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To: jonestown
Congress shall make no law" meant what it said, but did not mean that only Congress was so restricted.

But there is no basis for that. Requiring that state officials swear to obey the Constitution does not change the wording of the 1st amendment from "Congress" to "States and Congress". It means state officials are sworn to abide by whatever restrictions the Constitution placed on them.

When you make a contract with another person, it can place obligations on one party that aren't required of the other. And when both parties sign the contract or swear to it, it doesn't somehow oblige the first party to comply with the obligations of the second.

239 posted on 01/26/2005 7:34:11 PM PST by Dan Evans
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To: Dan Evans
Congress shall make no law" meant what it said, but did not mean that only Congress was so restricted.

But there is no basis for that.

Backwards.. -- You have no basis for your claim that States can respect an establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise thereof; or abridge 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 grievances.

Requiring that state officials swear to obey the Constitution does not change the wording of the 1st amendment from "Congress" to "States and Congress". It means state officials are sworn to abide by whatever restrictions the Constitution placed on them.

Correct. Some of those restrictions include that they shall make no laws 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 grievances.

When you make a contract with another person, it can place obligations on one party that aren't required of the other.

True. - If there is a 'meeting of the minds'. Both parties must understand the contract.

And when both parties sign the contract or swear to it, it doesn't somehow oblige the first party to comply with the obligations of the second.

In our Constitutional contract, all parties understood Art VI. State/local officials [as well as Congress] were pledged to support ALL of our Constitutional liberties, including those later outlined in the 1st Amendment and all following Amendments.

242 posted on 01/26/2005 8:01:35 PM PST by jonestown ( A fanatic is a person who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." ~ Winston Churchill)
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