Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Mr. Mehaffey stated in his letter of March 28 that the Constitution is not carved in stone but a "living document."

I must take issue with this. The Constitution means exactly what it says unless amended by the procedure set forth by the writers. So I guess I consider myself a Constitutional conservative. We presently have 27 amendments to the original document and there are no more modifying clauses or inserts to the original except the language of the 27 amendments.

The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were necessary to gain the approval of the Constitution itself. From then on the amendments have been approved by the prescribed method of the writers. Lincoln signing the 13th and Harding the 19th merely completed the results of that process. Presidents cannot amend the Constitution. Only the people can so to suggest Lincoln or Harding had any real influence is a stretch.

Before an amendment can take effect, it must be prop...