I believe Thomas Jefferson gave the most persuasive advice on the topic of Constitutional meaning when he wrote in a letter to Justice William Johnson on June 12, 1823, On every question of construction let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed our of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.
Share
More from John Conyers
How much time remains on both sides? The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Michigan has 2\1/2\ minutes remaining, and the gentlewoman from Georgia has 2\1/2\ minutes remaining.
I demand a recorded vote. A recorded vote was ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote. The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 234, noes 187, not voting 11, as follows: [Roll No. 588] AYES--234…
I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan will be postponed. Announcement by the Acting Chair The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to…
This committee has marked up legislation that would unfortunately implement President Trump's vision for mass deportation.





