The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-02-17
THE PEOPLE MUST DECIDE.

This power not transferable. 1t cannot be increased
diminished by any action of the States or the people,
cept by method provided by the States and the Peep
when they granted the The individuals Temporal
lily executing the power by virtue of their Offices he,
nothing to do with the origin transfer or modification
the power Their oaths Of office require them to execu
the duties imposed upon them, and no more.
The United States government not being the originate
of its powers is not authorized to confer with foreign
ernmens as to any changes that individuals may deem
srabe in the nature and scope of Americas national 20,
does not matter whether these individuals are in
out of office whether they influential with the Peep
or whether they believe they qualified to make in
provemens in the relations between the people, the Stat
and tn Federal government.
The treatymaking power of the United States canno
of amend the Constitution which creates the
making power. Within the scope of its authority Il
treaty-making power is supreme but its power is Unite
just all other powers Of the government Unite
The treatymaking power is in continuous operation as
were, and is Congress. treaty made yesterday ma
treaty made tomorrow treaty is the supreme la
of the land but any other law passed by Congress ma
annul the treaty.
Under the Constitution Congress has certain power
which it cannot enlarge, diminish, modify or ignore.
has the power to declare war; which includes the powc
to terminate war; 1t cannot delegate this power to tn
President the Supreme Court league of nations or an
other agency it return this power the State
and the people Nor can the States or the people max
except by virtue of declaration by Congress Som
Presidents have been accused of making without
declaration by Congress- but there important dsnt
tons between casual armed collisions and state of
No treaty be made by which the United States gov
eminent agree to substitute the decision of league
nations for Congress in declaring state of Nor
any treaty pass the Supreme Court whch attempts to
ate obligation upon Congress to declare when call
ed upon to do so by international organization. No
any treaty pass muster which obges Congress to
cep the mandate of another authority regarding the sz
and composition of the United States army the navy tn
Notifications the ornaments of the United States it
possessions land sea. Nor any treaty be pu
into effect which would compel the United States to sent
army against the will of Congress Nor
any treaty be made which deprives the United States
the right to preserve it's neutrality in of between
two foreign nations for denial of this right wout
be equivalent to denial of the right to declare No,
any treaty be made under which, upon the outbreak
of foreign war; the United States would be compelled
suspend its commerce with any state against the will
Congress-
If the violent assumption should be made that treat
could be ratified providing for of these transfers Of
national power and that it might be operative in spite Of
its conflict with the Constitution it should be remembered
that any Congress- by majority VOTE may set aside such
treaty at any time 1t is quite imaginable that
tive might endeavor to comply with treaty obligatinp
the nation to make war; suspend commerce or abandon
and that Congress- wholly disagreeng wit
the executive might eact legislation making the treaty
scrap of paper But it is not to be presumed that any
treaty will be ratified by the Senate
that any executive will attempt to deny ignore
the exclusive power of Congress declare war; raise
army and navy borrow money and regulate commerce
tween the States and foreign nations.
The question whether the United States shall join
league of nations must go to the people for decision The
President and the Senate, the treatymakng power
have no power to amend the Constitution Even though
the Senate should unanimously rafy the treaty transfer
ring the war-making power to league of nations still the
old Constitution would stand unmpared and all their eff
fort would be van unless the people should modify their
will expressed in the organic law that controls all parts
of the overnment.-Washngton Post.
WE THANK YOU.
(From the Athens Post.)
Tbn To; ybo SC