On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention began deliberations in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall for the specific purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. Fifty-five delegates representing twelve states attended this convention. These delegates, now known as the Framers of the Constitution, were well-educated men from every walk of life, including lawyers, merchants, bankers, and farmers.
I’m certain that when these delegates began this work, they had no idea that they would be eliminating the Articles of Confederation and establishing a whole new system of government. After four grueling months of hammering out the endless details and numerous compromises, these delegates created a system of government that has withstood more than two centuries of change. It is hard to imagine how they even succeeded in such a venture, considering they were literally locked in a small room for over six hours a day with no air conditioning in the midst of the sweltering heat of a Philadelphia summer.
History accurately tells us that as the convention went on with the many speeches that lasted for hours, the constant deliberations and the raucous debates, that tempers flared to such a level most thought the convention would dissolve and the whole idea to form a new government would be abandoned.
These representatives were daily dealing with very volatile and controversial issues. Among the more volatile was the issue of slavery and human equality. No doubt, sentiments ran very high in the heat of the day. Some of the controversial issues they were dealing with were states rights, the idea of self-government, representation in the national legislature, who would hold power between the people, states, and federal government and the best form of government.
By the end of June, these debates between the delegates deteriorated into such calamity through many accusations and divisiveness that Dr. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest of all those present, rose to address George Washington and his fellow delegates with an appeal. This is part of what he said:
“In this situation of this assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection, our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel: we shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to the future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and Its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.”
(Franklin’s appeal for prayer at the Constitutional Convention. Wall Builders, December 31, 2016)
Franklin’s appeal definitely brought the much-needed harmony and conciliation between the many delegates. The whole unfolding of our God-given rights to Life, Liberty, Property, the Dignity of Man, the Right of Conscience, and Self-Government were being examined, weighed, and hammered out. WOW! The Great American Experiment, which Daniel Webster called a miracle, was now being ordered into a working government.
The Framers, needless to say, spent a great deal of time studying and researching the many different governments that governed the different nations throughout history. Contrary to those revisionists’ historians, the one book that these Framers observed and quoted from the most was the Bible. Through much consideration and research, they concluded that a republican form of government was indeed best for this new nation. They completely rejected certain types of governments such as:
- Totalitarianism, because it rejects a person’s individual rights and their right of conscience.
- Monarchy, because they are easily manipulated and coerced to do the same as totalitarianism.
- Oligarchy, because power is held only by a small elite who rule.
- Anarchy, because it is like those described in the Bible where “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6).
- Theocracy, because so many will claim they are the true representative of God.
- Democracy, considered the worst of all governments by the Framers, because passions and selfishness will often prevail over reason and deliberations.
Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, referred to democracy as Mobocracy (rule or domination by the “mob” or by the masses).
Today, many proclaim that the United States is a democracy. Political leaders are those who publicize this idea the most, but we also know that many teachers who teach America’s youth are declaring this same idea and using faulty curriculum to undergird it. We are NOT a democracy!
Our Framers deliberately chose a form of government which they believed to be the highest form of government…a Constitutional Republic in which the representatives elected by the people are not sovereign but are instead subject to a higher sovereign law—a written constitution.
The delegates (Framers) made it very clear in the Constitutional Convention through their writings, extensive debates, and many deliberations that America was NOT nor was she ever to become a democracy. James Madison, who was considered the Father of the Constitution, stated this concerning a democracy: “Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have, in general, been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”
Founding Father, John Adams, who wasn’t even part of the Constitutional Convention, wanted all to know that he regarded democracy as a terrible form of government, and if left unchecked would often lead to even worse forms of government: “Democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy—such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man’s life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure; and everyone of these will soon mold itself into a system of subordination of all the moral virtues and intellectual abilities—all the powers of wealth, beauty, wit, and science—to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and the execrable (abominable) cruelty of one or very few.”
Our Founders deliberately chose a Constitutional Republic to govern the American people. You can see this in Article IV Section IV of the United States Constitution: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government…” When you read and study original writings and manuscripts from the founding era of America, you can definitely see that America’s Constitution is based on a higher law. Our Founders titled this higher law as God’s law that is better described as “the Law of Nature and Nature’s God.” This moral law, which comes from God, was the foundation and framework put forth to govern this nation and it is the law that every elected official, every citizen, and every political and government representative must conform to.
This higher law describes and identifies certain specific rights that God has given to every individual. The Declaration of Independence calls these rights inalienable, and they are to provide equality and equal protection to every person when they practice these God-given rights in society. In fact, America’s founding and governing documents explicitly tell us that “to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.” More emphatically, it means that our government exists first and foremost to secure to every person his or her God-given inalienable rights! So, these rights include: Life, Liberty, Property, and Freedom to worship God without government interference. These rights are never subject to removal through any vote, elected official, judge, or un-elected bureaucrat…because they are God-given! Never to be removed by men or some government!
This is a great heritage given to each and every American! It was started long ago by those fifty-five delegates who debated tirelessly in the stifling heat of that Philadelphia summer to guarantee each American a Constitutional Republic where “We the People” hold the power to elect and choose from among us men and women who will represent us and subject themselves to the United States Constitution! Our Forefather’s affirmed over and over that it was the Bible and Christianity that produced our unique Constitutional Republic! Even so, can “We the People” keep it?