Constitution Week spotlight

On this third day of Constitution Week, we turn our attention to Scottish-born James Wilson, a Pennsylvania delegate to the Constitutional Convention, who is often recognized as the No. 2 man at the convention, after James Madison.

Wilson was the most frequent speaker at the convention. He proposed a system of checks and balances to ensure that the powers vested in the country’s leaders could not be abused.

Wilson’s idea for a single chief executive became the basis for the presidency. Some feared this was too much like a monarchy. Wilson’s proposal passed with a vote of seven states in favor and three against. How the president would be elected was still up for debate. Wilson initially proposed the president be elected by popular vote. However, delegates did not support the idea, fearing that smaller states would have unfair representation. Some favored having the legislature select the president. Wilson reworked his proposal to include the Electoral College. After a stalemate, the issue was turned over to a committee of 11 delegates. The committee proposed the Electoral College, but allowing each state legislature to decide how its delegates would be chosen.

Wilson was also responsible for the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a whole person for determining representation in the legislature and the Electoral College.

Wilson is one of six who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. He was appointed as associate justice on the Supreme Court by George Washington, but was largely absent his last year due to financial difficulties requiring his attention. He died while serving on the Supreme Court in 1798 at the age of 55.

Who said it? “A republic, if you can keep it.” (when asked what type of government had been created by the Constitution)

a) George Washington

b) Benjamin Franklin

c) William Blount

This Constitution Week Spotlight was provided by Lieutenant George Farragut Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. For more information about DAR, please visit the chapter’s website at lgfdar.com.

Answer: b) Benjamin Franklin