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would be expected, there were differences of opinion regarding key points of the developing Constitution. One faction, the powerful wealthier businessmen, wanted to invest within themselves more power than the average man. Franklin argued for equality in representation when writing in a series of published debates later known as The Federalist Papers. When protesting the unequal division of votes based on wealth, he stated, "Is it supposed that Wisdom is the necessary concomitant of Riches, and that one Man worth a thousand Pounds must have as much Wisdom as Twenty who have each only 999; and why is Property to be represented at all?"

Some attendees wanted a strong, central authority elected for life. Franklin felt it was not wise to invest so much power in one individual and wished to see the new country ruled by committee. The compromise was, of course, a single executive, with a limited term.

Franklin favored a unicameral form of legislature as he had seen first-hand how one house of a legislature could be controlled by the King with favors from the public purse. The majority disagreed but was deadlocked on how to provide for equal representation for both large and small states. Franklin helped break the deadlock in what became known as the "great compromise" with the result that the two houses of the legislature were to be elected by and representative of the people and the states, with the lower house elected by population and the upper house allowed equal representatives for each state.

Much of the rest of the original Constitution bears Franklin's stamp. The Bill of Rights that came later was based quite strongly on the Puritan covenant of Massachusetts colony. This is exactly as Franklin would have wished.

By the time the Constitution was finally ready for signature on Sept 17, 1787, Franklin, in his eighties and in failing health, had to be carried on a litter to the chambers and assisted in signing. The speech he wished to convey to his countrymen on that day, although obviously his own, was read for him by fellow Pennsylvanian James Wilson. As recorded by Madison, it was as follows:

" Mr. President
I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.

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