There are no illegal immigrants in America

[Radar]

Nothing else matters in a Constitutional debate other than the words in the Constitution. The phrase "general welfare" means allowing citizens to enjoy peace and prosperity or the ordinary blessings of society and civil government...nothing more and nothing less. It does not grant any powers to the federal government.

I was merely posting the opinion of what one of the framers of the Constitution, for dramatic effect.

The Founding Fathers wisely worded the Constitution in very specific and restrictive terms and were clear that it was meant to be taken literally and that the federal government was to have zero implied powers and could only gain powers through the amendment process.

This is cut, dry, and unlike yours....accurate.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Radar

Nothing else matters in a Constitutional debate other than the words in the Constitution.

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 exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

Originally Posted by Radar

The migration and importation of slaves does not apply to the immigration of free people. The clause you are mentioning refers to slaves and can only refer to slaves as it is discussing an import tax or duty on goods being imported. There is only one kind of person that is also considered a commodity or good and that is a slave.

The tax or duty is specific to importation, but the clause also refers to migration, separately.

[Radar]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

The tax or duty is specific to importation, but the clause also refers to migration, separately.

The clause refers solely to the migration and importation of slaves and it became void when 13th amendment abolished slavery.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Radar

The clause refers solely to the migration and importation of slaves ...

It doesn't say so. Are you bringing in something from outside the Constitution?

Slaves don't migrate.

[Radar]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

It doesn't say so. Are you bringing in something from outside the Constitution?

Slaves don't migrate.

They migrate the same way cattle do. Their masters take them from one place to another. Slaves are imported. Slaves are property for which you paid a duty or a tax to import. Free people are not imported, are not property, and do not require a tax or a duty. The clause can only refer to slavery and our founders said so, the Supreme Court said so, the U.S. government and every single law school in America say so, and most of all the U.S. Constitution says so through the use of words like import, duty, tax, and migration rather than immigration.