Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-11-26
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1899,

per, with grea, pleasure, some remarks made
by DR.. FRANKLIN in the Convention which
formed the Constitution Of the Unie States
The observations Of that truly gleas man are
always full Of force and excellence. have,
since the appearance Of the article 10 which /
refer, come across another speech OF d. Frank
Inns delivered in the same Convention, upon q
diffrreu, subject, but which is interesting on
many accounts. The speech shed, some ligh,
upon Dr. Franklin's religious character. While
he important question OF The representation Of
the States in the Senate was the subject oil de-
bate, DR.. franklin moved that prayers should
he attended every morning, and thus addressed
the Presiden':
Mr. PREsIDENr-The small progress we
have made sf,rr four or Ave weeks OF close al
tendance and continual reasoning with each
other, our different sentiments on almost every
question, several Of the las, producing as many
noes as agss. is, merhinks, a most melancholy
;,roof Of the imperf-ction of the human un-
ders,anding We indeed seen TO (, el our own
want Of political wisdom, since we have been
running all about in search OF IL. We have
gone back to ancient history for models Of gov
eromen, an0 examined the 1iffrren, forms OF
those Republics, which, having been originally
formed with the seeds of their own dissolution,
now no longer exist; and we have viewed mo-
dern states all rouad Europe, but find none nf
their constitutions suitable to our circums,an>
ces. In his situation Of this assembly, group
ing as il were, in the dark, 10 find political
truth. and scarce able to distinguish it when
presented 70 us; how has it haPpeoed, sir, that
we have No, hiherJo once thought If humbly
applying To he Father OF Lights, 10 illuminate
our understanding In the beginning Of the
con,es' with Great Britain, when we were sen
sible Of dagger, We usd daily prayers in ;his
room for Givire prot, ion Our prayers, sir,
were heard, aud they were grac,ousiy answered.
All Of us, who were engaged in he struggle,
must have observed frequrn' instances OF a su-
perintendine Providence in gu, favor To that
knit Pro, idencr we.Owe this happy opportuni
~ OF cousui'i"g in peace, on the means OF es
tablishing our future national teiici'y. And
have now forgotten tina, powerful friend p
or DO we imagine we no longer need MS assist
ance? have lived sir, long tue; ard the
logger live, the more convincing proof | sre
OF his truth, that God governs tie affairs 81
men! Aud il a spsrrow Cannot tail 'o,he ground
w,thou, his no ice, is it probable that All EN-
pirr can Use without his aid? We have been
assured, in the s,cred writings, that "excep,
the Lord bald house, they labor in vain tLat
build It" I firmly 5elie,e this; and also be-
lieve, that without his concurring aid, we shall
succeed in this political building no better than
the builders Of Babel: snail be divided by
our little partial local interests, our pro IS
will be contounded, and we ourselves shall De.
come reproach and by word down TO fu'ure
ages. And what is worse, mankind may here
after, from this unfortunate instance, despair Of
establishing governments by human wisdom,
and leave it to chance, war or conquest,
'herefore beg leave to move, that hencefor,h
prayers ,implorng the assistance of Heaven and
its blessings on our deliberations, be ned in
this assembly every morning before we proceed
10 business; and tia, one or more Of the cl,r,
gy Of this city be requested to officia'e in that
service"