Part 12
1. The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution; or, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided, that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the fifth article; and that no State, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
Article VI.
1. All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution as under the Confederation.
2. This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges of every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.
3. The senators and representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several State legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and the several States, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
Article VII.
1. The ratification of the convention of nine States shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the same. Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the States present, the seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President, and Deputy from Virginia.
AMENDMENTS.
Article I.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievance.
Article II.
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Article III.
No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Article IV.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article V.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Article VI.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a 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 previously ascertained by law; and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Article VII.
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved; and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined, in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Article VIII.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.
Article IX.
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article X.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. [The preceding ten amendatory articles were proposed to the legislatures of the States by the first Congress, September 25, 1789, and notification of ratification received from all the States except Connecticut, Georgia and Massachusetts.]
Article XI.
The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.
[Proposed by the Third Congress, and Congress notified of its adoption January 8, 1798.]
Article XII.
1. The electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves. They shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President; and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President; and of the number of votes for each; which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes for President shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But, in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each State having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.
2. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list the Senate shall choose the Vice-President. A quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice.
3. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United Stales.
[Proposed by the Eighth Congress, and declared adopted September 23, 1804, by proclamation of the Secretary of State.]
Article XIII.
1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
[Proposed by the Thirty-eighth Congress, and declared adopted December 18, 1865, by proclamation of the Secretary of State.]
Article XIV.
SECTION I.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process or law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
SECTION II. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a State, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
SECTION III. No person shall be a senator or representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; but Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability.
SECTION IV. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
SECTION V. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
[Proposed by the Thirty-ninth Congress and declared adopted by concurrent resolution of Congress, July 21, 1868.]
Article XV.
SECTION I.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or any State, on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude.
SECTION II.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
[Proposed by the Fortieth Congress, and declared adopted by proclamation of the Secretary of State, March 30, 1870.]
WORKINGMEN EASILY GULLED.
Who fought for King George in 1776? Working people.
What interest did they have in being ruled by him? None.
Why, then, did they risk their lives for him? Because he hired them.
Where did the king get the money to pay them? By taxing them.
Then they really paid themselves for fighting? Certainly.
In every war ever fought the working people paid the expenses.
"WHAT constitutes a state? Men who their duties know, But know their rights, and, knowing, Dare maintain." --Jones.
JEFFERSON'S POLITICAL POLICY.
1. Legal equality of all human beings.
2. The people the only source of power.
3. No hereditary offices, nor order of "nobility," nor title.
4. No unnecessary taxation.
5. No national banks or bonds.
6. No costly splendor of administration.
7. Freedom of thought and discussion.
8. Civil authority superior to the military.
9. No favored classes; no special privileges; no monopolies.
10. Free and fair elections; universal suffrage.
11. No public money spent without warrant of law.
12. No mysteries in government hidden from the public eye.
13. Representatives bound by the instructions of their constituents.
14. The Constitution of the United States a special grant of powers limited and definite.
15. Freedom, sovereignty and independence of the respective States.
16. Absolute severance of Church and State.
17. The Union a compact--not a consolidation nor a centralization.
18. Moderate salaries, economy and strict accountability.
19. Gold and silver currency--supplemented by treasury notes bearing no interest and bottomed on taxes.
20. No State banks of issue.
21. No expensive navy or diplomatic establishment.
22. A progressive or graduated tax laid upon wealth.
23. No internal revenue system. A complete separation of public moneys from bank funds.
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Declaration of Independence July 4th, 1776
General Washington, first President. 1789 and 1793
John Adams 1797
Thomas Jefferson 1801 and 1805
James Madison 1809 and 1813
James Monroe 1817 and 1821
John Quincy Adams 1825
General Andrew Jackson 1829 and 1833
Martin Van Buren 1837
General William Henry Harrison (died 4th April) 1841
John Tyler (elected as Vice-President). 1841
James Knox Polk 1845
General Zachary Taylor (died 9th July, 1850) 1849
Millard Fillmore (elected as Vice-President) 1850
General Franklin Pierce 1853
James Buchanan 1857
Abraham Lincoln (assassinated 14th April, 1865) 1861 and 1865
Andrew Johnson (elected as Vice-President) 1865
General Ulysses S. Grant 1869 and 1873
Rutherford B. Hayes 1877
General J. Abram Garfield (died 19th September, 1881) 1881
General Chester A. Arthur (elected as V. Pres.) 1881
Grover Cleveland 1885
Benjamin H. Harrison 1889
Grover Cleveland 1893
William McKinley (elected) 1897
(Re-elected) 1901
(Assassinated September 14, 1901)
Theodore Roosevelt (elected Vice-President) 1901
(Became President September 14) 1901
Theodore Roosevelt (elected) 1905
Wm. H. Taft 1909
FACTS ABOUT THE LIBERTY BELL.
Cast by Thomas Lester, Whitechapel, London.
Arrived in Philadelphia in August, 1752.
First used in statehouse, Philadelphia, Aug. 27, 1752.
Twice recast by Pass & Snow, Philadelphia, to repair crack, September, 1752.
Muffled and tolled Oct. 5, 1765, on arrival of ship Royal Charlotte with stamps.
Muffled and tolled Oct. 31, 1765, when stamp act was put in operation.
Summoned meeting to prevent landing of cargo of tea from the ship Polly Dec. 27, 1774.
Summoned meeting of patriots April 25, 1775, after battle of Lexington.
Proclaimed declaration of independence and the birth of a new nation at great ratification meeting July 8, 1776.
First journey from Philadelphia made in September, 1777, to Allentown, Pa., to escape capture by the British; returned June 27, 1778.
Proclaimed treaty of peace April 16, 1783.
Tolled for the death of Washington Dec. 26, 1799.
Rung on the fiftieth anniversary of the declaration of independence July 4, 1826.
Last used in tolling for the death of John Marshall July 8, 1835,
Principal tours: To New Orleans in 1885; Chicago, 1893; Atlanta, 1895; Boston, 1902; St Louis, 1904.
HOW THE PRESIDENTS DIED.
George Washington's death was the result of a severe cold contracted while riding around his farm in a rain and sleet storm on Dec. 10, 1799. The cold increased and was followed by a chill, which brought on acute laryngitis. He died at the age of 68, on Dec. 14, 1799.
John Adams died from old age, having reached his ninety-first milestone. Though active mentally, he was nearly blind and unable to hold a pen steadily enough to write. He passed away without pain on July 4, 1826.
Thomas Jefferson died at the age of eighty-three, a few hours before Adams, on July 4, 1826. His disease was chronic diarrhoea, superinduced by old age, and his physician said the too free use of the waters of the white sulphur springs.
James Madison also died of old age, and peacefully, on June 28, 1836. His faculties were undimmed to the last. He was eighty-five.
James Monroe's demise, which occurred in the seventy-third year of his age, on July 4, 1831, was assigned to enfeebled health.
John Quincy Adams was stricken with paralysis on Feb. 21, 1848, while addressing the Speaker of the House of Representatives, being at the time a member of Congress. He died in the rotunda of the Capitol. He was eighty-one years of age.
Andrew Jackson died on June 8, 1845, seventy-eight years old. He suffered from consumption and finally dropsy, which made its appearance about six months before his death.
Martin Van Buren died on July 24, 1862, from a violent attack of asthma, followed by catarrhal affections of the throat and lungs. He was eighty years of age.
William Henry Harrison's death was caused by pleurisy, the result of a cold, which he caught on the day of his inauguration. This was accompanied with severe diarrhoea, which would not yield to medical treatment. He died on April 4, 1841, a month after his inauguration. He was sixty-eight years of age.
John Tyler died on Jan. 17, 1862, at the age of seventy-two. Cause of death, bilious colic.
James K. Polk was stricken with a slight attack of cholera in the spring of 1849, while on a boat going up the Mississippi River. Though temporarily relieved, he had a relapse on his return home and died on June 15, 1849, aged fifty-four years.
Zachary Taylor was the second President to die in office. He is said to have partaken immoderately of ice water and iced milk, and then later of a large quantity of cherries. The result was an attack of cholera morbus. He was sixty-six years old.
Millard Fillmore died from a stroke of paralysis on March 8, 1874, in his seventy-fourth year.
Franklin Pierce's death was due to abdominal dropsy, and occurred on Oct. 8, l869, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.
James Buchanan's death occurred on June 1, 1868, and was caused by rheumatic gout. He was seventy-seven years of age.
Abraham Lincoln was shot by J. Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater, Washington, D. C., on April 14, 1865, and died the following day, aged fifty-six.
Andrew Johnson died from a stroke of paralysis July 31, 1875, aged sixty-seven.
U. S. Grant died of cancer of the tongue, at Mt. McGregor, N. Y., July 3, 1885.
James A. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau on July 2. 1881. Died Sept. 19, 1881.
Chester A. Arthur, who succeeded Garfield, died suddenly of apoplexy in New York City, Nov. 18, 1886.
Rutherford B. Hayes died Jan. 17, 1803, the result of a severe cold contracted in Cleveland, Ohio.
Benjamin Harrison died March 13, 1901. Cause of death, pneumonia.
William McKinley was assassinated Sept. 14, 1901.
Grover Cleveland died on June 24, 1908, of debility, aged 71.
WHO IS THE AUTHOR?
The following literary curiosity found its way recently into the query column of a Boston newspaper. Nobody seems to know who wrote it:
O I wish I was in eden Where all the beastes is feedin, the Pigs an cows an osses. And the long tale Bull wot tosses the Bulldog and the Rabbit, acaus it is his habbit; Where Lions, Tigurs, monkees, And them long-ear'd things call'd Donkeys, Meat all together daylee With Crockedyles all Skaley, Where sparros on the bushis Sings to there mates, the thrushis, an Hawks and Littel Rens Wawks about like Cocks and Ens, One looking at the tuther for all the World like a Bruther. Where no quarlin is or Phytin, its tru wot ime aritin. O for a wauk at even, somewhere abowt 6 or 7, When the Son be gwain to bed, with his fase all fyree red. O for the grapes and resins Wot ripens at all seesins; the appels and the Plumbs As Big as my 2 thums; the hayprecocks an peechis, Wot all within our reech is, An we mought pick an heat, paying nothing for the treat. O for the pooty flouers A bloomin at all ours, So that a large Bokay Yew may gether any day Of ev'ry flour that blose from Colleflour to rose.
THE ART OF NOT FORGETTING.
A Brief but Comprehensive Treatise Based on Loisette's Famous System of Memory Culture.
So much has been said about Loisette's memory system, the art has been so widely advertised, and so carefully guarded from all the profane who do not send five or many dollars to the Professor, that a few pages, showing how man may be his own Loisette, may be both interesting and valuable.
In the first place, the system is a good one, and well worth the labor of mastering, and if the directions are implicitly followed there can be no doubt that the memory will be greatly strengthened and improved, and that the mnemonic feats otherwise impossible may be easily performed. Loisette, however, is not an inventor, but an introducer. He stands in the same relation to Dr. Pick that the retail dealer holds to the manufacturer: the one produced the article, the other brings it to the public. Even this statement is not quite fair to Loisette, for he has brought much practical common sense to bear upon Pick's system, and, in preparing the new art of mnemonics for the market, in many ways he has made it his own.
If each man would reflect upon the method by which he himself remembers things, he would find his hand upon the key of the whole mystery. For instance, I was once trying to remember the word "Blythe." There occurred to my mind the words "Bellman," "Belle," and the verse:
"---- the peasant upward climbing Hears the bells of Buloss chiming."
"Barcarole," "Barrack," and so on, until finally the word "Blythe" presented itself with a strange insistence, long after I had ceased trying to recall it.
On another occasion, when trying to recall the name "Richardson," I got the words "hay-rick," "Robertson," "Randallstown," and finally "wealthy," from which, naturally, I got "rich" and "Richardson" almost in a breath.
Still another example: Trying to recall the name of an old schoolmate, "Grady," I got "Brady," "grave," "gaseous," "gastronome," "gracious," and I finally abandoned the attempt, simply saying to myself that it began with a "G," and there was an "a" sound after it. The next morning when thinking of something entirely different, this name "Grady" came up in my mind with as much distinctness as though someone had whispered it in my ear. This remembering was done without any conscious effort on my part, and was evidently the result of the exertion made the day before when the mnemonic processes were put to work. Every reader must have had a similar experience which he can recall, and which will fall in line with the examples given.
It follows, then, that when we endeavor, without the aid of any system, to recall a forgotten fact or name, our memory presents to us words of similar sound or meaning in its journey toward the goal to which we have started it. This goes to show that our ideas are arranged in groups in whatever secret cavity or recess of the brain they occupy, and that the arrangement is not an alphabetical one exactly, and not entirely by meaning, but after some fashion partaking of both.