Ben Franklin's World is a production of the

O'Mohandro Institute and production of this episode was made possible by a

grant from the Roller Bottommore Foundation of Richmond, Virginia.

Henry Gibbs of Connecticut to Roger Sherman, 16th July 1789.

I am far from wishing that the beauty of our new system should be marred by the many preposterous alterations which have been proposed.

But as it was adopted by some of the state's in full confidence that the subject of amendments would be soon constitutionally entered upon.

I hope Congress will not delay canvassing the matter any longer than their more important

business renders necessary.

All ambiguity of expression certainly ought to be removed, liberty of conscience and religious matters,

right of trial by jury, liberty of the press, etc. may perhaps be more explicitly secured to the subject and a general reservation made to the

states respectively of all the powers not expressly delegated to the general government.

These indeed may be thought by most to be the spirit of the Constitution, but there are some

who have their fears that the loose manner of expression in some instances will not sufficiently guard the rights of the subject from the invasion of corrupt rulers hereafter.

Some such explanatory and reserving clauses may therefore without giving umbrage to the friends of the new plan of government,

tend greatly to conciliate the minds of many of its opponents.

As to any essential alterations, neither time nor capacity will allow of my forming an opinion respecting them.

Hello and welcome to episode 260 of Ben Franklin's world.

The podcast dedicated to helping you learn more about how the people and events of our early American past have shaped the present day world we live in.

And I'm your host, Liz Kovart.

How and why did Congress draft the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.

The history of American law is in many ways the history of the United States.

Where history tells us who we are and how we came to be who we are?

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