The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-16
Benjamin FrankIn's Address On The Constitution
 Treasured As VaIedictory Masterpiece Of Great Man

aDoctor FrankIln reee with a speech in his hand, which ho had reduced to writing for his own convenienoe, and which MT, Wils son read in the words following:
 "Mr. President--
 T confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which l do not at present approve, but I am not sure shall never ape prove them; For having lived long, I have experienced many inc stances of being obliged by better information or fuller coi1sidera- ton to change opinions even on important subjects, which l once thought right, but found to the otherwise. It Is therefore that the older I grow, tho more apt ! am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others.
 "sir, I agree to this Constitu- ton with all its faults, if there are such; because I think Q general Government necessary for us, and there Is no form of Government but what may be Q blessing to the popie If well administered, and believe farther that this Is likely to be well administered for Q course of years, and can only end in Despotisfl, as other forms have done before 1t, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other.
 T doubt, too, whether any other Convention we can obtain may be able to make Q better Constitu- ton. For when you assemble 8 number of men to have the ad- vantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their erorrs of opinion, their local interests, and their sel. fish views. From such an Assem- ply can Q perfect production be expected2
 Tt therelore aStonwhes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as It does: and l think 1t will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our coun- els are confounded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet here after for the purpose of cutting one another's throatS.
 "Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better. and because I am not sure, that 1t Is not the best.
 "The opinions have had of It's errors, sacrifice to the public good - I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad - Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die--
 "If every one of us in return- ing to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to 1t, and endeavor to gain par tizanS in support Of them, we might prevent It's being generally received, and thereby lose oil the salutary effects and great ad- vantages resulting naturally in oui favor among foreign Nations as well as among ourselves, from oui real or apparent unanimity.
 Much of the strength and eff. ciency of any Government in pro' curing and securing happiness te the people. depends on opinion, oil the general opinion of the good. ness of the Government, as vel as of the wisdom and integrity oi its Governors.
 T hope therefore that for oui own sakes as Q part of the people and for the sake Of posterity. we shall act heartily and unanimous ly in recommending this Consti' tution of approved by Congress and confirmed by the Conven' tions) wherever our influence may extend. and turn our future endeavors to the means of having 1t well administered.
 "On thes whole, Sir, l cannol help expressing & wish that every member of the Convention Whs may still have objections to 1t would with me. on this occasion doubt a little of his own infalli' bilty - and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name tt his instrument"
 He then moved that the Con stitution be signed by the mem bers and offered the following q a convenient form, viz:
 Done in Convention, by th' unanimous consent of the State present the l7th Sept, etc.
 Tn Witness whereof we hay hereunto subscribed our names: