Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/648

 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Monday MADISON September x7 enced many instances of being obliged by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which [ once thought right, but found to be other- wise. 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. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that whereever others differ from them it is so far error. Steele, a Protestant in a Dedication tells the Pope that the only difference between our Churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrines is, the Church of Rome is infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong. But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain french lady, who in a dispute with her sister, said "I don't know how it happens, Sister but I meet with no body but myself, that's always in the right"--II ny a que moi qui a toujours raison." In these sentiment% Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Govern- ment necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so cor- rupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can ob- tain may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an Assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are con- founded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the

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