On September 17, 1787, after nearly four months of spirited debate and sometimes bitter arguments among delegates from 12 of the 13 states (Rhode Island was absent), the “Federal Convention” (better known today as the Constitutional Convention) reached a momentous conclusion. On that day, James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution,” recorded in his meticulous notes that “To the question whether they consent to the Constitution which has been registered for signature, all the States have answered Aye, and concurred.”
This final vote marked the culmination of one of the most remarkable deliberations in the history of government. One by one, the delegates stepped forward and signed the document they had painstakingly drafted together, laying the foundation for a new union of sovereign republics: the United States of America. In doing so, these people, the representatives from each of the states, assented to the Constitution and began an unprecedented experiment in self-government.
In a letter to Thomas Jefferson shortly after the convention, James Madison expressed awareness of the gravity of the moment. He acknowledged that “the result[of the convention]cannot but be in some way powerfully influenced our destiny.” Madison, more than anyone, recognized that the future of liberty and the safety of the American experiment depended on the success of the document drafted in Philadelphia that hot summer.
Madison's prescient words proved true: the United States Constitution, adopted in 1787, has stood the test of time, war, and political strife to become a beacon of liberty and self-government for people around the world. But as Madison himself well knew, this incredible achievement was by no means inevitable. Without his tireless preparation, his vision for a strong yet limited central government, and the quiet, dignified presence of General George Washington, the Constitution may never have been completed.
Indeed, many intelligent and capable people attended the convention, but two men stand out for their indispensable contributions: James Madison and George Washington.
The first of these giants to emerge was George Washington. As president of the Constitutional Convention, Washington's role was more than merely ceremonial. He earned the respect of the delegates throughout the contentious proceedings, and his steady hand steered the Convention through many impasses. Washington's reputation as a Revolutionary War hero and a man widely trusted to lead the new republic lent legitimacy to the Convention. His influence was perhaps best captured when a fellow delegate later wrote, “If Washington had opposed the Constitution, it would have fallen apart.”
In fact, Washington himself acknowledged the meeting's unexpected success in a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette dated February 7, 1788. “It seems to me something close to a miracle that delegates from so many different States (each of which, as you know, has its own customs, circumstances, and prejudices) should have united to form a national system of government in which there can be almost no unfounded dissent,” he wrote. Washington, more than anyone, knew how fragile the convention was, and how close it was to disbanding without reaching an agreement.
The second most important figure after Washington was James Madison. Working tirelessly behind the scenes, Madison spent months preparing for the Constitutional Convention. He arrived with a thorough understanding of the historical failures of past republics and federations, and a determination to design a system that would avoid those pitfalls. Madison's blueprint, known as the Virginia Plan, formed the basis for the deliberations, and although many were revised, his influence on the final Constitution is undeniable.
But Madison's preparations went beyond mere plans and proposals. Throughout the convention, he kept detailed records of the debates and discussions. His records are invaluable today, giving contemporary Americans an unparalleled glimpse into the thoughts and motivations of the people who crafted the document that still governs us. Madison knew that understanding the intent behind the Constitution is just as important as understanding its language, and his journals remain a cornerstone of constitutional law scholarship.
In a letter to his friend Thomas Jefferson on October 24, 1787, Madison echoed Washington's awe at the success of the Constitutional Convention. He described the Convention's task as “more difficult than can be fully imagined by those who were not involved in its conduct.” Madison went on to write, “In consideration of these, and the natural diversity of human opinion on every new and complex question, it is impossible to consider the degree of agreement finally obtained to be anything other than miraculous.”
Both Washington and Madison use the word “miracle” here intentionally. That so many independent nations, each with their own interests and prejudices, achieved unity was truly astounding. They came together to create a government strong enough to protect liberty from threats both foreign and domestic, yet limited enough to protect the sovereignty of the states and the liberty of the people. This delicate balance could easily have been upset, but thanks to the presence and tenacity of Washington and Madison, it held up.
As we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17, 2024, we should remember the profound wisdom of these men. They knew, as we must remember, that the Constitution is more than a legal document; it embodies the principles of liberty. It was written by men who understood the dangers of tyranny and who sought to prevent it while maintaining the unity necessary to secure the blessings of liberty.
It is thanks to the vision of these Founding Fathers that America's experiment in self-government succeeded. Their belief in freedom and limited government remains relevant today. On this Constitution Day, take a few minutes to study the provisions of the Constitution. May we learn to cherish the principles of limited government, individual responsibility, separation of powers, and state sovereignty on which the Constitution is founded.
Only when “We the People” remember and reclaim our inherent power will we be worthy of the legacy of liberty bequeathed to us with the ratification of the Constitution drafted that long, sweltering summer 237 years ago.
