5/14/2007 -  SJ, Baton Rouge, LA writes ...
Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co.       Post to Main Thread   Reply to SJ

The 13th amendment is extremely concise. It says:

"Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. "

Thus, it outlaws slavery/involuntary servitude, which can only be reasonably defined as one person owning another person.

It says absolutely nothing about outlawing the "badges of slavery", as the 1883 court erroneously declared, and it obviously was never intended to regulate the sale of property between private individuals. Thus there is no sound basis for the court's decision.

Typical bleeding-heart Warren decision, the court legislating from the bench.