Constitution Party National Chairman

Justin Magill

The U.S. Constitution is signed September 17, 1787

The signing of the U.S. Constitution, by the delegates of the Convention of 1787, begins its long journey to ratification. The delegates had met for months creating a new government in secrecy. It was now being sent on to the Congress with the recommendation to send it on to the States for ratification.

But ratification was not a foregone conclusion. The Convention had created a new constitution rather than attempt to modify the old one to cure the problems facing our States. The Framers created a confederated republic using fundamentals from other systems. The public were faced with a new animal, and needed time to explore it, have it explained, and have questions answered.

The debates that raged through the States, in newspaper and flyers and in the ratification conventions, provide us with many insights into the views and understandings that Americans had of the new document.
It took nine months for the required nine States to ratify the new constitution and it took nearly two and a half years to get all thirteen States to ratify it.

Today we have people pushing for another convention to open up the U.S. Constitution for changes; great and small. The Constitution Party opposes these attempts that put the constitutional protections of our natural rights at risk, and we encourage everyone to contact their State legislatures to tell them to refuse to go along with such efforts. We also encourage those in States that have made application or passed resolutions, to contact their State legislatures to call for a recission.

Constitution Party Platform: Constitutional Convention

Letter of the President of the Federal Convention, Dated September 17, 1787, to the President of Congress, Transmitting the Constitution. In Convention, September 17, 1787.

Sir,

We have now the honor to submit to the consideration of the United States in Congress assembled, that Constitution which has appeared to us the most adviseable.

The friends of our country have long seen and desired, that the power of making war, peace, and treaties, that of levying money and regulating commerce, and the correspondent executive and judicial authorities should be fully and effectually vested in the general government of the Union: But the impropriety of delegating such extensive trust to one body of men is evident-Hence results the necessity of a different organization.

It is obviously impracticable in the federal government of these states, to secure all rights of independent sovereignty to each, and yet provide for the interest and safety of all: Individuals entering into society, must give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest. The magnitude of the sacrifice must depend as well on situation and circumstance, as on the object to be obtained. It is at all times difficult to draw with precision the line between those rights which must be surrendered, and those which may be reserved; and on the present occasion this difficulty was encreased by a difference among the several states as to their situation, extent, habits, and particular interests.

In all our deliberations on this subject we kept steadily in our view, that which appears to us the greatest interest of every true American, the consolidation of our Union, in which is involved our prosperity, felicity, safety, perhaps our national existence. This important consideration, seriously and deeply impressed on our minds, led each state in the Convention to be less rigid on points of inferior magnitude, than might have been otherwise expected; and thus the Constitution, which we now present, is the result of a spirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and concession which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensible.

That it will meet the full and entire approbation of every state is not perhaps to be expected; but each will doubtless consider, that had her interest been alone consulted, the consequences might have been particularly disagreeable or injurious to others; that it is liable to as few exceptions as could reasonably have been expected, we hope and believe; that it may promote the lasting welfare of that country so dear to us all, and secure her freedom and happiness, is our most ardent wish.

With great respect, We have the honor to be, Sir,

Your Excellency’s most obedient and humble servants,

GEORGE WASHINGTON, President.

By unanimous Order of the Convention.

His Excellency the PRESIDENT of CONGRESS.

---

Source:
Documents Illustrative of the Formation of the Union of the American States.
Government Printing Office, 1927.
House Document No. 398.
Selected, Arranged and Indexed by Charles C. Tansill

Source: Avalon Project

(1) Reprinted from Documentary History of the Constitution, Vol. II (1894) pp. I, 2. Back

(2) From Washington’s copy of the Journal of Congress (Vol XII, p. 164). Back

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We affirm the original text of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

We affirm that the nation’s Charter, i.e., the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights contain the foundational law of the federal union between the states.

We condemn all legislative, executive, and judicial action that departs from the texts and intent of the Charter and the Constitution and their original meaning.  

We oppose any attempt to call for a Constitutional convention, for any purpose whatsoever, because it cannot be limited to any single issue, and such convention could seriously erode our Constitutionally protected unalienable rights.

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Constitution Party National Chairman

Justin Magill

“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”

― Harry S. Truman

True leaders have a thirst for knowledge and understanding. Their ability to understand situations and people allows them to lead wisely. Knowledge leaves individuals unsatisfied with status quo and with average thinking and action. Understanding allows leaders to use the knowledge they have gained, effectively.

Thomas Jefferson, Letter to P. S. du Pont de Nemours, April 24, 1816:

“Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of the day.”

The Law – Frederick Bastiat:

“Fundamental knowledge can be used broadly by understanding concepts. Understanding the concepts that guide good government can allow us to make wise decisions on specific or technical matters that we are not well-versed in. Citizens can, and must, hold their public functionaries accountable for their actions, and advise them on what actions they should be taking.”

Benjamin Rush, Essay, 1786:

“It is favourable to liberty. Freedom can exist only in the society of knowledge. Without learning, men are incapable of knowing their rights, and where learning is confined to a few people, liberty can be neither equal nor universal.”

Each of us can determine to advance our knowledge and understanding by taking advantage of the many opportunities to read. In this day and age, even those who don’t care to read can listen to books in audio formats. Everyone can advance their understanding of interests they have through books, audios, videos, classes, and discussions.

American Patriots will always have an interest in our freedoms and the foundations that built it. With the many sources available, we hope that all will continue to learn.

Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, February 12, 1779:

“If Virtue & Knowledge are diffused among the People, they will never be enslav’d. This will be their great Security.”

Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William C. Jarvis, 1820

“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, (A)nd if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power.”

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