User:Robbie/Franklin here: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
mNo edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
<h3>If Franklin Were Here . . . </h3> | <h3>If Franklin Were Here . . . </h3> | ||
<blockquote>On September 17, 1787, | <blockquote>On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution, having worked since May in confidentiality to draft it. At the end of the session, they left Independence Hall to dine at a nearby tavern, passing through a curious crowd. One of them, Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia, asked Benjamin Franklin,<br> | ||
"Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy?"<br> | "Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"<br> | ||
— "A republic," replied the Doctor, "if you can keep it."<ref>Based on an anecdote contributed by James McHenry, delegate from Maryland, to <i>The records of the federal convention of 1787,</i> Max Ferrand, ed. III:85.</ref></blockquote> | — "A republic," replied the Doctor, "if you can keep it."<ref>Based on an anecdote contributed by James McHenry, delegate from Maryland, to <i>The records of the federal convention of 1787,</i> Max Ferrand, ed. III:85.</ref></blockquote> | ||
<p>On this substack, we study what Benjamin Franklin | <p>The anecdote has been quoted often, especially so in recent months. On this substack, we it as a hint and study what may have worried Benjamin Franklin that day. Why did he think someday the people might loose their republic? With Franklin, we ask, Does it apply to us, the American people in 2025? What must we the people do to keep the republic?</p> | ||
<p>How did Franklin view the prospects for the government to be instituted by the new Constitution? Fortunately, we have good sources for addressing that question. Next to George Washington, a delegate from Virginia who presided over the Convention deliberations, Franklin, a delegate from Pennsylvania, had the most gravitas in public opinion. He was 81, suffering from the gout, and participated in the deliberations with attentive reserve, an elder stateman who spoke up as needed to keep unity among the delegates, promoting compromises when serious deadlocks were arising. At the start the concluding session, Franklin gave a short speech to initiate the signing of the Constitution by the assembled delegates. | |||
</p> | |||
<p class="cent">* * *</p> | <p class="cent">* * *</p> | ||
<p>In late February, 1787, the Continental Congress had voted to set up a convention to amend the Articles of Confederation, strengthening their central governing powers. 12 of the 13 states elected slates of delegates by various procedures. By late May, the delegates, slowly assembling in Philadelphia, reached a quorum and began to deliberate officially. Through the summer, 55 delegates took some part in deliberations, of whom a number left for various reasons, personal and substantive, with 39 signing their completed draft Constitution on September 17th.</p> | <p>In late February, 1787, the Continental Congress had voted to set up a convention to amend the Articles of Confederation, strengthening their central governing powers. 12 of the 13 states elected slates of delegates by various procedures. By late May, the delegates, slowly assembling in Philadelphia, reached a quorum and began to deliberate officially. Through the summer, 55 delegates took some part in deliberations, of whom a number left for various reasons, personal and substantive, with 39 signing their completed draft Constitution on September 17th.</p> | ||