Milford chronicle., 1954-10-15
Al Explanation By
Sen. John y Williams
leonlInuea - -. -


the House Of Representatives, and
assuming that the President Of the
United states was likewise I'M
agreement all working together
could not override a decision of the
Supreme Court Of the United
States
An example of that YVES illustra-
ted q few years ago when the Su-
preme Court declared unconstf-
tutional the N. r. A. AT that time
the President ia Office was an en-
thusiastic supporter Of the law
which was then being declared un-
constitutional Likewise. the Presi-
dent at that time had the support
Of an overwhelming majority Of
both Houses of Congress, and yet
with an that power they could not
override the decision Of the Su-
preme Court
There are those who feel that
the solution TO this problem could
be met by demanding from the
candidates for public Office
pledge outlining their position on
this question.
made the statement several
weeks ago and / repeat Ii here
again-it would be nothing short
Of sheer demagoguery for any
candidate for public office to CAM
paign on the promise that IL elect
ed he can do something to nullify
the Supreme Court decision. There
is no possible manner whereby any
candidate on either the Republican
or the Democratic ticket will, II
elected, even have a vote on a ques-
tion Of overriding the Supreme
Court decision, The only vote that
man viii have is as citizen cast
ing his ballot ia his individual
school district as to when that dis
tfict viii begin integratiOn.
viii even state further that ia
my opinion any candidate, regard
less Of with which political party
he may be affiliated, who would
stoop to make political capital out
Of this question which is so im-
pOrtant to the lives Of our citizens.
is unworthy Of holding public on
ice, and I personally shall repudi-
ate and help defeat any candidate
who does so.
The American people should un-
derstand that there are only two
possible ways that a decision Of
the Supreme Court Of the United
States can be Overruled. The first
and only legal method is the adOp-
tiOn Of a constitutional amendment.
the purpose of which would be to
prohibit integration in the public
schools.
To accomplish this would re-
quire first a resolution by a maiOri-
ty vote Of both Houses Of Con-
gress. We will assume for argu-
ment that that would be possible.
however, Congress by itself can
not pass a constitutional amend
ment All that Congress can do is
to submit the question to the states
Tor ratification. In order to be
adopted that amendment must be
accepted by three-fourths, or thir-
ty-six Of the states.
Every responsible official knows
that Il is mathematically impossi-
bic to have a constitutional amend
ment as described ratified. Already
over thirty Of our states have
amended their constitutions to
abolish segregation. That leaves
less than twenty states who might
vote for such an amendment. /
Therefore, we know it is impOs-
siDle to obtain the necessary two
thirds majority. Recognizing this.
as does every responsible. public
Official regardless Of his personal
feelings, it would be sheer hypoc-
racy on his part to hold out such
q hope to the citizens who oppose
This fact was emphasized BY a
prominent Senator from the South
Ian ardent opponent Of integra-
ton In our schOOls-WhO at the
time Of the Supreme Court de-
clsion. stated that while he resent
ed very much the decision Of the
supreme Court, nevertheless he
would consider it to be pure dema-
gognery on the part Of any public
otticial to hold out the hope of such
an amendment to his constituents
opposing that decision.
That brings as to the only other
method Of overriding the Supreme
Court decision, and that would be
10 resort to the violent over
throw Of the Government Of the
United States. And most certainly
not even the most staunch sup
porter Of segregation would ever
advocate such a procedure!
We may disagree at times with
the ohicial actions Of our Govern
ment. We may disagree with the
decisions Of our Supreme Court.
and as American citizens we re-
serve the right to express our dis
agreement However, we must
never lose sight of the fact that
with all its faults we still have the
best form Of government and one
Of the greatest countries fin the
world. and as American citizens
We must maintain and support
that government.
want to make IL clear-I am
not speaking on the merits or de-
merits OF lnIegratlOn Every citi-
zen IN the state Of Delaware and
throughout the country Is entitled
TO his own personal opinion on this
subject and I would defend his
right 70 express that opinion. All
that I am attempting here is to
point out that regardless Of our
personal opinions. under the law
there Is nothing that can be done
70 change that court decision or
% prevent it from going into
eject At some future date which
Is to be determined later By the
Court
4 Fepeat-re regardless Of how we
g individuals may feel on this sub
lect there is no possible way that
lntesration in public schools can
9e stopped except as it can be de-
MaH !. ~