Why Did Our Founders Want Only Qualified Citizens to Vote?

From the beginning of our great country, there has been an ongoing debate: how should judges (the Supreme Court in particular) interpret the Constitution? That is, should it be interpreted as a “living” document (the liberal view), or should it be interpreted according to the framer’s original intent (the conservative view)?

The Cliff Notes version of the supporting arguments to both positions is as follows. The “living” Constitution theory says that, although the Constitution was created in accordance with the societal norms of that time, society has changed and so, therefore, must the thinking in the Constitution. Consequently, judges must make commensurate changes, ones that will address modern society. On the other hand, the “original intent” group argues that the Constitution has an already-available amendment procedure to accomplish such societal changes, and it is adequate for any needed updates. They also argue that interpreting the Constitution as a “living” document turns the law into a moving target, located wherever the individual whims of justices may take it from time to time. They strongly believe that if true justice for all is to be achieved, the law itself must be addressed, not a judicial interpretation of it.

In the middle of this ongoing and intense debate, however, there is one important point – perhaps the most important point – that is ignored: the assumption that the Constitution was written based on the varying norms of society is simply not correct. Instead, the Constitution was written based on the unchanging condition of human nature. Society changes, but human nature does not, making that great document as valid today as it was the day it was written. Consequently, the original intent of the framers is the only thing we can look to, for guidance. So what do we find?

Liberals often cite the Constitution’s original voting requirements as proof of their argument that what was written then is no longer applicable today. At the time of the writing of the Constitution, only male land owners were permitted to vote; women were entirely prohibited. Liberals, therefore, say that although that may have been acceptable in society when the Constitution was written, it is unacceptable today.

(Source:  The Absurd Report)