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1、HARVARDLAWREVIEWVOL.XLIIDECEMBER,1928No.2THE"HIGHERLAW"BACKGROUNDOFAMERICANCONSTITUTIONALLAW"Theoryisthemostimportantpartofthedogmaofthelaw,asthearchitectisthemostimportantmanwhotakespartinthebuildingofahouse."*THEReformationsupersededaninfalliblePopewithan
2、in-fallibleBible;theAmericanRevolutionreplacedtheswayofakingwiththatofadocument.Thatsuchwouldbetheout-comewasnotunforeseenfromthefirst.InthesamenumberofCommonSensewhichcontainedhiselectrifyingproposalthatAmericashoulddeclareherindependencefromGreatBritain,P
3、aineurgedalsoa"ContinentalConference,"whosetaskhede-scribedasfollows:"Theconferringmembersbeingmet,lettheirbusinessbetoframeaContinentalCharter,orCharteroftheUnitedColonies;(answeringtowhatiscalledtheMagnaChartaofEngland)fixingthenumberandmannerofchoosingme
4、mbersofcongressandmembersofassembly...anddrawingthelineofbusinessandjurisdictionbetweenthem:(alwaysremembering,thatourstrengthiscontinental,notprovincial)securingfreedomandpropertytoallmen...withsuchothermatterasitisnecessaryforachartertocontain....Butwhere
5、,saysome,istheKingofAmerica?Yetthatwemaynotappeartobedefectiveeveninearthlyhonors,letadaybesolemnlysetapartforproclaimingthecharter;letitbebroughtforthplacedinthedivinelaw,thewordofGod;letacrownbeplacedthereon,bywhichtheworldmayknow,thatsofarasweapproveofmo
6、narchy,thatinAmericathelawisKing."SHoLms,COLLECTEDLEGALPAPERS(1921)200.IxPAINE,POLITICALWRII.rs(,837)45-46.HeinOnline--42Harv.L.Rev.1491928-1929HARVARDLAWREVIEWThissuggestion,whichwastoeventuatemorethanadecadelaterinthePhiladelphiaConvention,isnotlessintere
7、stingforitsret-rospectionthanitisforitsprophecy.InthewordsoftheyoungerAdams,"theConstitutionitselfhadbeenextortedfromthegrindingnecessityofareluctantnation";yethardlyhaditgoneintooperationthanhostilecriticismofitsprovisionsnotmerelyceasedbutgaveplaceto"anun
8、discriminat-ingandalmostblindworshipofitsprinciples"3-aworshipwhichcontinuedessentiallyunchallengedtilltheotherday.Othercreedshavewaxedandwaned,but"worshipoftheCon-stitution"hasproceededunabated.4Itist
