Its not a question of legal interpretation of historical texts.
Its an attempt to justify pandering to a political
ally by distorting historical texts. This debate is the same one that occurred to justify and implement Jim Crow. Only a few nouns and verbs were substituted.
Yep. Its the same debate, the same arguments, the same participants, the same clashing ideologies.
Who was allowed to vote in the early 1800s? Only White males who owned property were considered 'people'. Our forefathers did not want an Athenian Democracy where the rabble would have an equal vote. They wanted a Roman Republic run by a wealthy land-owners and merchants.
Our political parties are aptly named. They still serve the same constituencies.