Question

There is a Unionist, – there is a strict constructionist for you. He believes in the Union of the States, and he conceives that the only obstruction to the Union is Slavery, and for that reason, as a patriot, he works for its abolition. Emerson refers to John Brown as a "strict constructionist" because _____. he believes that laws should be applicable in every state in the nation he believes only the Federal government has the power to allow slavery he believes it is a man’s duty to remove obstructions in the way of liberty he believes what is written in the Constitution is not open to interpretation

Answer 1

The correct answer is what is written in the Constitution is not open to interpretation

Strict constructionism is a way of interpreting the constitution. Constructionists only accept what is written and the way in which it was written. There is nothing beyond what is written and from his point of view, if it says that all people are equal and citizens of the United States then all people indeed, including African-Americans. For him, there is no interpretation that looks at deeper meaning, what is written is what is intended and that's why he is a strict constructionist.