
Of the United States is obvious, for
without this supremacy a babel of
laws would spring up in the various
states, to the possible injury of
United States citizens.
9th. Every citizen Of a state has
dual citizenship, for before he can
be a state citizen he must be a citi-
zen of the United States either by
inheritance or adoption.
10th. AS the nation Of the United
States is superior to each subdivis-
oo11.I 49, - .e T1,oi@o1