[BikerNYC]

If that was his intention in drafting the language of the provision, he did a poor job drafting it. We are left with the words of the Consitution, not his intention.

[moehoward]

If that was his intention in drafting the language of the provision, he did a poor job drafting it.

That's affirmed.

But when one realizes the 14th was essentially written for the now free from slavery blacks that were already in the country, it's easy to understand the focus of the clause. Also consider, there were not millions of Africans sneaking in at the time and the notion of a government standing idly by while millions from ANY country did had to be an abhorrent thought.

Still, Senator Howards meaning behind the words SHOULD be considered. Keep in mind how other personal political comments made by our founding fathers have created policy even though these words appear on no official document. Wall of separation, anyone?