Article by Ben Dugger, Volunteer for Convention of States Alabama.
Georg Hegel said, “The only thing we learn from history is that we do not learn from history.” There is one glaring exception, and that happened on summer in Philadelphia in the year of 1787.
Some 55 delegates assembled in Independence Hall for the purpose of writing a Constitution replacing the inadequate Articles of the Confederation.
These men were some of the most educated in the colonies. Though they came from widely differing backgrounds, they had mostly the same beliefs. For the most part, they had read widely of the classics, had broad knowledge of politics, religion, history, and philosophy. Their correspondence, speeches, and commentaries showed a significant understanding of great writings.
Like Polybius, they thought to extract the good from the governments gone before and avoid the mistakes. From these valuable sources they sorted out what they considered to be the best and most enduring for the prosperity and peace of a free people. They sought to enshrine natural law and the inherent rights given to us by the Creator.
George Washington presided over the assembly. They gathered themselves in what is call the “Committee of the Whole.” This was to encourage the delegates to freely express themselves without formalities.
Debates raged throughout the summer, sometimes heated. For instance, it took some sixty votes just to decide how to elect a president. It represented the wisdom of the many persons. No one man could have accomplished this.
They knew from history without restraint, governments tend to become more and more oppressive. So how does one prevent that? They finally conceived the idea that men will defend their station and resist the encroachment from others.
After months of proposal and counter proposal, these ideas were distilled into a government composed of three equal parts: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
Here, each one defended his own position and provided checks on the others. It was a brilliant use of human psychology, the tendency of man or men to protect what is theirs.
They believed that only as educated, moral people could maintain a republic. The same year the Constitution was written and approved by the Congress. They also approved the Northwest Ordinance emphasizing the need to educate the people.
The Constitution was adopted on September 7, 1789, and sent to the states for ratification. After the ninth state, New Hampshire ratified it, the Constitution became law.
It has proven to be the most successful form of government conceived to this day. By guaranteeing property rights, it enabled the people to work for the betterment for themselves and others.
To this day, we marvel at the great perspicacity of these men. They had the foresight that, should our government go awry, We the People, through our states, can as the Declaration of Independence said to “alter or abolish” it. That method is Article V of the Constitution which allows us to amend without Washington input.
Our elected officials will once again, become like Cincinnatus who will leave their vocation, serve their country for a time and return home.
