Mr. President
I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: 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, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. . . . Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. . . . On the whole, Sir, I can not 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.
Benjamin Franklin, 1787
In this excerpt, Franklin states that
Responses
A he approves of every provision of the Constitution and hopes that his fellow delegates will approve it.he approves of every provision of the Constitution and hopes that his fellow delegates will approve it.
B he is certain his objections to some of the provisions of the Constitution will result in serious consequences for the new nation.he is certain his objections to some of the provisions of the Constitution will result in serious consequences for the new nation.
C each delegate has formed an opinion of the Constitution and should vote accordingly, despite the opinions expressed by other delegates.each delegate has formed an opinion of the Constitution and should vote accordingly, despite the opinions expressed by other delegates.
D he does not approve of every provision of the Constitution but knows that his opinions could change; he urges fellow delegates to approve it.