Jim Madison to the Rescue!

There have been several popular , noteworthy books on the Constitiutional Convention of the sweltering Philadelphia Summer of 1787.  Oh which, Catherine Drinker Bowen's  "Miracle at Philadelphia" (1966)  is one I would  recommend if  you are lucky enough to find a copy at a library or used book store.     Now Professor  Richard Lambunski has chosen to tell the story of what happened after that great struggle.  "James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights" tells a fascinating story of how the introverted and unassming Madison overcame great opposition in his home state of Virginia.  The most important state in the union entered the union by just a handful of votes--if the Old Dominion had held out, New York state might have held out, too, and there would have been no United States as we know it and no George Washington as our first President.  (Plus no President Thomas Jefferson to steer a course to acquiring the Louisiana Purchase.)

   The less-than-united States of America might have evolved into a weak group of little republics ready to be picked apart by the vengeful British or the turmoil spilling over from revolutionary France.

Chief among Madison's enemies at that Richmond convention was the great Anti-Federalist orator,  Patrick Henry.   He had the ability to talk for days and dazzle theotherdelagates.  Madison had only his great knowledge of history and the law to counter Henry and his powerful allies, such as George Mason.  (You know the latter fellow wasa big wheel; they named a university after him!)

After Madison got Virginia into the union, he then had to struggle against no less an opponent than war hero (and future President) James Monroe to win a seat in Congress.   It that wasn't wnough, our guy had to fight tooth and nail to bring together enough support in the new US Capitol, New York City, to get the Bill of Rights as we know it into being.  This was also a tough fight, with  Madison steering a middle course between those who wanted the greatest powers to rest with the states and those ultra-Federalists like Alexander Hamilton who would have been happy to forego a Bill of Rights altogether. 

I really enjoyed this book.  It lays out in straight-forward  language the way we came to be a nation.  And, except for the slavery issue, our Constitution as it was hammered into shape back then has stood us in a peaceful internecine course for over two centuries.  But the cause  was almost lost and that's something to remember the next time we feel apathy coming on.