The Penn's Grove record., 1923-09-21
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
The Personal Rights Protected In The
Amendments Most Important

The Schools, Churches and Citizens
have ben urged to remember during
this week the both anniversary OF
the adoption of the United States
Our colonial forefathers fought the
revolution in IT'S to 1888. On the
same day which the Continental Con-
gress appointed committee to frame
a Declaration of independence another
committee was appointed to prepare
Articles of Confederation. "Artlcless
of Confederation and Perpetual
Union" were reported November Is,
1777. Ratification by every State was
necessary and was not secured until
March /, 1881. when they went into
operation. .,
Their leading defects were that they
left too much power to States which
were slow to act for the prompt bene-
fits of the Union. The Government
could not pay its debts, could not pro
cure tranquility at home, nor respect
abroad.
Conventions were held in 1886 and
1887. September 18th the present
Constitution was adopted to form
"more perfect Union" of States.
George Washington and James Mad
ison. of Virginia; Alexander Hamll- +
ton. of New York; Robert Morris, T
James Wilson and Benjamin Franklin,
of Pennsylvania; William Livingston
and Jon. Dayton, of New Jersey. were f
leading men to draft it
The Constitution is a written form
of Government. which has proved to
L oy,J IN t-tb
1t was not perfect. When Thomas
Jefferson read it he saw that it failed
to mention the liberties for which the
Revolution was fought and mentioned
in the Declaration of Independence
which he wrote in 1776. With the as
surance that the first ten amendments
would be adopted by the first Con-
gress the States adopted the COnstl-
tuition and began the Government OF
these ten amendments the first was
most important to insure personal
liberties.
ARTICLE l
Congress shall make no law re-
specting an establishment of religion, OF
prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridge the freedom of speech or
the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the government for redress of
grievances"
Because of the interference OF
meetings of men in different locali
ties recently to assemble in hired
houses and fields, and be attacked by
mobs who do not believe in the plin
ciples of Americanism nor the Con-
stitution like the assembled men, now
is timely time to make known some
of the principles for which our fore
fathers fought and bled in England
during the Commonwealth rule under
Oliver Cromwell and in the American
Revolution. The native born and full
minded American believes in the lib
critics for all, but those who do not
believe in American liberties only
when they are in a minority when
they wish to enjoy them to propagate
their own principles, and practice their
principles of no liberty when they are
in a majority and in power, are not
worthy to be given those liberties of
the Constitution.
In his farewell address George
Washington gave warning. He said:
against the insidious wiles of foreign
influence Il conJure you to believe me,
fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free
people ought to be constantly awake,
since history and experience prove
that foreign influence is one of the
most baneful foes of republican gov
ernment."
They who obey the laws of the
State and Nation and have clean
conscience need have no fear of any
man, except those who consider them
selves above or beneath the laws of
this State and Nation and claim allie
glance to foreign potentates.
Those who are not full-minded
Americans and believe in our Consti-
tuition and Laws are not entitled to
enjoy the liberties intended to be
given them by the Constitution.
Hold fast to the Constitution and
keep Washington's warning in mind
to beware of the insidious wiles of
foreign influence who denies ale
glance to any and all civil government.