As we witness the assault on the constitution, we can look back at the differences of opinion regarding its content at the time of it’s formation.  The constitution is the foundation of our structure and the nation.   We must be careful that we do not weaken our foundation.  I was particularly interested in the image of a Caesar or Cromwell availing himself of our divisions wading to a throne through a stream of blood.  The past seven years in our nation have been akin to that image for me.

 

The following is from an essay by Noah Webster dates October 17, 1787:

It is absurd  for a man to oppose the adoption of the constitution, because he thinks some part of it defective or exceptionable.  Let every man be at liberty to expunge from the constitution what he judges to be exceptionable, and not a syllable of the constitution will survive the scrutiny.  A painter, after executing an masterly piece, requested every spectator to draw a pencil mark over the part that did not please him; but to his surprise, he soon found the whole piece defaced.  Let every man examine the most perfect building by his own taste, and like some microscopic critics, condemn the whole for small deviations from the rules of architecture, and not a part of the best constructed fabric would escape.  But let any man take a comprehensive view of the whole, and he will be pleased with the general beauty and proportions and admire the structure.  The same remarks apply to the new constitution.  I have no doubt that every member of the late convention has exceptions to some part of the system proposed.  Their constituents have the same, and if every objection must be removed, before we have a national government, the Lord have mercy on us.

Perfection is not the lot of humanity.  Instead of censuring the small faults of the constitution, I am astonished that many clashing interests have been reconciled, and so many sacrifices made to the general interest.  The mutual concessions made by the gentlemen at the convention, reflect the higher honor on their candor and liberality; at the same time they prove their minds were deeply impressed with a conviction that much mutual sacrifices are essential to our union.  They must be made sooner or later by every state; or jealous local interests and prejudices will unsheathe the sword, and some Caeser or Cromwell will avail himself of our divisions, and wade to a throne through streams of blood.