I agree with the text and your discussion in this post - thanks. But I would like some clarification.
You have also stated that “The FedZilla can and has bought lands... which become territories.”
But you have also quoted Article 1, Section 8 item 17, “The ONLY other land ownership legal for the fed gov is: Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-yards and other needful buildings.”
Here is my disconnect (and others.) Article 1, Section 8 item 17 states clearly what land FedZilla can own. But we also know that FedZilla can own other land, which we call territories.
Is it your premise that once FedZilla turns those territories into states, that “the limits on land ownership by the fed gov come into play,” are now specifically governed in Article 1, Section 8 item 17?
the territory aspect is in another article... 4 I think. It was quoted earlier by another poster.
The original poster of that article claims it means territory in general. My contention is that it means areas possessed by the US but are not states. Otherwise, there’d be zero reason to list those things allowed specifically in Art 1, Sec 8, Item 17.