Milford chronicle., 1935-10-04
By VIRGINIA SOCKRIDER
Milford. Delaware

! BY VIRGINIA SOCKRIDER
Milford. Delaware
As foreign rule was expelled from
the struggling colonies in America
in 1916, and the Declaration of In
dependence was drawn up by them,
Immediately thoughhtss were turned
toward the making of a unified gov
ernment, one which would be "Of
the people, by the people and for the
people,"
The debility of numerous individ-
ual colony governments, now state
governments, could be plainly seen.
The pioneers needed protection from
hostile Indian tribes and foreign in
vasions. The population was stead
lily growing; and all knew that when
more than one person is involved a
superior management must be eff
fected Such management and pro-
lection could not be given as the
state governments were too weak.
Thus with a prayer in their hearts
for a unified government which
would protect the land and its peO-
pie from encrOachments and outside
invasions, and one which would keep
order in the land. delegates were
elected, duly authorized for the pur-
pose of drawing up Constitution.
and met at the Constitutional Con-
ventiOn, held in Philadelphia. After
a four months struggle with ideas
and conceptions, conference was
reached, and the great document was
ready for state acceptance. Their
work was ratified by special con-
ventions which were held in each
of the states, called especially to
consider and decide on the same.
This constitution, made, formed, and
ratified by the people of 1887, be-
came of necessity, to the extent of
its power, the paramount authority
of the Union.
This document declared the Unit
ed States a republic( whose plan Of
government is set forth by the Con-
@stitutiOn, the supreme law Of the
land. United States Congress, our
state legislatures, or our city gov
ernments cannot make laws in OppO-
sition to this constitution; and all
officers, judges, and citizens must
abide by its commands. A direct
representative of the people was to
be at the head of this government,
namely a president. In order that the
power could not be centralized,
there were to be three great depart
ments. the legislative. or law MAX
ing body, the executive, which car
ries out .hs laws, and the judicial
department whose duty it is to de-
eide whether or not laws have been
violated. Each Of these departments
is independent Of the other; and
each keeps the others from becom-
ing too powerful.
For nearly $50 years this constitu-
tion has been in operation. During
this period of time, the population of
our nation has grown from four
million into one of more than a hun
dred million; from a Union of 13
feeble states, into a great nation of
IS states with territory in both the
Old and New World.
Knowing that time would change
the lives and customs of the people,
cur forefataers saw the necessity for
an elastic clause which would en-
able our Constitution to keep with
the standards OF the people. This
clause has made it possible for our
nation to safely pass through per-
iods of prosperity, depressiOns, and
the Civil War, which threat
ened to sever our nation, until now
an .E a.nN
Since the ratification Of our consti-
tuition this clause has been used only
21 times, our twenty-One amend
ments are the results of this usage.
The first ten are really q part Of the
itself, most of which
grew out of the experience of the
states before the Revolution. Sew
eral of the states, believing that GER
tain rights were not properly pro-
.ected, proposed amendments before
hey would accept the document as
he basis Of their government.
One of these forbids Congress to
make any law favoring or Furnishing
my form of religion. A man has the
right of freedom Of speech, and
press unless his points tend to SLAM
ier and can be proven such; no man
,an be tried for the same offense
vice; and those who are tried have
he right of trial by jury.
The eleventh amendment was add
ID declaring that state cannot be
iued in court by a citizen of another
tate. In 1904 the method of voting
or the President and Vice President
vas changed Since that time, cleo
ors vote for the two officers sepa-
ately; previously, the one receiving
he highest number Of votes was
President and the second highest
yas Vice President.
In 1865, due to the conflict be-
weent the North and the South. an
was necessary abolish
lg slavery; this was followed by
ne declaring negroes to be citizens.
he 18th was important, adopted in /
$40 giving negroes the right to vote,
,rbidding any state to deny any cit
en the right to vote "on account Of 9
zee, color or previous conditions of
srvitude."
Since 1870 many amendments have '
zen proposed, but only six have i
zen accepted. In 1912 Congress was h
wen permission to levy a speciaI 9