[Hoot Gibson]

"Textualism" was Scalia's preferred designation I think. So, OK, the original intent of the Framers did not include women voting and allowed black skinned human beings to be regarded as property, like a couch or a cow. At that time, there were voices decrying slavery, and even a few the non-entity status of women. What this suggests is that the Framers, men of great intellect and vision for sure, were yet but men, captives of their time, subject to the foible and frailty of all. And, yes, it is true, of course, that the Constitution was amended to end slavery and the price was a brutal and bloody civil war, and women did get the vote after much protest. How does that change the point made about the Framers? Surely you do not count as godlike perfection their stances on slavery and women?

The Bill of Rights and all of the other amendments of the Constitution are as much a part of the document as the original document. The framers of the Constitution realized that the document would need to be corrected and extended over time and they provided the tools to do so.