Emerson refers to john brown as a "strict constructionist" because

Emerson refers to John Brown as a strict constructionist because he believes in the Golden Rule and the Declaration of Independence; that according to him “Better that a whole generation of men, women and children should pass away by a violent death than one word of either should be violated in this country”. Thus, there is a Unionist. Therefore there is a strict constructionist. Emerson believes that Brown measures his actions by holding them accountable to his beliefs and states that his actions were motivated by doing what was right for the country. Emerson also demonstrates that Brown’s actions were governed by his uncompromising for the welfare of the nation.

in this passage from chapter 6 of "animal farm", by george orwell, what the author is ridiculing in this passage is the frivolity of some rules.

clover, the mare, believes she remembers that the fourth commandment forbade sleeping in beds because it was something that humans did. snowball, napoleon, and the pigs are brain-workers who look after the welfare of the farm. they are the obvious leaders because they are smart, and so they are entitled to eat the best food and sleep in beds. it is squealer, who says these lines making the difference between sleeping with sheets, what humans do, and sleeping in beds, what pigs do. the unwillingness to question authority makes the oppressed to obey without thinking.