Constitution Day

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 734, which I introduced on September 10, honoring and supporting Constitution Day. I have always been grateful that so many of our country's greatest leaders and statesmen were able to be on Earth at the same time and place to draft the Constitution. Within this document are the fundamental principles of the American system of liberty. Our Constitution has been that beacon upon the hill, that guiding star at night in that shining city that millions of people around the world have long been guided by within their own countries.

The Constitution took 4 hard, acrimonious months from May to September 1787 to actually bring it to fruition through their hard labor. Again, the citizens that attended the convention in Philadelphia were some of our greatest leaders and scholars of government and history: Madison, Franklin, Hamilton, Morris, and Washington. Many different ideas were brought to the convention. Were they only empowered to amend the Articles of Confederation? There is great debate about that. Could they go farther and start from scratch? Many a discussion was held in Philadelphia's boarding houses and taverns.

These members began debates on creating three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. James Madison, the Father of our Constitution, was one of the first to arrive in Philadelphia, and he brought with him his specifically researched ideas while others had theirs. You know, it turned out to be a very hot summer that year. There was no air conditioning. Secrecy was enforced. The proceedings mandated that all windows and doors be shut. Tempers flared, but through it all they worked because these men knew that they were creating a document that would be there for a Nation and for the ages.

The birth of a new Nation was being watched by the powers around the world. As mentioned, 55 delegates attended the Constitution Convention with 39 of them signing the document. What emerged was a document containing 4,400 words. The story goes that when asked what kind of new government was formed, Benjamin Franklin replied, ``A Republic, if you can keep it.'' The Constitution is both the oldest and shortest written constitution of any form of government in the world.

Again, personally I marvel at what these individuals did and what they could accomplish in 4 months. Today, citizens should look to guidance from our Forefathers. All Americans should read this great document because, since the Constitution's ratification, it has been the framework for our great Nation. Not only did great men bring forth great ideas, but for 222 years, this great experiment that we call America has been paid for by hundreds of thousands of lives, the lives of our brave military men and women. Let the living always remember to give thanks to our honored dead, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice that the Constitution of the United States remains our guiding light.

Too few citizens today have read this important document and understand its importance. It is short, and it should be learned, and it should be studied. The preamble of our document states that ``We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.'' The words ``We the People'' affirm that any power of the Federal Government is given to by the people of this great land, and we in Congress must always remember that.

Source