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Happy Constitution Day
The Cato Institute’s Roger Pilon celebrates Constitution Day:
On September 17, 1787, the Framers of the Constitution of the United States of America, having completed their work over that long hot summer, sent the document out to the states with the hope that conventions in the states, pursuant to Article VII, would see fit to ratify it. Nine months later, on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to do so, making the Constitution effective between those states. Shortly thereafter, three more states ratified the document; and Rhode Island, the last, did so on May 29, 1790.
The Constitution was not perfect – what human creation is? – not least in its oblique recognition of slavery, believed necessary to ensure union. But it provided for amendment, as with the addition of the Bill of Rights in 1791 and the Civil War Amendments several decades later, which ended slavery and brought the Bill of Rights to bear upon the states. All things considered, especially when we look at the rest of the world, the Constitution has served us well, enabling us to prosper in greater freedom than most have ever enjoyed.
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Pip|9.17.10 @ 2:31PM|#
"The Constitution was not perfect – what human creation is?"
Selma Hayek.
|9.17.10 @ 2:43PM|#
I think you've got an extra word in there:
All things considered, especially when we look at the rest of the world, the Constitution
hasserved us well. . . .The Constitution is a dead letter. Sure, its not 100% irrelevant, only about 95% irrelevant, but that's plenty for me.
Alan Vanneman|9.17.10 @ 2:51PM|#
"oblique"? They said that slaves counted as three fifths of a person, and said that the importation of slaves would come to an end, in 1808, I believe. Sounds pretty damn direct to me.
Jeffersonian|9.17.10 @ 2:56PM|#
If slaves had been counted as full persons, it'd have lasted for decades longer than it did. Slave states wanted them counted as such...think about it.
cynical|9.17.10 @ 3:06PM|#
Given that each slave was zero fifths of a person democratically represented in that state, that was pretty generous of them.
PicassoIII|9.17.10 @ 3:33PM|#
Errr ...... drink?
Jason|9.17.10 @ 3:40PM|#
And at 1 Preamble, 7 Articles, and 27 Amendments, it's pretty damn short.
Frank Benlin|9.17.10 @ 6:01PM|#
And on Mar 23, 2010 the Constitution's long suffering was finally and mercilessly er..uh...mercifully laid to rest by the ruler of it.
篮球鞋|5.19.11 @ 4:04AM|#
I like it very much, thank you
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