Leonard Pitts did not mention in his Sept. 29 column, “Teach the good, the bad, the ugly of American history,” the following ugliness in the U.S. Constitution:
Article I Section 9: The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not to exceed ten dollars for each Person.
The wealthy framers further protected their riches, i.e. African slaves, as follows:
Article IV Section 2: No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.
My opinion: What this country needs is a Constitutional convention every 10 years.
Larry Rivette
Hazel Dell
