Sunday was Constitution Day! Though often overshadowed by the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, September 17th is a momentous day not only for our Republic, but for free-loving people everywhere. The brilliance of our supreme law is proven in its durability through civil war and economic hardships, and by the fact that countless new democratic governments have used the Constitution as a model for their own. The Bill of Rights—those magnificent first ten amendments to the original document—are to this day the standard for reining in a national government, checking its powers, and maximizing individual liberty.
I had outlined a whole grand thesis about this day, replete with quotes and historic examples. Upon reflection, it was a bit too much—I admit a certain nerdiness for the Constitution. So, I decided instead to do something far more interesting! I asked each of our expert attorneys the following question:
“James Madison is considered the Father of the Constitution. Who is your favorite constitutional framer and why?”
Their answers do not disappoint. Here are Mountain States’ top constitutional framers (in no particular order—that’d be way too difficult!):
Will Trachman, General Counsel
Benjamin Franklin was a renaissance man who was brilliant, ambitious, and good at everything he did. His service as a thinker, a diplomat, and a constitutionalist changed our nation’s history forever. It’s all about the Benjamin.
Sean Nation, Deputy General Counsel
Button Gwinnett. Mostly because I grew up in Gwinnett County, Georgia. But also, because he has a funny name and died after a duel with another leader of the Independence movement in Georgia, Lachlan McIntosh.
Brian Abbas, Director for MSLF Center to Keep & Bear Arms
My favorite constitutional framer is George Washington. He tended to be non-partisan, level-headed, and humble. Mostly, I admire him for his farewell address where he warned future generations of partisanship, of foreign influence, and to avoid taking on national debt. Unfortunately, he was right about a lot of things. My alternative would be Thomas Jefferson for opposing a national bank.
Ivan London, Senior Attorney
For me, it is hard to pick a favorite framer. They brought diverse perspectives and ideas to the table—from Benjamin Franklin’s wisdom to Thomas Jefferson’s eloquence, and from Alexander Hamilton‘s economic insights to James Madison’s systematic thinking—which contributed to the resilience and sense of our Constitution. While our framers were brave, they were also flawed. Yet our resulting Constitution is a product of collaboration, collective genius, and compromise. It reflects the spirit of an envisioned nation united by its commitment to justice, liberty, and the rule of law. So, in the spirit of unity and appreciation for the framers’ collective wisdom, I’d like to celebrate them all. [Stanton’s note: I have to chuckle at Ivan’s answer—so very lawyerly! But it is also so good.]
James Kerwin, Senior Attorney
James Madison, because he is widely cited as a primary champion of the right to free speech enshrined in the First Amendment.
David McDonald, Attorney
My favorite framer happens to have the distinction of being the most famous delegate at the Constitutional Convention to refuse to sign the soon-to-be ratified document. A leading supporter of individual rights and opponent of centralized power, George Mason used his skills and influence at the Convention to fight for the inclusion of a Bill of Rights and for greater protections against usurpations of power from a strong federal government. And it was his opposition to the Constitution’s ratification without these safeguards that ultimately gave us such cornerstones of American law as the First, Second, and Fifth Amendments. Mason was the platonic ideal of the “faithful opposition,” fighting against the stream of popular consensus with vigor, but never with spite, in a model I try to emulate every day.
My Own Answer
These were all excellent answers. If I may sneak in my own, I think Roger Sherman deserves a place on this list. Sherman signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation (our first national charter) and was instrumental in the development of the Constitution. He was second only to James Madison in his activity and involvement at the Philadelphia Convention, and we credit Sherman for proposing the “Connecticut Compromise,” sometimes taught as the “Great Compromise.” Because of him, we have two chambers of Congress—a House of Representatives based upon states’ populations, and a Senate based upon equal representation of the states. No doubt, without such statesmanship and dedication to his country, we may have been left without the checks and balances our Congress needs, or perhaps without any Constitution at all.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list. Each of these men were part of a class of thinkers and doers Mountain States regularly aspires to emulate. Their contributions to one of the most important debates of our nation transformed our rag-tag fraternity into a united republic. To that we are indebted, and to them we celebrate. Happy Constitution Day!