ieee oo f Cree ois The Constitution Still Stands; ‘Its Meaning Does. Not Alter’ than did William Harper of South in the Senate on April 14, 1826: Today is Constitution Day; celebrated as the 163rd anniversary of the birth of the Constitution of the United “The States. Constitution has laid Carolina down the ao fundamental and immutable laws of justice, On September | ‘17, -T76T, fifty-five men, for our Government, and the majority that | all of them young, delegates” from — ‘alracst constitutes the Government should not vio- | twelve of the thirteen original states, comthese.— The Constitution is made to conpleted the work which had occupied them , late trol the Government.” It is made to control. summer Philadelphia through four. -hot men grown hungry for power by mere. elec-. Washington, That night George months. : tion to office. ‘then 55; who had presided over ‘the convenIt is the bulwark which protects free men. tion, wrote in his Diary: “The business being Thus it provides a governmental machine pe: . retired to meditate — closed, the members . checks and balances, “with its three departon the momentous work which had been’ ments” (as the note at the top of these executed.” — columns reminds our readers each day) “each Indeed it was momentous. iris’ was the _one fully independent in its own field.” charter which It is a grant of powers to Government; foundation of the national Great Britain’s Gladstone was to characterize but of limited powers. It isa grant of limited two generations later as “the most wonderful powers to each of the governmental depart- | the by time, given a at off, ments — Congress, the Judiciary, the Execustruck ever _ work brain and purpose of man.” Many Americans tive, as well. It is well for all of us to ponder believe that this fundamental document was e that s Churches— day. divinely inspired. Today in throughout the nation talks are being devoted to and sermons preached upon the Constitution and the blessings of liberty which it has assured this land. This is eminently fitting. » r The date we celebrate, bh enthee, Lf, 18) somewhat arbitrary. A long and hard-fought political struggle extended from October, ‘The Constitution is a living instrument, which has expanded both in structure and understanding in the minds of men since the hot days of its,birth. North Carolina had re- jected it in August of 1788, but came to realization of its meaning and ratified it fif- teen months later.’ Rhode Island ratified in 1790. 3 The first nine amendments which are our eitizenry’s ‘specific Bill of Rights were adopted in 1791 after they had been debated through the first Congress to meet under the ' Constitution’s aegis; the Tenth Amendment, which we consider now as parcel with the | first nine, followed soon. As special circumthe nation’s have mutated with stances growth, so has the Constitution grown by amendments to meet new needs. But the changed. In about it since expressed its basic structure remains un- all the debate which has swirled September 17 of 1783 none has basic definition more succinctly ee oe ee 1787, until well into July, 1788, before the | effective. ponder freedom’s Murder She Today is 1950’s “Freedom Sunday” peti: by a Freedom Crusade. | Constitution was ratified by enough states to In June Virginia’s. ratificaput it in force. tion convention had approved the Constitution by a majority of ten out of 168 delegates © with Patrick Henry one of the leaders of the opposition; the next month New York’s ratification, by a majority of three in a total of OT convention delegates, made it nationally | we meaning oe this | |