graciously answered. All of us have observed frequent instances of a
superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe
this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means to establish
our nation. Have we forgotten our powerful Friend? Do we imagine that
we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, sir, a long time, and
the longer I live the more convinced I am that God governs in the
affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His
notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We are
told, sir in the sacred writings, that 'except the Lord build the house,
they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this, and I also
believe that without His aid we shall succeed in our political building
no better than the builders of Babel. We shall be divided by our
little, partial, local interests, our projects will be confounded, and
we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword to future ages. I
therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the
assistance of Heaven an its blessing on our deliberations be held in
this assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one
or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate." When the
Constitution was adopted, Franklin rose, and pointing to the speaker's
chair, on which was carved a sun half-hid by the horizon, said:
"Gentlemen, I have long watched that sun and wondered whether it was a
rising or a setting sun--God has heard our prayers, it is a rising sun."
This convention adopted the famous ordinance of 1787, which guaranteed
that slavery should never enter the north-west territory, and this,
under God, saved the nation in the hour of trial. The Constitution was
ratified by eleven of the States in 1788, and the first Wednesday in
January, 1789, electors were chosen in all the ratifying States, except
New York, where a conflict between the senate and assembly prevented a
choice. In Rhode Island and North Carolina no election was held. The
person receiving the highest number of votes was to be president, the