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Show 111 Law I There Cannot fie an, I f k , 1" T Unconstitutional f i Is Law w j S l' By JOHN F. GEETING. H J sound reasoning, tiiero cannot be an micousti- BBBflPHI ,,'1Dnn' 'nu'- A law is nn nulhoritntivc rule, governing I Pl directing or limiting the notions of niniiRiml. That ' il saaBBBBBBBBBaftsfl which in not authoritative and operative is not u law. I lBBBw'jfll '10 cona''ll,1,ion of tllc United States is the su- j asSsSvlstiiftsH 1)1,011,0 lnw of tlic lmtion- constitution of each HRnH Htnte' in conjunc'lion with the federal constitution, is I QlH "IC 8lmrcmo lllw.of state; for it cmnnntcs from j I ' BBSsaBBsaBaaN "10 l)00i''G O'eiiieclvcfi, in their original mid sovereign I H A legislative assembly, whether national or state, 1 K essBBBBBBBBBBBBBl depends for its existence and power on its charter i ' the constitution contrary to which it cannot legally. I legislate. t may attempt so to do; but as it cannot infuse into its act a f j t, vitality not possessed by itself, its action is void, and must be ignored as JjJ ? no aw, especially by those officials who nrc sworn to support the consti- t ! ' tution. iv A popular notion exists, that an unconstitutional act is binding until I it is judicially declared unconstitutional. How 'intensely fallacious this i doctrine ! Courts are instituted to sustain and enforce the lows, and not I 1 create, nullify, abrogate or repeal laws. When a court declares that I: an act of the legislature is jmconstitutional, it takes nothing from it I , " nnd reriders.it no less binding; but simply ignores it as something, which I Jn form resembles a legislative enactment, but docsiot possess the vital- I r " ity of a law. I Not only may courts ignore such void acts, but it is the privilege of K each citizen to. do bo, which .fact should impress upon the public mind i H the necessity of all persons being thoroughly versed in our organic , I laws and the necessity of p H introducing into our com- 'J if H ' R mon schools the study of 2l7'VvOv7 ftfrCiXtv4L j both our national and rmm fj , 1! Btatc constitutions. J I |