Constitutional Convention Quotes

• Whatever may be the judgement pronounced on the competency of the architects of the Constitution, or whatever may be the destiny of the edifice prepared by them, I feel it a duty to express my profound and solemn conviction . . . that there never was an assembly of men, charged with a great and arduous trust, who were more pure in their motives, or more exclusively or anxiously devoted to the object committed to them.

  James Madison

  Destiny, Men, Profound

  James Madison, E. H. Scott (1898). “Journal of the Federal Convention”, p.51, The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.

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• It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If, to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.

  George Washington

  Wise, Hands, People

  Speech at Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, Pa., 14 May 1787

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• I consider the difference between a system founded on
  the legislatures only, and one founded on the people, to be the true difference between a league or treaty and a constitution.

  James Madison

  Differences, People, League

  James Madison (1836). “The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: As Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia, in 1787. Together with the Journal of the Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yate's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution”

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• 'Tis done. We have become a nation.

  Benjamin Rush

  Done, Nations

  Benjamin Rush (1951). "Cartas"

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• The example of changing a constitution by assembling the wise men of the state, instead of assembling armies, will be worth as much to the world as the former examples we had give them. The constitution, too, which was the result of our deliberation, is unquestionably the wisest ever yet presented to men.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Wise, Army, Men

  Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.83, Algora Publishing

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• Let our government be like that of the solar system. Let the general government be like the sun and the states the planets, repelled yet attracted, and the whole moving regularly and harmoniously in several orbits.

  John Dickinson

  Moving, Government, Sun

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• Se ha dicho que la voz del pueblo es la voz de Dios; y, por mucho que se haya citado y creído esta máxima, no se ajusta a la realidad. El pueblo es turbulento y cambiante, rara vez juzga o determina lo correcto.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Voice, People, Judging

  Alexander Hamilton (1962). “Jan.1787-May 1788”

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• You give me a credit to which I have no claim in calling me "the writer of the Constitution of the United States." This was not, like the fabled Goddess of Wisdom, the offspring of a single brain. It ought to be regarded as the work of many heads and many hands.

  James Madison

  Hands, Giving, Brain

  James Madison (1867). “1829-1836”, p.341

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• It appears to me, then, little short of a miracle, that the Delegates from so many different States . . . should unite in forming a system of national Government, so little liable to well founded objections.

  George Washington

  Government, Miracle, Different

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1835). “The Writings of George Washington: pt.III. Private letters from the time Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the army to that of his inauguration as president of the United States: December, 1783-April, 1789. 1835”, p.317

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• I am exceedingly distressed at the proceedings of the Convention-being ... almost sure, they will ... lay the foundation of a Civil War.

  Elbridge Gerry

  War, Foundation, Constitution

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• Una fuerza militar permanente, con un Ejecutivo desmesurado, no serán durante mucho tiempo compañeros seguros de la libertad.

  James Madison

  Military, Long, Liberty

  James Madison (1787). “The Writings of James Madison: 1787. The journal of the Constitutional convention”, p.317

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• There never was an assembly of men, charged with a great and arduous trust, who were more pure in their motives, or more exclusively or anxiously devoted to the object committed to them.

  James Madison

  Men, America, Assembly

  James Madison (1787). “The Writings of James Madison: 1783-1787”, p.411

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• Mi curiosidad política, exclusiva de mi ansiosa preocupación por el bienestar público, me lleva a preguntar quién les autorizó (a los redactores de la Constitución) a hablar el lenguaje de "Nosotros, el Pueblo", en lugar de "Nosotros, los Estados".

  Patrick Henry

  People, Political, Curiosity

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• He vivido, señor, mucho tiempo, y cuanto más vivo, más pruebas convincentes veo de esta verdad: que Dios gobierna en los asuntos de los hombres. Y si un gorrión no puede caer al suelo sin que él se dé cuenta, ¿es probable que un imperio pueda levantarse sin su ayuda? Se nos ha asegurado, Señor, en las sagradas escrituras que "si el Señor no construye, en vano trabajan los que lo hacen". Creo firmemente esto; y también creo que sin su ayuda concurrente no tendremos más éxito en esta construcción política que los constructores de Babel...

  Benjamin Franklin

  Fall, Believe, Writing

  Constitutional Convention Address on Prayer, delivered Thursday, June 28, 1787, Philadelphia, PA

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• There was not a member of the Constitutional Convention who had the least objection to what is contended for by the advocates for a Bill of Rights and trial by jury.

  George Washington

  Rights, Law, Trials

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1847). “pt. III. Private letters from the time Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Army to that of his inauguration as president of the United States: December, 1783-April, 1789”, p.357

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• We have seen the mere distinction of color made in the most enlightened period of time, a ground of the most oppressive dominion ever exercised by man over man.

  James Madison

  Men, Color, Slavery

  James Madison (1836). “The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: As Recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia, in 1787. Together with the Journal of the Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yate's Minutes, Congressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, and Other Illustrations of the Constitution”

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• [The Federal Convention] is really an assembly of demigods.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Assembly, Demigods, Conventions

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• Fuera del Independence Hall, cuando terminó la Convención Constitucional de 1787, la señora Powel de Filadelfia preguntó a Benjamin Franklin, "Bueno, doctor, ¿qué tenemos, una república o una monarquía?". Sin dudarlo lo más mínimo, Franklin respondió: "Una república, si podéis mantenerla".

  Benjamin Franklin

  Médicos, Filadelfia, Independencia

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• No morn ever dawned more favorable than ours did; and no day was every more clouded than the present! Wisdom, and good examples are necessary at this time to rescue the political machine from the impending storm.

  George Washington

  Political, Storm, Example

  George Washington (1835). “The writings of George Washington: being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes, and illustrations”, p.206

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• Una señora preguntó al Dr. Franklin Bueno Doctor qué tenemos una república o una monarquía - "Una república", respondió el Doctor, "si puedes mantenerla".

  Benjamin Franklin

  Médicos, República, Drs

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• Why did the Articles [of Confederation] fail so completely? Most historians believe the founding fathers spent a great deal of their first constitutional convention drafting the delaration of independence and only realized on July 3rd the Articles were also due.

  Jon Stewart

  Father, Believe, July

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• Jealousy, and local policy mix too much in all our public councils for the good government of the Union. In a words, the confederation appears to me to be little more than a shadow without the substance . . . .

  George Washington

  Government, Shadow, Substance

  George Washington, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission (1931). “The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, 1745-1799”

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• Por lo tanto, pido permiso para proponer que, en lo sucesivo, en esta Asamblea se recen todas las mañanas oraciones implorando la asistencia del Cielo y su bendición sobre nuestras deliberaciones.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Morning, Prayer, Moving

  Constitutional Convention Address on Prayer, delivered Thursday, June 28, 1787, Philadelphia, PA

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• Creo firmemente... que sin Su ayuda concurrente no tendremos más éxito en esta construcción política que los constructores de Babel: Seremos divididos por nuestros pequeños intereses locales parciales; nuestros proyectos serán confundidos, y nosotros mismos nos convertiremos en un reproche y una mala palabra para las edades futuras. Y lo que es peor, a partir de este desafortunado caso, la humanidad podría desesperar de establecer gobiernos por medio de la sabiduría humana y dejarlo en manos del azar, la guerra y la conquista.

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Believe, Bye

  Constitutional Convention Address on Prayer, delivered Thursday, June 28, 1787, Philadelphia, PA

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• El pueblo es turbulento y cambiante; rara vez juzga bien o toma buenas decisiones.

  Alexander Hamilton

  People, Judging, Decision

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