Constitutional Revision Quotes
There are some conservatives who accused Brennan of altering the Constitution from the bench by his opinions. However, there is an unending debate as to how the constitutional interpreters should deal with concepts and reality that did not exist at the time of the Constitutional Convention and were unconcieved of. Some justices like Brennan believe that the principles of the Constitution should be extended and extrapolated to modernity. Others believe that in the absen?ce of specific language even Supreme Court just should not try and extrapolate. Both are reputable views and as time and technology march ahead, the issue is joined more frequently. For example, the Founding Fathers did not conceive of atomic weapons. But they insisted that Americans have the right to bear arms. An atomic bomb is a type of arm—a weapon of war and defense. Does an individual American have the right to have his own atomic bomb?
This president served his terms as allowed by the Constitution but then moved to change the constitution so that he could be the dictator as perpetual president. The purpose of constitutions is to limit and control the day to day political process and processes of reform. This stands the purpose of a constitution on its head. Modern totalitarian states almost all have constitutions. However where they differ from democracies is that the dictatorships ignore their constitutions, constantly suspend them in “emergencies” or change them at will to serve the interests of the ruling authorities. See {622125} for a Supreme Court Justice’s view of this kind of situation.
Patrick Henry, a political opponent of Madison's, spread rumors in Madison's Virginia home district that Madison was perfectly satisfied with the Constitution as it was drafted. Madison felt the need to set the record straight, and this letter was widely circulated by his friends.
