San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-19
CONSTITUTION is IN DANGER
FROM ATTACKS ON ALL SIDES.
LAWYERS COMMITTEE SAYS
Congress Ceases to Consider Document-Selfish
Groups Treat 1t AS Scrap of Paper if 1t Gets
in Their Way-Appeal Made to Public
Through the Press.

There has grown IN in recent years
n constantly increasing clamor for
the Federal Government TO engage in
all sorts of governmental activities re-
gardless of whether the power TO do so
was conferred on the Federal Govern
ment by the Constitution or was re-
served by the Constitution TO the
states. and 10 levy taxes to carry on
such activities regardless of whether
or not public purpose would Dc
thereby served. Such policy, in both
said respects. is directly opposed 10
the Constitution and unless the move
mcnt in that direction is checked, and
that soon, the substance of the Con-
stitution cannot but be destroyed.
In addition to rcServlng To the
states certain powers for the purpose
of preventing too much Capitalization
OF power, the trainers of the Constltu-
ton. in order to safeguard and protect
the people in that libertT for which
they had fought end sacrificed. insert
cd in the Constitution certain provi-
sions directly guaranteeing 10 the in
dividual safety and protection in his
personal and property rights. We
deem it appropriate to direct special
attention TO these. 1t will do every
American citizen good TO read them,
whether for the first or the hundrcdth
time. Here they are:
Congress shall make no law re-
specting the right of the peOp.e peace
ably to assemble, aud to petition the
government for redress of grievances.
"The right of the people 10 be secure
in their persons. Houses. papers, and
effects. against unreasonable searches
and seizurs, shall not be violated,
and no warrants shall issue. but upon
probable cause. supported by oaIn or
affirmation. and particularly descrlb-
ing the place TO be search. and the
persons or things TO be seized.
mo person shall be held TO answer
for capital, or otherwise infamous
crime. unless on presentmcnt or In
dictment Of grand jury; nor shall
any person he subject for the same
offensc to be twice put in jeopardy
of life or limb; nor shall be COM
PEELED in any criminal case to be a
witness against himself, nor be de-
priyed of life. liberty, or property,
without due process o. law.
I'm all criminal prosecutions, the ac-
cused shall enjoy the right to speedy
and public trial, by an Impartial jury
of the state and district wherein the
crime shall have been committed,
which district shall have been prevl-
ously ascertained by law, AMI TO be
informed of the nature ahd cause OF
the accusation; to b, confronted with
the witnesses against him: 10 have
compulsory process for obtaining WIT
nesses in his favor, and TO have the
assistance of counsel for his defense.
The trial OF all crimes shall be by
jury, and such rial shall be held IN
the state where the said crimes shall
have been committed.
Excessive bail shall not be required.
nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted.
The privilege of the write of habeas
corpus ehali not be suspended, unless
when in cases of rebellion or invasion
the 'ublic safety may require it.
mo bill of attainder or post facto
law shall be passed.
mo state shall pass any bill Of at
ex post factO law, or law i'm
pairing the obligation of contracts
Nor shall private property be taken
for public use, without just compen-
sation.
mo state shall make or enforce any
law which shall bridge the privileges
or immunities of citizens Of d. Unit
ed states; nor shall any state deprive
any person of life. liberty or prop
erty. without due process Of law; nor
deny to any person within its lurls-
diction che equal protection OF the
law.
Congress shall make no law re-
specting an establishment Of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise there
Of or abridgiIg the freedom of speech
or of tie press"
The people have so long enjoyed
these rights. privileges and IMMUNE
ties that they have ceased TO consider
or even TO know. whence the same
are derived. and have fallen into the
fatuous belief that there is 10 danger
at all of ever losing them. The peo-
pie seem to think that these rights.
and immunities constitute
an indefeasible inheritance. and do not
realize that the enjoyment thereof IS
Dnly secured 70 them by the Constitu-
ton. Indisputabiy. dest,; "tion OF the
would mean the endan-
yering. and in all human probability
the complete loss of the rights. privl-
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