If you believe that we’re a confederacy of sovereign states, you’re not even a conservative, you’re a reactionary.
And yes, the meaning of the Constitution is changed—by its amendments. Or do you still think that blacks are 3/5ths of a man?
I think there's nothing in the historical record to support the implicit argument that the people who wrote and ratified the 14th Amendment intended for it to legitimize "anchor babies" and frustrate immigration control.
There's "original intent" and then there's "textualism". I belive in original intent. You apparently believe in textualism without any consideration of intent or context.
You submit your interpretation is more "conservative" than mine. Explain why your textualist interpretation is more "conservative" than an original intent interpretation.