The Short ConstitutionWade, Martin J. (Martin Joseph)
History
The Short Constitution
Wade, Martin J. (Martin Joseph)
United States. Constitution
“_No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no
Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without
the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or
Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign
State._”(88)
Never before in the history of the world was such a bold thing done. These
words reflect the spirit of the Revolution. They mark the turning point in
the history of human governments. They proclaim the final establishment of
the government by the people—the first real government by the people that
the world ever knew.
I wonder if those who criticise the government of America who complain
that in this country the people have no chance, ever read these glowing
words of our Constitution. It isn’t so much the words, but the spirit in
which they were made a part of our Constitution, the spirit in which the
young Nation proclaimed to the world eternal separation from kingly power.
I find all through the Constitution an expression of grim determination to
fortify the Nation against any influence which would weaken the supreme
power of the people, which would in any way interfere with the plan to
make this a government by the people.
In many provisions of our Constitution we find expressions which show how
humane America is.
_We hate treason._ In fact there is no crime so dark, so awful, as
treason. But in the history of the world, treason has meant many things,
and unfortunately treason has been made not only the instrument of those
who sought the destruction of the governments, but it has sometimes been
made the instrument of tyrants in suppressing the rights, and in crushing
the hopes of the people. It all depends on what is meant by treason.
In the olden days we find men charged with treason when the offense was in
fact very slight—perhaps a just resistance to the king, perhaps merely an
assertion of natural human right against the king.
The government of the United States being intended to protect the
liberties of the people, the Constitution put a bar against prosecution
for treason, except where the accused was actually an enemy of his
country, endeavoring to aid in the destruction of his country. We are here
told what treason is:
“_Treason against the United States, shall consist only in __ levying War
against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and
Comfort. No person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony
of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court._
“_The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but
no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture
except during the Life of the Person Attainted_.”(89)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account