FORREST McDONALD ON ORIGINAL INTENT

In Novus Ordo Seclorum, Chapter 6 deals with the principles and interests of the Framers and the last page (224) has this paragraph:

It should be obvious from this survey that it is meaningless to say that the Framers intended this or that the Framers intended that: their positions were diverse and, in many particulars, incompatible. Some had firm, well-rounded plans, some had strong convictions on only a few points, some had self-contradictory ideas, some were guided only by vague ideals. Some of their differences were subject to compromise; others were not.