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Many state and federal statutes provide that when property is used in certain prohibited ways, ownership of the property passes to the government. Often, the statutes allow these forfeitures to be declared in civil proceedings against the property itself, without the normal safeguards of the criminal process. Indeed, if no one claims the property after proper notice, the government’s assertion of ownership can become incontestable without any judicial proceedings at all. Statutes authorizing such civil or administrative forfeiture might seem like egregious violations of both property rights and criminal-procedure rights guaranteed by the federal Constitution. But while forfeiture statutes may be unfair and unwise, this Feature cautions originalists not to assume that they are unconstitutional. The Feature concludes that the original meaning of the Constitution (as liquidated by historical practice) does not foreclose the three key features of forfeiture
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Weddings were often boisterous occasions, and an onlooker back in 1547 observed: “Suffer not your children to go to weddings or banquets for nowadays one can learn nothing there but ribaldry and foule words”. However, Welsh weddings were known to be more discreet where the people drynke mead and under heaven there is no fairer complexion nor cleaner of nature”. Another reference relates to a friend’s concern over the choice of bride. He says: “I saw Mistress Bryde return from the church. The day before she had been somewhat of the condition of a kitchen wench but now so tricked up with scarves and rings and cross garters that you never saw a Whitsun lady better rigged. ....