The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-25
Dual Sovereignty.
Editor The News.

Editor The News:
The government OF tho United States
has not supreme sovereignty. neither
have tho states supreme Sovereignty.
Each, Independent OF the other, has
divided sovereignty, Where the two
sovereigntleB do not conflict, united,
then supreme sovereignty ensues. This
divided sovereignty produces some
are dual citlzens--owe dual allegiance,
dual loyalty to both sovoreignties. In
case of conflict IN the provisions of
tho written constitution OF the two
soyereignties to which one of these
provisions does the dual citizen owe his
frst allegiance. Before our civil war
the citizens OF the seeded states de-
clared their first allegiance was to the
states. This was called state rights
Citizens who adopted this construction
claimed that to poaceably withdraw
from the Union was one OF those re-
served rights embodied In provision
OF the Constitution OF the United States
and that the states and not the supreme
court had the right TO decide this
question. This construction led to state
secession and TO civil war. This ques-
ton was settled by the sword. Once in
the Union. In tho Union forever The
question should have been left to the
supreme court and their decision might
fictlng provisions between these two
Rovoreigntles are left to the supreme
court, and this court has invariably
decided the citizen MS well as leg
islntor owes HIS first allegiance and
loyalty to the Constitution OF the fed.
cral government ANY other description
would lead to confusion over 100000
600 citizens are Interested In the Con-
stitutien OF the United States. and only
the citizens OF the state in n state con-
stitution. In submitting an amendment
TO the legislatures OF the various states
Is there a conflict between that pro-
vision OF the constitution OF the state
Of Tennessee which dlsaualifies any
legislature to pass on the ratification,
except one elected Uftor the amend
ment is submitted? All depends on
whether the present legislature Is rec
ognlSed by the federal government as n
ton. Under the provision OF the federal
any legislature legally as
sembied has the power to pass on the
ratification. Here Is conflict--one
qualities. tho other dlsquallfles, TO
ereignties did the legislature owe It's
FIRST allegiance? Under the decisions OF
the supreme court the legislator was
20 set aside the provision. In
tho state constitution. disdualifying |
nupport both constitutions. In con
fllct they could not support both. Then
tho supreme court must he the guide, |
with the aid OF state officials
qualified 20 aid tho legislator 60 decide |
which one Of those two sovereigntieS he
owed his first allegiance. N n majority |
Of the legislature beth democrats and
republicans decided they owed their
FIRST allegiance toe the United States, |
should that split tho democratic party |
In twain? II Il does. then the demo- |
cratic party deserves TO he defeated. |
II ~ 10 he hoped, after second sober |
thought, they will set together and save
the state Tho country democrats
- -, 81.
They want him elected 10 perfect the
present tax law, one. Of the best the
state has ever had. II win eventually |
cqualsc the taxes. Democrats, united
we stand divided We fall
c, @. SAMUEL,
MinnrAl HnrlE. Tann.