4/30: Micah Beckwith, a Hanilton County preacher who has sought political power, wrote: “America was absolutely founded on Christian values. You have to be ignorant to think otherwise. The writings of our Framers and the founding documents are very clear on that.” 1/6

Beckwith’s “Christian values” must include slavery & racism. “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.” Art. I, sec. 9. Also, 2/6

this provision could not be amended: “...no Amendment which may be made prior to the year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article.” Slave States benefitted from slaves in numbers of 3/6

seats in the House of Representatives was calculated “by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.” Art. I, sec. 2. Slaves were not safe if they could get to a 4/6

“free” State: “No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under tha Laws thereof, escaping into another ... shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.” Art. IV, sec. 2. Art. I, sec. 2 and Art. IV, sec. 2 were removed by amendments. 5/6

These provisions are from the text of The Constitution. A common view of people on the far right is our being bound by the text of The Constitution. I shall infer Beckwith is ignorant of these provisions, as I’ve read nothing to cause me to doubt his ignorance. 6/6