The United States Constitutional Convention ( also known as the Philadelphia Convention , the Federal Convention , or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia ) took place from May 14 to September 17 , 1787 , in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , I confess that I do not entirely approve of t his Constitution at present ; but , sir , I am not sure I shall never approve it , for , having lived long , I have experienced many instances of being obliged , by better information or fuller consideration , to change opinions even on important subjects , which I once thought right , but found to be otherwise . It is therefore that , the older I grow , the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment of others . Most men , indeed , as well as most sects in religion , think themselves in possession of all truth , and that wherever others differ from them , it is so far error . Steele , a Protestant , in a dedication , tells the Pope that the only difference between our two churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrine is , the Romish Church is infallible , and the Church of England is never in the wrong . But , though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as of that of their sect , few express it so naturally as a certain French lady , who , in a little dispute with her sister , said : ‘ But I meet with nobody but myself that is always in the right . ‘ In these sentiments , sir , I agree to this Constitution , with all its faults , – if they are such , – because I think a general government necessary for us , and there is no form of government but what may be a blessing to the people , if well administered ; and I believe , further , that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years , and can only end in despotism , as other forms have done before it , when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government , being incapable of any other . I doubt , too , whether any other convention we can obtain may be able to make a better Constitution ; for , when you assemble a number of men , to have the advantage of their joint wisdom , you inevitably assemble with those men all their prejudices , their passions , their errors of opinion , their local interests , and their selfish views . From such an assembly can a perfect producti on be expected ? It therefore astonishes me , sir , to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does ; and I think it will astonish our enemies , who are waiting with confidence to hear that our counsels are confounded like those of the builders of Babel , and that our States are on the point of separation , only to meet hereafter 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 it is not the best . The opinions I have had of its errors I 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 returning to our constituents , were to report the objections he has had to it , and endeavor to gain partisans in support of them , we might prevent its being generally received , and thereby lose all the salutary effects and great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign nations , as well as among ourselves , from our real or apparent unanimity . Much of the strength and efficiency of any government , in procuring and securing happiness to the people , depends on opinion , on the general
opinion of the goodness of that government , as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its governors . I hope , therefore , for our own sakes , as a part of the people , and for the sake of our posterity , that we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution wherever our influence may extend , and turn our future thoughts and endeavors to the means of having it well administered . On the whole , sir , I cannot help expressing a wish that every member of the convention who may still have objections to it , would , with me , on this occasion , doubt a little of his own infallibility , and , to make manifest our unanimity , put his name to this instrument . http : / / creativecommons.org / licenses / by – sa / 3.0 / legalcode

Di sapproving and Accepting the ConstitutionBenjamin Franklin Support,Recommending this Constitution