OT: A little Constitutional history...
On the Magna Carta..I think the Brits would appreciate that.. beyond that the Constitution was drafted in Sept 1787 and not ratified by the required number of states until June of 1788. The original Constitution did not contain the Bill of Rights but were later incorporated in June of 1789. I'm not sure whether one would or could claim the country was founded under the Articles of Confederation or founded with the ratification of the Constitution. But it was certainly founded before the Bill of Rights.
While the framers did consider a Bill of Rights at the convention it was not included because the framers believed that ratification with a Bill of Rights would not be possible; oddly one of the objections from one of the states (though I can't remember which one) was the fear that the religious freedom right might allow non-Christians to expect the same rights as Christians (horrors!)
To add an obscure nugget from history worthy of considerable thought...When Madison proposed the Bill of Rights to Congress in 1789 (His address to Congress is a magnificent piece), he said....
"In our government it is, perhaps, less necessary to guard against the abuse in the Executive department than in any other; because it is not the stronger branch in the system but the weaker. It, therefore, must be leveled against the Legislative, for it is the most powerful and most likely to be abused, because it is under the least control. Hence, so far as a declaration of rights can tend to prevent the exercise of undue power, it cannot be doubted that such declaration is proper. I confess that I do conceive, that in a government modified like this of the United States, the great danger lies rather in the abuse of the community than in the legislative body. Prescriptions in favor of Liberty ought to be leveled against that quarter where the greatest danger lies, namely, that which possesses the highest prerogative of power. This is not found in either the executive or the legislative departments of government but in the body of the people, operating by the majority against the minority...
James Madison, June 8, 1879
Extra Credit: Madison proposed twelve Bill of Rights, though only the ten we savor so much were approved...what were the other two?
Best Regards and have a happy 4th,
Jim
P.S. A special one for you freeus...As you are well aware Washington surpressed the Whiskey Rebellion (and I understand that this was a little smudge from your perspective on George). But did you know that the populace at large was in support of the Rebels which resulted in Hamilton publishing a short editorial/essay on the matter. This single essay resulted in overwhelming support for Washington's subsequent action to suppress...to the extent that there were so many volunteers to join the forces to suppress the rebellion that many had to be turned away. Hamilton's essay is another little nugget worth reading. |
