[dcwusmc]

The major flaws, as I see them were: leaving slavery in place; amending the Constitution to allow direct election of Senators so that they no longer represented the interests of their State, and allowing FedGov to have direct access to people’s money through an income tax scheme.

The OTHER problem I see is that the citizenry of the times did NOT either hang the perpetrators of these schemes or at the very least, tar and feather them and throw them from office (preferably through a window from an upper story).

With respect to crime, no one need profit from it but the VICTIM of the crime should most surely be made whole by the criminal. If there is no way to do that (as with a murder or something equally heinous), then prison or SWIFT execution would be in order, with the miscreant compelled to work to pay for his or her own incarceration expenses. Conversely, if there is no victim to make whole, because there was NO VICTIM of the “crime,” then no crime was committed, no matter that someone may have broken a law (that probably should not be on the books, ANYWAY!).

[LearsFool]

With respect to crime, no one need profit from it but the VICTIM of the crime should most surely be made whole by the criminal.

Exactly right. I don't know how we got away from that fundamental premise of justice, nor who first invented the idea that all crimes are against the state, but justice has suffered ever since. (Why on earth should the victim be forced to sue in civil court in order to be made whole?!)

Conversely, if there is no victim to make whole, because there was NO VICTIM of the "crime," then no crime was committed, no matter that someone may have broken a law (that probably should not be on the books, ANYWAY!).

Why am I not surprised to hear you take that position? :-) Ah well, I believe we've both presented our best arguments on the matter and still disagree. Best we can do for now.