By Mary O’KEEFE

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” – Preamble to the Constitution of the United States

Yesterday was Constitution Day. It is the day that commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by 39 men on Sept. 17, 1787.

It seems like a good time to recognize Constitution Day because there has been a lot of discussion about division in our country … and make no mistake – there is a heartbreaking amount of division. But it is good to remember we have been here before and it didn’t lead to a Civil War.

In many of our minds we see that painting by Howard Chandler Christy from the 1940s of George Washington standing tall at the desk as one by one these leaders of the Revolution signed this historic document. 

Though all seem to be calm and in apparent total agreement that was not the case. These men all had their own vision of the future of the United States. Some wanted more government while others wanted less. One concern dealt with representation; larger states had their ideas while smaller states had their own. 

There was the Virginia Plan, which had a legislative branch consisting of two chambers. This differed from the Confederation Congress, which included only one House. Each of the states would be represented in proportion to their size – in both houses of the national legislature populous states, like Virginia – at the time the most populous state – would have more representatives than smaller states. The national legislature would have the power to address issues that were beyond the ability of any single state government to handle. And the legislature could also have the power to veto state laws that it found to be against national interest. 

Then there was the New Jersey Plan, which included one house legislature for each state, regardless of its population, receiving one vote and it would expand the powers of the national government to address the needs of a growing nation in certain ways, according to the National Constitution Center.  

There was a lot of debate, according to historical records, with a lot of yelling;  however, it was a debate … angry, but a debate nonetheless. 

In the end there was a compromise, which was the Connecticut Plan, also known as the Great Compromise. Congress would consist of two houses – a House of Representatives and a Senate. The House would be elected on the basis of proportional representation – giving more populous states more seats than smaller states. At the same time, the Senate would be elected on the basis of equal representation with each state – regardless of its population – electing two senators, according to the National Constitution Center. 

The Constitution was signed but it would not become binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states. And ratification was not done without a lot more debate. Massachusetts held out, opposing the document as it thought it failed in a variety of areas including constitutional protection of freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press. In February 1788 a compromise was reached and other states then agreed to ratify the Constitution. In June 1788 the Constitution was ratified and went into effect on March 4, 1789. 

And just because the Constitution was signed and ratified it did not mean the debates and arguments ended. Jefferson and Hamilton were adversaries with neither one trusting the other. Their battles were legendary and it took a very strong president– George Washington – to get these two men to work together for the betterment of the country. 

Washington wrote two letters, one to Hamilton and one to Jefferson, pleading with them to get along. 

In the letter to Hamilton Washington wrote:

“Differences in political opinions are as unavoidable as, to a certain point, they may perhaps be necessary; but it is to be regretted, exceedingly, that subjects cannot be discussed with temper on the one hand, or decisions submitted to without having the motives which led to them, improperly implicated on the other: and this regret borders on chagrin when we find that Men of abilities – zealous patriots – having the same general objects in view, and the same upright intentions to prosecute them, will not exercise more charity in deciding on the opinions, & actions of one another. When matters get to such lengths, the natural inference is, that both sides have strained the Cords beyond their bearing … I would fain hope that liberal allowances will be made for the political opinions of one another; and instead of those wounding suspicions, and irritating charges with which some of our Gazettes are so strongly impregnated, & cannot fail if persevered in, of pushing matters to extremity, & thereby tare the Machine asunder, that there might be mutual forbearances and temporising yieldings on all sides. Without these I do not see how the Reins of Government are to be managed, or how the Union of the States can be much longer preserved.”

In the letter to Jefferson he wrote:

“How unfortunate, and how much is it to be regretted … that whilst we are encompassed on all sides with avowed enemies and insidious friends, that internal dissentions should be harrowing and tearing our vitals. The last, to me, is the most serious – the most alarming – and the most afflicting of the two. And without more charity for the opinions and acts of one another in Governmental matters … I believe it will be difficult, if not impracticable, to manage the Reins of Government or to keep the parts of it together….”

Isn’t it amazing that after 238 years President Washington’s voice still rings true? We saw violence throughout our history, including Hamilton’s life ending after a dual with fellow politician Aaron Burr. 

We have disagreements – our country was born with powerful disagreements – but it was through debate and compromise that made the U.S. great.

We will be seeing temperatures climbing into the high 80s/low 90s but it will not be a dry heat thanks to Tropical Storm Mario. It will be pretty uncomfortable as humidity will be high, thanks to the tropical storm, according to NOAA.

From today through Friday we will get rain though it is not certain how much rain; however, most of Southern California will see some rain. The weekend is not expected to have any rain and temperatures will be back to mid-to-high 80s to low 90s without the humidity.