Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-31

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Constitutional Amendments.
By reason Of the vigorous objection
.ov being advanced against the ProhibI-
Won Amendment 10 the Federal Constitu-
ton. and also the exciting contest over the
rx*i6oaticn of the Equal Suffrage Amend
n,enA the peop'c of the country arc
hkekv to be enlightened quite vniuaby
as to such Of their rights as are involved
in changes Of the national fundamental
llaw. No matter how the issues may be
finally decided. the consideration 10
bound 10 be important.
Our Federal Constitution was not very
old before demands for changes by
amendments began to be made. The
FIRST Amendment prohibited Congress
making anv Law respecting an establish
ment of religion or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof: also procla ming freedom
Of speech and of the press, and of the
right of the people TO assemble and petit
tion the government for the redress of
grievances.
The Second Amendment insured the
right ofthe people 10 besr arms.
The Third urohihited the ounrtenng
Of troops On private premises without
the consent Of the owner IN time OF
peace.
The Fourth extended immunity to the
people against unwsranted search or
seizure.
The Fifth was in respect of the rights of
persons to full and fair trials
The Sixth. the right Of accused persons
to speedy trials.
The Seventh, the right of trial by jury
in suits at common law involving more
than twenty dollars.
The Eighth, prohibiting excessive bail
or fines. and cruel or unnecessary punish
nepts
The Ninth, setting forth that the
enumeration in the Constitution Of GER
tain rights slan not be construed to deny
or disparsgc others retained by the
people -
The Tenth: The powers not delegated
to the United States by the Constitution
nor prohibited by il to the States, are
reserved to the States respectively. or
to the peopse."
The Eleventh referred TO certain judicial
procedures.
The Twelfth. changing the former
method of electing President and Nne-
President
All these amendments were proposed
and ratified previous to 1916 Some
amendments subsequently proposed were
not completed, so that IT was not until
sitter the Civil War that the work of
amendment was effectively resumed. Then
came the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and
Fifteenth Amendments. prohibiting slav-
cry. extending civil nights to Negroes,
and effecting other requirements conse-
quent upon the war and It's results and
extending the privilege of franchise 70
Negroes These were extreme war
measures, and are resented to this day
by many as largely infringing upon the
rights of the States and of the people.
The Sixteenth Aernndment authorized
the income tax. The Seventeenth authoriz-
the election Of United States Senators by
the people of the States. The Eighteenth
established national prohibition, and the
Nineteenth. now pending. aims TO extend
to women the privilege Of voting. a matter
which is clearly within the power. and it is
contended by many, the sole province, Of
each State.
1t is easy to distinguish radical differ
ence between the early amendments
TO the Federal Constitution and those
that were proposed and ratified following
the Civil War. The former In no manner
mfringed upon the rights or reserved
powers Of the States. On the contrary,
they carefully refrained from trending
upon them IN any manner, and the
Tenth Amendment explicitly reserved to
the States or the people all the powers not
delegated 10 the United States by the
Constitution nor prohibited by it.
The later amendments, it is claimed,
are revolutionary in character, IN that
they go more and more In the direction
of overriding the rights OF the States and
the people. which seem TO be 80 carefully
guarded by the Tenth Amendment.
Especially in this objection urged against
amendments of the character of the
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Prohibition
and Women's Suffrage which are matters
wherein the States already have full
power TO decide in accordance with the
desires OF their respectiv peoples 1t is