By Douglas V. Gibbs
The Constitutional Convention was full of debate. Should we keep slavery or abolish slavery? If we keep slavery, should there be limits? Can the federal government outlaw the import of new slaves? Should we have a centralized government, or one limited by a list of authorities? How much sovereignty should the States maintain? How much voice should the smaller states have? Should the federal government have the power to tax, and if so, in what manner? Should the people be able to vote for all political positions, or only some? What branch should hold the purse strings? What kind of power should be given to the judiciary, if any at all? The battle raged between the anti-Federalists and the Federalists, and all points in between. Alexander Hamilton demanded the president be a king, and Hamilton's brethren of the New York delegation walked out fearing that the Constitution was giving the federal government too much power. Rhode Island didn't even show up at all!
And during the fighting, a glaring truth surfaced. The union, if it held together for any length of time, would truly be a miracle.
The delegates were practically jumping over the tables to get at each other. To say the least, the convention had experienced little progress due to the bickering and anger. The battle over how much voice a state should have in this new government, as related to the size and economies of the states, was a debate that had proven to be just too much for the delegates.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was known as a man of few words, and when he did speak, it was not without him spending much time in thought first. Franklin realized, however, that the convention was missing something, and he appealed to his fellow delegates with a speech recounted by a number of writings and letters regarding the episode.
The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance and continual reasonings with each other, our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes and ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, some we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
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 G. 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 labour 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 future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be 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 the City be requested to officiate in that service.
Roger Sherman at once seconded Franklin’s motion. Alexander Hamilton, and several other Federalists, feared that calling in a clergyman might lead the public to suspect dissensions in the Convention, or that the Founders were attempting to establish a State Religion. The Founding Fathers were not particularly fond of organized religion, though many of them held dear the faith of Christianity.
Franklin countered, stating that a measure of alarm out of doors might do as much good as ill.
The speech itself is fascinating because Benjamin Franklin was hardly a man of God, but he understood the importance of divine providence. If our rights are not given to us by The Creator, as the Declaration of Independence had proclaimed, than that would mean our rights are given to us by government, and rights given by government are rights the government can take away.
Without God, the new United States of America would never survive.
Whether or not prayer was a part of each session of the Constitutional Convention, Franklin's recommendation was implemented nine days after the first Constitutional Congress convened with a quorum. Two chaplains of different denominations were appointed, one to the House and one to the Senate, with a salary of $500 each. This practice continues today, posing no threat to the First Amendment.
The lessons of history, especially those of the meetings of our Founding Fathers, teaches us that those men realized the value of God in society. The value of prayer in the weightier matters of politics was also an important thing to them. Despite the challenges of those that oppose true history, and would like to introduce their own version of revised history, it turns out that Dr. Franklin, despite his past questions about the existence of God, believed it to be important for the Founders of this nation to ask for divine assistance in what proved to be the formation of our American system. Perhaps there were, or were not, official prayers during the Convention, but denying that the delegates wanted God's blessing and direction, is truly an example of ignorance.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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 the City be requested to officiate in that service.
Roger Sherman at once seconded Franklin’s motion. Alexander Hamilton, and several other Federalists, feared that calling in a clergyman might lead the public to suspect dissensions in the Convention, or that the Founders were attempting to establish a State Religion. The Founding Fathers were not particularly fond of organized religion, though many of them held dear the faith of Christianity.
Franklin countered, stating that a measure of alarm out of doors might do as much good as ill.
Unfortunately, they did not have the funds for a clergy, and prayer was considered by those men to be something that must by accompanied by formalities, and the attendance of clergy.
Various records both confirm and deny that the prayers took place before each session of the convention after that speech by Franklin.
The speech itself is fascinating because Benjamin Franklin was hardly a man of God, but he understood the importance of divine providence. If our rights are not given to us by The Creator, as the Declaration of Independence had proclaimed, than that would mean our rights are given to us by government, and rights given by government are rights the government can take away.
Without God, the new United States of America would never survive.
Whether or not prayer was a part of each session of the Constitutional Convention, Franklin's recommendation was implemented nine days after the first Constitutional Congress convened with a quorum. Two chaplains of different denominations were appointed, one to the House and one to the Senate, with a salary of $500 each. This practice continues today, posing no threat to the First Amendment.
The lessons of history, especially those of the meetings of our Founding Fathers, teaches us that those men realized the value of God in society. The value of prayer in the weightier matters of politics was also an important thing to them. Despite the challenges of those that oppose true history, and would like to introduce their own version of revised history, it turns out that Dr. Franklin, despite his past questions about the existence of God, believed it to be important for the Founders of this nation to ask for divine assistance in what proved to be the formation of our American system. Perhaps there were, or were not, official prayers during the Convention, but denying that the delegates wanted God's blessing and direction, is truly an example of ignorance.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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